Bill Making Its Way Through House to Ban New Jersey Online Gambling

I wonder how much lobbying dollars it will cost to kill this bill...

Proposed ban on N.J. online gambling still brewing in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Proposed federal legislation that would outlaw online gambling in New Jersey and the two other states that allow it got a second hearing Wednesday.

The bill's chief sponsor, U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) expressed concern that residents of states that outlaw gambling, either in casinos or online, would be able to play anyway.

"It's naive at best to think you can put a wall on the Internet," said Chaffetz, chairman of the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which conducted the hearing. Chaffetz also presided over a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the bill in March.

Read Full Article Here-->Proposed ban on N.J. online gambling still brewing in D.C.

Kevin Washburn Stepping Down

Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs (AS-IA) has decided he has had enough.

Head of US Bureau of Indian Affairs announces resignation

By Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs announced Thursday that he is resigning and will return to New Mexico as a law professor.

Kevin Washburn, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, has been on leave from the University of New Mexico since he was selected in 2012 to oversee Indian Affairs for the federal government. He said issues confronting Indian Country, such as youth suicides, have weighed heavily on him, and he wants to dedicate more time to family.

"The responsibilities are just immense, and the challenges are great," he told The Associated Press. "Frankly, it's taken a couple of centuries for the problems to get this bad, and it will take a long time to solve them." [Emph. Added]

Washburn described as recent successes settlements over the bureau's mismanagement of royalties for natural resources on reservations, the reform of leasing regulations, better coordination with tribes and a push for tribes to take over education of their children.

Read Full Article Here-->Head of US Bureau of Indian Affairs announces resignation

A Very Merry Christmas From Pala Interactive

PalaCasino.com Announces $25,000 Holiday Celebration

New Jersey Players Can Win Major Prizes This Holiday Season on PalaCasino.com

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This December, PalaCasino.com is spreading the holiday cheer by giving New Jersey players the chance to win big. Today, the Company announced that it will be hosting "The PalaCasino.com $25,000 Holiday Celebration" to give players the chance to win $25,000 in prizes and bonuses including popular electronics such as Apple and Microsoft tablets, a HDTV, an Apple Watch, shopping gift cards and an Atlantic City hotel package, among many others. In addition to sought-after holiday prizes, all PalaCasino.com players will have an opportunity to earn a share in a $10,000 PalaCasino.com Bonus Cash prize pool.

"The PalaCasino.com $25,000 Holiday Celebration" will run from December 1st, 2015 through December 31st, 2015. All winners will be announced on PalaCasino.com within 72 hours of each promotion day.

"With $25,000 in prizes and bonuses available, PalaCasino.com will be the place to play and win this December," said Jeremy Clemons, Chief Marketing Officer at Pala Interactive. "The Holiday Celebration is a terrific opportunity to thank the players that make PalaCasino.com their New Jersey home for online casino action and allows a tremendous opportunity to introduce new players to our online and mobile offering, which features more than 155 casino games including 126 slot titles." 

To participate in "$25,000 PalaCasino.com Holiday Celebration," players that deposit at least $25 dollars and wager of at least $100 will be entered into a random drawing for that day's featured Holiday prize.  Also, players that qualify for the featured Holiday prize at least 12 days during the December promotion will earn a guaranteed share in a $10,000 Casino Bonus prize pool.

Additionally, PalaCasino.com will offer new customers a $20 "Welcome Bonus," a "Double Your 1st Deposit Bonus" up to $100 and provide players to take a free daily slot spin for the chance to win $1,000,000.

For more information on rules and an alternative method of entry, as well as the full list of games and prizes, please visit www.PalaCasino.com. 

About Pala Interactive, LLC Pala Interactive, LLC in an online real money and social gaming operator that was founded in 2013 in anticipation of upcoming U.S. state legislation permitting  real-money internet wagering.  Focused on delivering an excellent user experience to consumers through its proprietary platform, Pala Interactive plans to be a material market participant in the U.S. regulated online gaming market.  The Company's majority shareholder is the Pala Band of Mission Indians, which owns and operates the Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, California.  

