California
Viejas Casino in Alpine County announced it has become the first casino in California to be certified as a responsible gambling facility. In training sessions that were completed last month, 75 percent of Viejas Casino’s frontline casino employees learned how to identify and assist problem gamblers, bringing the total number of trained casino employees to 1,581. This marks the first time an entire casino has been certified in responsible gambling by the California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG). “This is an issue that we take very seriously,” Bobby Barrett, Viejas’ tribal chair, said. “Although problem gambling only affects a relatively small percentage of players, it is still an issue that we are committed to, and even one person with problem gambling is too many. We are concerned with the health and safety of the people in our casinos and will take every step to ensure that their time with us is not negatively affecting their lives at home. We also challenge other casinos, race tracks, card rooms, and the state lottery to match our efforts to help curb problem gambling.” The latest employee training sessions were facilitated by the CCPG and took place at Viejas over a four day period. Each team member was required to pass a test that was administered at the end of each training session. In order for a casino to become certified in responsible gambling, more than 60 percent of its frontline employees must attend and pass the training courses. “This is a very important milestone for California’s gaming industry and we congratulate Viejas, which has been at the forefront of this issue since the start of tribal gaming,” Bruce Roberts, executive director of the CCPG said. “Casino certification for responsible gambling is extremely important because, in addition to employee training, there are six other criteria which must be met. These steps will educate the patrons, create public awareness, and often prevent more serious consequences associated with problem gambling. Being able to recognize and assist those who exhibit early warning signs is the first step in helping to minimize the problem.”
Michigan
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indian Tribe (the “Gun Lake Tribe”) announced that Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed a Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact between the state of Michigan and the Gun Lake Tribe to regulate gaming at its proposed Gun Lake Casino in Wayland Township. The compact was announced after Tribal Chair D.K. Sprague and Gov. Granholm signed it. Granholm then requested legislative approval. “I applaud Governor Granholm for signing the compact, and respectfully request that the Michigan Legislature take the final step to put us on equal footing with all other federally recognized tribes in Michigan. After years of playing by the rules, we’re still asking for the same thing. Treat us like all the other tribes,” Sprague said. The compact between the Gun Lake Tribe and the state of Michigan contains substantive changes from the previous 11 Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. The Gun Lake Tribe would share 8 to 12 percent of its slot machine revenues with the state, depending on gross revenue. The tribe is willing to share revenue with the state in exchange for exclusivity to be provided in a regional zone, which consists of nine counties from Allegan and Kalamazoo to Ingham. Thus, the revenue sharing payments are more likely to remain in effect through the 20-year compact term. Under the compact, the tribe would also share two percent of its slot machine revenue with local governments. The revenue would be distributed by a local revenue sharing board consisting of three tribal representatives and three local government representatives. The compact would also mandate a detailed and rigorous regulatory structure. The tribe agreed to enforce a high level of regulation. Some of the regulatory highlights include:
• No patrons or employees under 21 in gaming areas of the Gun Lake Casino
• Casino to comply with Michigan Employment Security Act and Worker’s Disability Compensation Act
• Tribe will comply with all applicable state laws regulating the sale and taxation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products
• State regulatory oversight of the tribe’s gaming records and other relevant records related to enforcement of the compact
“The compact sets forth responsible terms for the operation of the Gun Lake Casino. It protects the interests of all respective governments: tribal, state, and local,” Sprague said. The Gun Lake Casino is supported by over 40 organizations, including local governments, law enforcement organizations, and business chambers.