The highest court in California has decided in favor of Native American groups constructing new Class III gambling establishments within the state. This decision removes a significant obstacle for plans to build new facilities, a goal that has been pursued for many years.
The verdict, reached with a majority of five justices against two, determined that the state’s chief executive possesses the authority to approve the Department of the Interior’s designation of land for casino gaming.
The legal dispute originates from 2002 when a Native American group, the Match-N-Catch tribe, requested that the federal government place land in trust for their use in Yuba County, situated north of Sacramento. The tribe’s intention was to establish a casino on this land, offering a range of games typically found in Class III casinos, including roulette, blackjack, and slot machines.
In 2011, the Interior Secretary informed California’s then-governor, Jerry Brown, that placing land in trust for federal gambling activities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act required the governor’s consent.
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