SOURCE Pala Interactive, LLC

Pala's Robert Smith Building $5.6 Million Dollar RV Resort

Pala starts construction on 10-acre RV resort near casino

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Pala Casino Spa and Resort has started construction of a $5.6 million, 10-acre RV resort that will be adjacent to the hotel-casino on Highway 76 in Pala. The RV resort is scheduled to be open to the public in late May 2016.

The RV resort will offer 100 full-service sites. Twenty, 30 and 50 amps of electrical service will be available for RVs and trailers from 55 to 70 feet. Seventy-seven will be 20' x 55' back-in sites; six will be 20' x 60' luxury sites equipped with barbecue grills and 17 will be 20' x 70' premium pull-through sites. All will have a grassy area with a picnic table, electrical, water and sewer hookups and free wi-fi and cable television service.

The RV resort will feature a luxury resort clubhouse with a heated swimming pool and two spas. Indoor amenities will feature a billiard table, card tables, three flat-screen televisions and a laundromat. Outdoors, RVers will have access to five barbecue grills, two table-tennis games, two horseshoe pits and a fenced doggy park. A separate building also will house two restrooms and shower facilities. Visitors will be provided a key card to access the swimming pool, laundromat and restrooms/showers.

The Pala Mini-Mart will be conveniently located across the parking lot and offers a wide selection of wine, beer, beverages, tobacco products, snacks and fresh produce. The Mini-Mart's Deli & More offers a variety of fresh meats, "made-to-order" sandwiches and fresh pizzas. The Pala gas station provides all grades of fuel, including diesel, and dedicated propane fuel.

The RV resort will provide 24-hour shuttle service to Pala's hotel and casino and a 10% discount to RV groups of 10 or more.

"This new state-of-the-art RV Resort continues our commitment to our guests to provide the best gaming and entertainment experience, and the best service, in Southern California," said Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. "We look forward to its grand opening." 

Thanksgiving with Wednesday Addams

Quotes For Thoughts

"You assist an evil system most effectively by obeying its orders and decrees." - Mahatma Gandhi

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." – Chinese Proverb

"Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right." – Henry Ford

"Half this game is ninety percent mental." - Yogi Berra

"I must follow my people, for I am their leader" -Mahatma Gandhi

" The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any." – Alice Walker

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." - Plato

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is." - Yogi Berra

"The expert knows more and more about less and less until he knows everything about nothing" - Mahatma Gandhi

"You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." – Wayne Gretzky

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." - Mahatma Gandhi

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." – Plato

"Life is about making an impact, not making an income." – Kevin Kruse

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." – Amelia Earhart

"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." – Babe Ruth

"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." – Henry Ford

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

"The best revenge is massive success." – Frank Sinatra

"I may be despicable person, but when Truth speaks through me I am Invincible." - Mahatma Gandhi

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr.

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." - Martin Luther King Jr.

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
- Napoleon Bonaparte

"If you are going through hell, keep going."
- Sir Winston Churchill

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."
- unknown

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene

"Many wealthy people are little more than janitors of their possessions."
- Frank Lloyd Wright

"If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars."
- J. Paul Getty

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

"The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." - Martin Luther King Jr, Theodore Parker

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."
- Auric Goldfinger, in "Goldfinger" by Ian L. Fleming

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
- Mario Andretti

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."
- Henry Ford

"When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." - Buckminster Fuller

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important." - Bertrand Russell

"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

"No one can earn a million dollars honestly." - William Jennings Bryan

"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." - John F. Kennedy

"A man can't be too careful in the choice of his enemies." - Oscar Wilde

"You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before." - Mae West

"Men have become the tools of their tools." - Henry David Thoreau

"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Sir Winston Churchill

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

"A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood." - General George S. Patton

"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." - Tom Clancy

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain

"It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." - Niccolo Machiavelli

"Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame." - Benjamin Franklin

"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing." - Wernher Von Braun

"There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." - Oscar Wilde

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced." - Soren Kierkegaard

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." - Robert Frost

Pala Interactive Ramping Up Business

Pala Interactive in the news:

Pala Interactive adds new content and payment method to NJ site


Pala Interactive, the iGaming arm of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, is adding 65 online and mobile games to its New Jersey licensed iGaming offering, alongside a new payment method to ease player deposits.


read full article here-->Pala Interactive adds new content and payment method to NJ site

Also:

New Jersey iPoker Down 2.8% to $1.91m in October

Continuing to lead the Garden State’s iPoker market is the Borgata (PartyPoker/Pala Interactive) with $1,079,478 in revenues last month, while Caesars Interactive (888/WSOP) was a little further behind on $833,925.

