On The Move: Three Viejas Execs (CA – Viejas Names New Executives)
San Diego Union Tribune (August 13, 2010) Viejas Casino said it has made three executive appointments, including the naming of David Williams  as general manager. Williams, who was most recently vice president of operations for Harrah’s Entertainment, has 18 years of experience in gaming. He has co-authored a textbook on casino gaming methods and has worked in casino operations and marketing for resorts and gaming operations in four other states and New Zealand.
 
Barona's Nick Dillon Promoted to Executive Vice President/Assistant General Manager of Casino Operations (CA – Barona Casino)
Market Wire Press Release(August 12, 2010) Barona Resort & Casino announced today that Nick Dillon has been promoted to executive vice president/assistant general manager. Dillon, who began his career at Barona more than 18 years ago, most recently served as the casino's senior vice president of gaming operations. In his new position, he will help to create a fun casino experience and keep Barona positioned as the premier casino resort destination in the state.
 
City To Sue Pechanga Over Costs Associated with Additional Slots (CA – Pechanga Payment to Temecula)
American Indian Report (August 11, 2010) he city of Temecula plans to file a lawsuit against the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians  in effort to get the tribe to pay millions of dollars to cover the costs associated the 2,000+ slot machines the tribe has added to its casino over the last few years, namely the costs of increased traffic and calls for police officers, Californian.com reported yesterday. The suit, approved unanimously at a city council meeting held yesterday, will be filed in around 45 days.
 
Temecula To File Lawsuit Over Stalled Pechanga Funding Pact (CA – Pechanga Payment to Temecula)
Valley News (August 13, 2010) A funding standoff between Temecula and the Pechanga Indian tribe is expected to trigger a lawsuit soon that could fracture a close relationship between the pair of neighboring jurisdictions. In a unanimous vote, the City Council decided to sue the tribe over a precedent-setting agreement that was reached five months ago. The pact is intended to funnel more than $52 million to Temecula over the next 21 years for police patrols, traffic improvements and work to relocate four exit and entrance freeway ramps
 
Casino Losses Cited In Lopez Investigation (CA – Vista Councilman Gambling Problem)
Trading Markets (August 11, 2010) While bouncing hundreds of checks over a five-year period to employees and local businesses, Vista City Councilman Frank Lopez and his wife, Mary, lost tens of thousands of dollars gambling at a North County casino, a sheriff's sergeant said last week. Sgt. Mark Varnau, with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department financial crimes unit, said the couple lost an estimated $56,000 at the casino between 2004 and 2009.

California Employees Can’t Sue For Tip Violations (CA – Hawaiian Garden Casino - Casino Employees)
Lexology (August 12, 2010) California Labor Code Section 351 prohibits employers from taking “any gratuity or a part thereof that is paid, given to, or left for an employee by a patron.” Section 354 further provides that, if an employer improperly takes tips designated for its employees, the employer is guilty of a misdemeanor and liable for a fine of up to $1,000.00.  While Section 351 is clear that gratuities are “the sole property of the employee or employees to whom it was paid,” the section is silent regarding whether an aggrieved employee may bring a private cause of action for violation of that section.

Indian Gaming Hopefuls Tested By Patience, Politics Over Land-Into-Trust Process (US – Land Into Trust Issues)

Victor Rocha (August 12, 2010) The "land into trust" concept for approving tribal acquisition of off-reservation acreage for various purposes – including gaming – has proven to be so unnerving and time-consuming that it is clearly difficult for non-tribal members to appreciate. One issue clearly revolves around the time horizons, which require extraordinary patience. Another revolves around the concept of "trust," which has various meanings.

NFL No Longer Opposes Online Gambling and Poker Regulation (US – Online Gaming Legislation)

Suite 101 (August 12, 2010) t is being reported on August 10, 2010 that the National Football League is no longer opposing Congressman Barney Frank's (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (HR 2267) that aims at legalizing online gambling and ending the use of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The NFL has held a long standing opposition against Congressman Frank's bill due to its original legalization of online sports betting.

House Bill Would Establish Federal Oversight on Online Gambling (US – Online Gaming Legislation)

NACS Online (August 11, 2010) A bill currently before the House would create federal supervision for online gambling sites, the Lottery Post  reports. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) sponsored HR 2267, which passed his committee two weeks ago. The House will probably vote on the legislation before the end of this year’s session. If the bill does advance that far, it will be the farthest an online gambling law has gotten on the federal level.

Lenders, Majority Owners Win Station Casinos (NV – Station Casino Update)

Indian Country Today (August 10, 2010) Station Casinos founders Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta on Aug. 6 won formal approval from a federal bankruptcy judge in Reno to keep ownership of most of their company. At issue was ownership of 11 casinos in Nevada that are mostly geared toward Las Vegas locals plus other company business. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gregg Zive approved a $772 million bid for the casinos from the Fertittas and their primary lenders and Colony Capital as the best offer.