United Auburn Indian Community to add $15m to California state fund per year

united-auburn-indian-to-add-15m-to-california-state-fund-per-yearUnder a new tribal-state gaming compact, the United Auburn Indian Community will add an annual $15m to the California state fund.

Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. confirmed on Friday that he has signed a long-term gaming compact with Thunder Valley Casino Resort owner United Auburn Indian Community that will run until 2041.

Under the agreement, which can be viewed here, the tribe can increase the number of its slot machines from 2,622 to 3,500. Under the previous compact the tribe signed in 2004 with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the tribe could have unlimited slots machines with the provision that it pay more to the state for each machine.

Under the new agreement, the tribe can also establish and operate up to two gaming facilities only on those Indian lands held in trust for the United Auburn.

In return, the United Auburn will pay $15m annually for revenue contribution with the option to direct $9m of that amount toward infrastructure projects on non-Indian lands in Placer County.

Under the compact, the tribe will also contribute $18m to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund—a fund created and administered by the California Gambling Control Commission, which benefits state tribes that don’t own casinos or have only limited gambling.

“The compact reflects a continued commitment by the Tribe to revenue sharing with non-gaming and limited gaming tribes so that the economic benefits of gaming reach tribal governments that have not chosen to operate a tribal casino,” said the state in a press release. “Under the terms of this compact, United Auburn will become one of the largest contributors to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.”

The state also said that the compact affirms “the role of a tribal-state association of gaming regulators to provide a framework within which tribal and state gaming regulators can exchange information and collaborate to ensure that the gaming public has continued confidence in the integrity of casino operations.”