Breakdown of Prop 48, off-reservation casino debate

FRESNO, Calif. -- The ads calling for a No Vote on Prop 48 make it sound like the vote would stop Indian tribes from building casinos off of reservation property. But that's not really the issue. It's aimed squarely at the North Fork Tribe of Mono Indians.

The federal government has declared the 300-acre site just north of the Madera city limits to be their reservation. Until that declaration the tribe did not have an official reservation. Their tribal headquarters was located in the foothill town of North Fork, nearly 40 miles away. But the tribe has maintained that foothill location is where their ancestors were forced to move when white settlers took over the Valley floor more than a century ago.

Tribal Vice Chairman Maryann McGovran says Prop 48 is just an effort by competing casino tribes to slow down the competition from their planned casino.

"Prop 48 is just a delay," she said. "It's a delay tactic put on by those that are opposing us the two tribes for competing reasons."

The proposed multimillion dollar casino would be located just north of Madera along the busy Highway 99 corridor.

Max Rodriguez is among the majority of Madera County Supervisors who support the Casino and urges a yes vote on Prop 48 because he sees the casino as an economic boost to the county.

"We have to put people to work, we have to. Madera County is poverty-stricken," he said.

In addition, Supervisor Rick Farinelli notes the compact approved by the state gives Madera County a big cut of casino revenues.

"For 20 years, $4.5 million comes back just to the county," he said.

However, if voters overturn the deal the tribe has with the state, the money could be gone. But fellow Madera County Supervisor David Rogers still urges a no vote. He is fighting the casino for different economic reasons.

"The people who are hurt worse from gambling are low-income people, we have a city full them, there's 32 percent in poverty," he said.

Rogers acknowledges he has a moral opposition to gambling, believing it hurts the poor. But Indian gaming expert, professor Kenneth Hansen of Fresno State notes the primary opposition to Prop 48 comes from other local casino interests.

"What people don't know is the major backers behind the No on 48 campaign include Table Mountain and Chukchansi and their financial backers," he said.

The Chukchansi Casino in the Madera County foothills is currently closed as the result of a tribal feud and a dispute with the federal government's Indian Gaming Commission. The Table Mountain Casino, located in the foothills east of Fresno is doing a booming business as a result. The competitors have banded together to fight the North Fork project. It's estimated a new casino would siphon about 20 percent of the business from those casinos.

Maryann McGovran says if Prop 48 passes, it will temporarily cloud the economic deal the tribe made with the state and local governments, but will not stop the tribe from building a new casino.

"The voters of California will see us building something in a year. And those who vote no are gonna think hey, we thought we voted no to stop this," she said.

The "No on 48" forces have spent about $11 million on ads, most of the money coming from the Table Mountain Casino and their backers

The North Fork tribe has spent just over $300,000 urging a yes vote.

If the No's win, expect a long court battle to decide whether the vote was legal. Indian gaming expert Kenneth Hansen agrees the North Fork tribe could still build a casino, but it would at least initially have to open without the lucrative high stakes games offered at the competing Table Mountain and Chukchansi casinos.