Read Full Article Here-->New Jersey iPoker Down 2.8% to $1.91m in October

Winner winner chicken dinner - per caps raise all around next year for PBMI members!

If you want to read the $100 Million MOU setting up Pala Interactive go here.

Here are some excerpts:

NGS3 pursuant to the Development Agreement and for the period of time in between the
Development Agreemcnt and the Operating Agreement and all License Fees and License
application and processing fees for the initial License, in exchange for a 62.5% Percentage
Interest:

(b) NGS3 will contribute the Technology and associated IP. business plan and
expertise in exchange for a 28.5% Percentage Interest.
3.3 "Additional Membership Interests" will be issued as follows:

(a) 5% to the CEO of Pala Interactive: and

(b) 4% to PBMI designated Management.

(c) The Additional Membership Interests will be subject to customary vesting
and other provisions in order to avoid adverse tax consequences to additional Members. the
Additional Membership Interests will be structured as profits interests which will entitle the
Additional members to participate in operating profits and any increase in the equity of Pala
Interactive beyond the initial $100M Capital Contributions through ongoing "Distributions
from Operations" and "Distributions from Capital Transactions'" as defined below.

d) The Board of Directors will have authority to issue additional Membership
Interests in the future, for such consideration and upon such tenns and conditions as they shall
deem prudent, subject to the consent and approval of a Super Majority of the Board andlor the
Members, as further described below. To the extent additional Membership Interests are Issued
in the future, beyond the CEO and PBMI Management contemplated above. all Membership
Interests will be proportionally diluted; provided NGS3's 28.5% interest shall not be subject to
dilution. unless and until PBMI( has contributed its full $70M Capital Contribution.

#
(d) Profit Sharing Interests. It is anticipated that Pala Interactive will
establish a phantom stock or other profit sharing plan (the "'Phantom Plan") for key employees
and/or Independent Contractors, pursuant to which those employees will also share in
Distributions of Distributable Cash from Operations and Capital Transactions in accordance
with their respective interests in the Phantom Plan.

3.5 Management. The day to day business and affairs of Pala Interactive will be
managed and conducted by the Managers/Directors. who will function as a Board of Directors.

(a) There will be 5 Directors, 3 to be appointed by PBMI (one of whom will
be the Chairman of PBMI) and 2 to be appointed by NGS3. Generally. decisions of the Board
will require the consent or approval of a majority of the Directors. However, certain "Key
Decisions" will require the consent or approval of "Super Majority" (4 of 5) Directors.
#
(b) The Operating Officers of Pala Interactive are set forth below. Each
Officer will receive a salary and may be eligible to participate in the Phantom Plan~ in
accordance with policies and guidelines to be adopted by the Board. The specific responsibilities
and authority of each Officer will be determined by the Board as well.

ChiefExecutive Officer - Jim Ryan (pending)
ChiefOperating Officer - Reeve Collins
Chief Marketing Officer - TBD
ChiefFinancial Officer - Shauna Anton
ChiefCommunication Officer - Kasey Thompson
ChiefTechnology Officer - Dean Abramson
ChiefStrategic Officer - Bill Bembenek

Agua Caliente Cupeno v Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn

We are Cupeno.  We were forcibly removed by the U.S. Government in 1903 from our village at Kupa which is known today as Warner's Hot Springs.  The U.S. Government bought land for us adjacent to the Pala Luiseno Reservation (Old Pala) in an attempt to replace what we have lost.  They called us Warner Ranch Evictees.  

