Judge rejects permanent injunction against slots on American Indian reservations

Thursday, Nov. 13, 1997 | 9:15 a.m.

U.S. District Judge J. Spencer Letts last week turned down federal prosecutors' request for a permanent injunction that would have banned popular and lucrative games like video slots and black jack.

In October, the judge also rejected a preliminary injunction against the reservation casinos, mostly in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Video gambling is illegal in California, and the Wilson administration is trying to negotiate a statewide set of rules with 30 or so tribes phasing out their video slots.

The federal government requires American Indian gambling operations to be sanctioned by a tribal-state compact, but U.S. Attorney Nora Manella in Los Angeles, who oversees the two inland counties, has been more aggressive than her colleagues about pushing for removal of the machines. Federal attorneys in Sacramento and San Diego have been willing to wait out the negotiations.

The judge's decision "reflects a growing tide of legal, law enforcement and political opinion that there should be one rule for the state's policy - that gaming tribes should be able to negotiate with the state for a gaming agreement," the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Nations said in a statement.

The issue of the permanent injunction was to be discussed at a Nov. 17 hearing, but was handled through a conference call last week, said Manella's spokesman, Thom Mrozek.

"We don't consider it any major setback," Mrozek said. "We will continue to litigate this case."

If Gov. Pete Wilson and the tribes reach an agreement, the U.S. attorney's civil lawsuit will be moot, he said.