A 25-year tribal-state gaming compact between the Jamul Indian Village of California and the state was signed by Governor Jerry brown on Thursday.
Affirming its partnership and G2G relationship with the state, the compact establishes the terms under which the tribes soon to be opened $360 million Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego will operate. The casino is slated to open on the tribe’s federally recognized reservation in East County, San Diego before the summer’s end.
The tribe isn’t legally required to have a business agreement with San Diego County due to its sovereign nation status, nor does it need any support from the county to open its casino. However, Tribal Chairwoman Erica Pinto said in April that the tribe wanted to do the right thing for the community and be a good neighbor. In addition to contributions for the protection of wildlife and habitat, the tribe agreed to provide almost $4 million for the improvement of county roads and to pay nearly $86,000 to the county. For extra public safety, more than $275,000 has been promised to the Sheriff’s Department beginning in 2016-17.
The chairwoman stated in the press release, “Through this compact, JIV reaffirms its commitment to working with the County on fire service, law enforcement and road improvements,” said Chairwoman Pinto. “The Tribe also seeks to develop projects designed to preserve historical buildings, landmarks and objects of cultural significance that provide a mutual benefit to the Tribe and the local community,” according to Business Wire.
Back in April, a formal agreement between the tribe and San Diego County regarding the casino it’s been planning for more than 15 years was approved by the Board of Supervisors. The three-story property will be managed by Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming, which also provided funding for the development of the resort, is located on the tribe’s reservation. The approximately 200,000 square feet casino will feature more than 1,700 slot machines, 43 live table games, and multiple restaurants, bars and lounges, as well as an underground parking structure with approximately 1,900 spaces. The tribe estimates that the gaming center will permanently employ more than 1,000 people.
In other tribal news in California, last week a similar agreement with the Pala Band of Mission Indians was unanimously approved by the Assembly. Before making it to the governor’s desk, the deal still has to be approved by the Senate.
Including new casino pacts with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which operates the Cache Creek Casino Resort; the Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, operators of the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs; and the operators of the Pechanga Resort Casino, the Pechanga Band Of Luiseno Mission Indians; the 78-year-old governor has recently negotiated ten tribal casino pacts in the state. All of them currently await legislative ratification as legislators attempt to conclude their work before the fast-approaching summer recess on August 31.