For too long the Cupeno have pushed around.  It is time for the Cupeno to stand up and be proud of who they are once again.  It is time we stop the Executive Committee of PBMI from continually pushing us around, evicting us, stripping us of our rights, and trying to destroy who we are as a people.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE - YOU MAKE US PROUD

Agua Caliente Cupeno v Washburn

The Father of Margarita Brittain - Pelegrino Ortega

The report on heirship for Merced Nolasquez lists Pelegrino Ortega as the father of Margarita Brittain and Merced.  This is nothing new.  We know this as Carolina testified that Merced and Margarita had the same father but different mothers.  Miguella Owlinguish was Margarita's mother.  Who was Merced's mother?

We also know Robert Smith and the rest of his cronies on the Executive Committee ignore all the evidence we provide.  It is said Robert tells everyone that PBMI now uses the 1928 California Indian Judgement Rolls (CIJR) as the base roll of PBMI instead of the 1913 Allotment Rolls.  This is a violation of Robert's illegal Constitution.  But beyond that if Robert is really using the 1928 CIJR applications as the base roll of PBMI then everyone should be concerned since half the membership of PBMI could easily be wiped off the rolls using the 1928 CIJR as justification.

1921 July 23 Number 91 Merced Nolasquez 208 Report on Heirship

Testimony of Carolina Nolasquez by kupa821

Robert Smith - Chariman of the Luisenos

Once again BIA Pacific Regional Director Amy Dutschke refers to Robert Smith as Chairman of the Luisenos in April of 2015.  Yesterday this video was published claiming Robert Smith to be Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians.  In this video Robert says "As chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, I am dedicated to preserving our place in California’s history."

What's your place in California History Robert?  Trying to claim the Cupeno and Luiseno are "one people"?  Disenrolling and disenfranchising descendants of Warner Ranch Evictees?  Conducting business as Chairman of the Luisenos and masquerading as Chairman of PBMI?

Robert Smith Chairman of the Luisenos

Cupa News Number 6

CUPA NEWS 6

Questions For the Next PBMI General Council Meeting

I would like to thank commenters for raising important issues that need to be addressed at the next General Council meeting.

Here are some questions and issues that should be raised:

First off the meeting is being held on Veteran's Day.  Robert has always disrepected Veterans as well as elders.  This meeting should be canceled.

Where is Howard Dickstein's Contract?  Why is he not on the list?  Kilma said Howard was getting 5% of the casino revenue each month.  Who approved that?

How many contacts did Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo really have? First she was hired as an individual, then through Karshmer and Associates, and now through Dentons US LLP.
 
We all know Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo was hired to help disenroll the Brittains.  Why should the tribe pay for an attorney who hurts its own membership.

Who gets to approve Sara's contract?  Her Aunt who happens to be BIA Pacific Regional Director Amy Dutschke?

Where is Karshmer's Contract?  She was working for the tribe for how long?  Since Karshmer is the one that reviewed the Constitution she should know attorney's contracts need General Council Approval and Secretary of the Interior Approval.

Anyone remember when Karshmer got term limits reversed?

Newsflash Kimberly Kluff no longer works for Foreman and Associates.  She currently works for Morongo.

Robert is trying to even get retroactive approval for contracts that are no longer in operation.

What are these attorneys doing for the tribe?  Obviously these attorneys are not representing the tribe, they are representing Robert.  Why does Robert need so many attorneys?

How much are these attorneys getting paid?

Since these contracts pre-dated the Brittains being disenrolled shouldn't they be allowed to vote on them as well since they are affected parties?

Robert Smith's illegal Constitution cannot be amended at a General Council meeting.  It's too late to go on the ballot for the General Election.  It would have to be a General Election called specifically to amend the illegal Constitution.

Don't give the Executive Committee power to remove members and non-members without General Council approval.  To do that would require a Constitutional amendment anyway to transfer that power.  The Executive Committee should make their case for removal of each individual they are targeting to the General Council.  Too often the Executive Committee has used their power to punish and hurt others they view as political opponents.

PBMI members should ask for a bonus for $30K especially since this will be the last year the Brittains are not on the rolls.  If Robert asks where is the money going come from, tell him from the Tribal Gaming Authority which is authorized to expend from the gross revenues for per capita.

