Tribe Approves Gambling Compact With State

Two weeks after Gov. Pete Wilson rejected their gaming proposal, members of the Viejas Indian tribe approved a deal modeled after a compact struck between Wilson and the Pala tribe, also of San Diego County.

The Viejas tribe, seeking to protect its lucrative video gaming machines, approved the compact by an overwhelming margin.

An accord with the state is necessary to keep the federal government from confiscating video slot machines, which Wilson says are illegal.

Although 81% of the Viejas general council endorsed the agreement Tuesday night, officials for the eastern San Diego County tribe felt the deal was forced on them, according to a tribal source.

Late last month, Viejas narrowly approved a compact, but only after deleting a paragraph that required the tribe to remain neutral if casino employees try to organize. Tribal officials said at the time that agreeing to stay neutral during a union drive is tantamount to losing their right to free speech.

Wilson rejected the Viejas’ proposed deal, and state and tribal negotiators spent the last two weeks reworking that one provision in the 132-page compact.

Rather than do away with the clause altogether, state officials agreed only to allow the casino operators up to 30 days to reach an agreement with alternate unions before the provision goes into effect.

Most of the state’s tribes with gambling operations have thus far refused to sign compacts with Wilson.