The Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians, which has a reservation near Warner Springs, has permission to run a casino outside San Diego County under an unusual type of gaming compact with the state.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office announced the agreement Sept. 9.
The Los Coyotes Band has been planning a casino in Barstow and struck a preliminary deal with the city of Barstow in October, according to the governor’s office.
Under the tribal-state compact, the Los Coyotes Band agrees not to have gaming on its land in San Diego County. The Los Coyotes Band has also agreed to share the Barstow site with the Big Lagoon Rancheria of Humboldt County.
Big Lagoon had been fighting the state in court to build a casino on land near an ecological preserve. The agreement puts an end to Big Lagoon’s lawsuit with the state, according to the governor’s office.
Schwarzenegger, in a prepared statement, called the deal “a well-crafted plan that benefits the tribes, the city and all Californians.”
The Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon compacts need the approval of the state Legislature and the U.S. secretary of the interior.
Brad Graves