If he says there is no money tell him to get it from Pala Interactive,  the avocado grove, lease monies, property investments, and other ventures unknown to the GeneralCouncil.  Robert can also sell 50 of the tribes vehicles and sell the Jets.  Who needs golf anyway.  There's always Sage Capital.  Dividends are high this year, sell some stock.  Maybe the bonus should be $40K.

By the way, where did the minor trust funds go?  Perhaps $50K is more appropriate.

PBMI General Council Meeting Nov 11, 2015 Agenda

November's PBMI General Council meeting agenda items largely relate to the lawsuit filed against Dentons US LLP and Robert Smith.  There's a lot going on here including amending the Constitution at a General Council meeting and approval of multiple attorney contracts.  Looks like another power grab by the Executive Committee.


PBMI General Council Meeting Nov 11 2015 Agenda

1984 and 1989

It seems some people are either confused or trying to create confusion.

In 1984 the General Council voted to correct Margarita Brittain's blood degree.

In 1989 the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs made  final determination that Margarita Brittain is fullblood.

On June 1st, 2011 Pala's Executive Committee voted to disenroll 8 Margarita Brittain descendants.

In February of 2012 Pala's Executive Committee voted to disnenroll 162 more Margarita Brittian descendants.


1984 Pala General Council Votes To Correct Margarita Brittain's Blood Degree To Fullblood

September 11, 1989 Department of the Interior Lettter to Pala Chairperson Patricia Nelson On Margarita Brit...

Lawsuit Filed Against Dentons US LLP and Robert Smith

William James Pink v Dentons US LLP, Robert Smith

King Freeman's Letter to Dentons US LLP

King Freeman Letter to Dentons US LLP by kupa821

Pala Interactive Launches Cell Phone App - Business Up 25%

Pala Interactive launched a cell phone app so players in New Jersey can play poker on their cell phones.  Looks like the $70 million to $100 Million dollar investment PBMI members made into Pala Interactive might be starting to pay off.  Rumor has it there could be a  bonus from online poker to PBMI members toward the end of this year or early next year.  For that kind of investment into a venture one typically looks for a 20% return on investment within 3 to 5 years.  Of course nothing is guaranteed and so far there appears to be no hope for California Online Poker in 2015.

Press Release:

Pala Casino launches iOS app in New Jersey

Excerpt:

17 September 2015

Just after Labor Day, Pala Casino quietly rolled out an iOS app, allowing people located within New Jersey to play its online casino games on their iPhone or iPad. Even Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan was surprised by how quickly players adopted it.

"We haven't marketed it in any meaningful way up until today, and our business is up 25%," said Ryan.

Read Full Press Release Here-->Pala Casino launches iOS app in New Jersey

Andrew W. Twietmeyer's Letter to Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo

Andrew W. Twietmeyer Letter to Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo

Robert Smith Agrees That Margarita Brittain's Daughter is 1/2

This is a document signed by Robert Smith acknowledging that the Daughter of Margarita Brittain (Britten), Casilda Welmas, is 1/2 Indian.

  Robert Smith Acknowledges that the Daughter of Margarita Brittain is 1/2 Degree Indian Blood

1984 Pala General Council Meeting

1984 Pala General Council Votes To Correct Margarita Brittain's Blood Degree To Fullblood

BIA Enrollment Specialist Elsie Lucero - Affidavit

Elsie Lucero Affidavit Filing May 30 2012

Evictions

Seems all Pala's EC does anymore is evict people.  Warner Ranch Indians got evicted from Kupa.  They got disenrolled by mostly non-Cupeno.  And now they are being evicted again.

Kenny Johnson and Gina Howard are both Margarita Brittain descendants.  Must be just a coincidence they are being targeted for eviction.

I cannot speak for the other people named on the agenda because I do not know them.  But I can say there is no reason to evict Kenny and Gina other than pure spite on the part of Robert Smith.

2015 September 9th Pala Meeting Agenda

1989

Margarita Britten Determined to be fullblood 4/4 Cupa FINAL

  September 11, 1989 Department of the Interior Lettter to Pala Chairperson Patricia Nelson On Margarita Brit...

