New polling data released Dec. 6 shows a vast majority of California voters strongly oppose building off-reservation casinos and believe voters should have their say in any decision to pursue off-reservation gaming.
The new survey, conducted by Jim Moore Methods, found that 72% of California voters oppose off-reservation casinos and say tribes should not be allowed to build away from their historic tribal lands while only 20% support it. Moreover, 72% of California voters feel that any decision to change Prop 1A to allow off-reservation gaming should be made by the voters.
This information is timely given the recent decision by the Department of the Interior to approve two off-reservation gaming facility proposals in California, despite the fact that the tribes making the proposals (North Fork Rancheria and Enterprise Rancheria) already have existing tribal lands on which to build casinos.
The tribes instead are pursuing a practice known as "reservation shopping" in an effort to build casinos in urban areas and along highways where they have no modern, historical or aboriginal nexus.
The survey showed:
72% oppose allowing tribes to build casinos off-reservation.
20% support allowing tribes to build casinos off-reservation.
California voters strongly (72%-22%) agree that any decision to change Prop 1A to allow off-reservation gaming should be made by the voters.
72% agree tribes who want to build new gaming casinos off of their historic tribal lands should ask the voters for permission.
22% disagree.
The next step now lies with Governor Jerry Brown, who can either "concur" or "not concur" with the second part of the federal government's "two-part determination."
"Although the federal government has mistakenly opened the doors for these casinos, the governor has the chance to follow the will of the people," said Cheryl Schmit, director of Stand Up For California -- a statewide organization with a focus on gaming issues. "Off-reservation casinos pose a threat to our communities, are inconsistent with what voters agreed when they passed Props. 1A and, if approved, would open the off-reservation casino floodgates throughout California."
For more on Stand Up for California, visit StandUpCA.org. For more on Keep Indian Gaming on Indian Lands, visit NoOffReservationCasino.com.
 Keep Indian Gaming on Indian Lands is a coalition of representatives of many California Indian tribes (including the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians and Table Mountain Rancheria), elected public officials, businesses and community leaders throughout California opposed to off-reservation gaming.
Keep Indian Gaming on Indian Lands is a coalition of representatives of many California Indian tribes (including the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians and Table Mountain Rancheria), elected public officials, businesses and community leaders