The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians in California has opted for bingo in its San Pablo card club after concluding that the prognosis of the casino compact signed last year was poor. Hundreds of bingo machines will take the place of the slots machines, which were supposed to line the card room's floors.
In total, the tribe intends to install up to 1000 Class II machines, many of which will be bingo machines. The tribe has opted for the Class II machines over Class III machines, such as slot machines, as Class II machines do not require prior clearance from the state.
The compact would have provided for the state's first urban Vegas-style casino, complete with 2,500 slot machines. Also according to the compact, a quarter of the casino's proceeds would go to the state. Although the bingo machines will also bring revenue to the state, bingo machines do not bring in slots caliber profits. By opting for bingo instead of slots machines, it has been estimated that the state will lose out on at least $100 million in annual revenue.
The tribe seems to have given up on the compact, considering that tribal chairwoman Margie Mejia reportedly sent a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger admitting that the compact was hopeless.
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