Media campaign launched by 'desperate' tribes

2007-09-06 15:33:51

Two Californian tribes are making last-ditch efforts to win legislative approval for gambling agreements, allowing them to build side-by-side casinos in Barstow.

Now a media campaign intended to persuade politicians to ratify the Barstow compacts has been launched by the Los Coyotes Band and Big Lagoon Rancheria.

Compacts are set to expire on September 17th and the tribes are concerned that legislators have only passed the compacts of richer Californian tribes.

Both tribes believe that the failure to get their case heard is due to opposition from some of California's most powerful gaming tribes.

"Now is the time for our state's legislative leadership to stand up and fight for all Indian tribes," said Virgil Moorehead, chairman of Big Lagoon Rancheria.

A television campaign will air this week and has already been posted on YouTube.

The Barstow compacts were signed by Governor Schwarzenegger and agreements include measures for independent audits of casino revenues and revenue sharing.