Gov. Brown Approves Tribal Casino In Sonoma County
SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown has moved a Northern California Indian tribe one step closer to building a casino about 50 miles north of San Francisco.
The Democratic governor signed a compact in March with the 1,300-member Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which intends to build on 254 acres in Sonoma County.
The Senate and Assembly voted by wide margins earlier this month to pass a bill ratifying the compact, and Brown signed it into law Thursday. The agreement allows for 3,000 slot machines and card games.
The tribe would pay the state $1.4 million a year for costs related to regulating gambling and assisting problem gamblers. A portion of the winnings also would go to the city and county.
The plan now goes to the U.S. Department of Interior for approval.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.)
