THE RECENTLY RE-ELECTED chairman of the leading tribal gaming organisation in California has described Congressman Barney Frank’s attempts to establish a federal licensing framework for egaming in the US as “the greatest threat to Indian gaming in 20 years” and has said that leading the fight against the bill was his main motivation for standing for office again.

In a letter dated Tuesday of this week inviting tribal leaders to the 15th California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Western Indian Gaming Conference this month at Palm Springs, California, Daniel Tucker wrote: 

“The recent drive by members of Congress to legalise internet casino gambling nationwide represents the greatest threat to Indian gaming in the last 20 years. I sought the chairmanship of CNIGA because it is my intention to lead the fight against this outrageous and unjust proposal by Congressman Barney Frank.” 

Tucker, who is also chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, urged attendance at the event, continuing: “Every tribal leader needs to be informed about the threat of Congressional legislation that will transfer billions of dollars from Indian Reservations to foreign offshore internet casinos.” 

In other tribal resistance to Barney Frank’s bill, Robert Martin, chairman of the Morongo gaming tribe also supporting legalised online poker in California, also argued that Frank’s HR 2267, Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act would send jobs and money offshore in a witness statement to the House Services Financial Committee hearing on the bill in December.

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Posted: 08/01/2010

Tags:  Barney Frank , California Nations Indian Gaming , Daniel Tucker , US