Proposition 48: Could it make California a gambling mecca?

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Proposition 48 could make California a gambling mecca to rival Las Vegas. Proposition 48 is a ballot measure that would allow Indian Casinos on land off the reservations.

The measure has started a war among the tribes, a war between the haves and the have not’s. It all began when Sacramento approved Assembly Bill 277, which gave the Mono Tribe in Northern California permission to build a casino miles away from the reservation.

A YES vote would approve a deal the Mono Tribe cut with Governor Brown to build a Casino near Madera, 38-miles from the reservation, and a second tribe would share some of that revenue for not building a casino of its own.

Competing tribes and other gambling interests oppose the deal and collected enough signatures to put it on the ballot.

The state’s original gaming compact allowed casinos on reservations only.

According to a campaign ad against Prop 48, the passing of the proposition would allow a casino in the U.S. Grant Hotel Downtown, which is owned by Sycuan.

There are 59 casinos in California bringing in $7 billion dollars a year.

The NO on Prop 48 folks want casinos to stay on the reservation, and kill this deal the governor made with the Mono Tribe.

The NO side calls this reservation shopping because a tribe could buy land distant from their reservation and put up a casino.

They have a big war chest, upwards of $15 million, and community activists and politics including Senator Diane Feinstein.

The YES on Prop 48 have approval from Governor Brown and President Obama.

Governor Brown says supporting this helps the tribes without costing taxpayers any money.

We haven’t seen any ads from the YES on 48. A little surprising because Las Vegas has its finger prints all over this deal.