Margarita Brittain Fullblood Cupa Indian

1962 Feb 27 Letter from the Department of the Interior - Margarita Britten Full Blood Cupa Indian

Carolina Nolasquez testifies Margarita and Merced had the same father.

1921 July 22 Sworn Testimony Carolina Nolasquez at the Probate Hearing for Merced Nolasquez by kupa821

5 Points

5 Points Enrollment Committee

Cupa News 3

Cupa News 3

Two Chairmen, Two Reservations?

Amended Detailed Response to Tribal-State Association Objections to Internal Control Standards (CGCC-8)

2000 5 May Kevin Gover to Robert Smith by kupa821

Pblmi Tribal Court

Remijo Lugo - Teamster

Remijo Lugo was one of the teamsters that helped remove the San Felipe Indians and relocate them to Pala in September 1903.

Remijo Lugo - Teamster

Henry Smith

Henry Smith

Pala Poker In The News

Pala Poker Waiting On PokerStars Before Entering US Market

#
Pala Poker is holding off on paying the ante in New Jersey, and while the company launched its casino product in November of last year, it believes following PokerStars’ anticipated entry in the third-quarter of 2015 is a more opportune time to debut.

“We will offer Pala Poker in the New Jersey market, but we’ll do it after PokerStars launches,” Jim Ryan, Pala Interactive CEO told CalvinAyre.com recently. “PokerStars has taken the position that when they come into the market they’ll increase consumer awareness and the market will grow; we can only hope that that’s accurate.”

Read Full Article Here-->Pala Poker Waiting On PokerStars Before Entering US Market

California Online Poker May Get August Vote

onlinepokerreport.com - American Indians, Tracks, Card Rooms To Press For Online Poker Despite Pechanga Coalition

Aiming for August vote on poker bill

The San Manuel and Morongo Mission Indians, the Rincon and Pala Luiseño Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community are aligned with Amaya/PokerStars and card rooms in a strong effort to get an online poker bill out of the 2015 session.

The horse racing industry and its organized labor is moving on a similar but parallel track, with all the stakeholders hoping to overcome political opposition from the Pechanga and Agua Caliente group.

“This is the biggest coalition yet behind Internet poker,” said Robyn Black of Eclipse Government Affairs, a lobby for the racing industry.

“If we get consumer groups you’re going to see the coalition grow. If it isn’t a success in 2015 it will be a force in 2016.”

Read more here -->onlinepokerreport.com - American Indians, Tracks, Card Rooms To Press For Online Poker Despite Pechanga Coalition

Robert Smith - Chairman of the Luisenos

It appears Pala has two chairmen - Robert Smith Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians and Robert Smith Chairman of the Luiseno Indians.  Inside Pala, Robert Smith is known as the Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians.  Outside Pala when conducting business such as internet gaming Robert Smith is known as the Chairman of the Pala Luisenos.  BIA Pacific Regional Director Amy Dutschke when conducting business with Robert Smith in 2014 refers to him as Chairman, Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians.  The letter below seems to indicate Robert Smith Chairman of the Luisenos is seeking to add more land to Old Pala.

Pala 345 Acre NOD

Cross-Post How Tribal Leaders and Their Cohorts Can Steal Money From Tribal Members

This was posted at Original Pechanga Blog.  This is just an excerpt!  There's more here:  Full Article How Tribal Leaders and Their Cohorts Can Steal Money From Tribal Members

How Tribal Leaders and Their Cohorts Can Steal Money From Tribal Members

A first entry from guest blogger Free Range Indian is a piece on how tribal members can get bilked by tribal leaders and the gaming business entity for the tribe.  A primer of what can happen.

How do Tribal Leaders and Their Cohorts Steal So Much Money FROM YOU

First of all let us understand that even a trained monkey can run a casino. There is no genius involved. You put a machine in the middle of the floor. People put money in it. You collect the money. It is after the money is collected that the problem begins. One rule to remember here, Crooks go where the money is. It is very hard to be a thief when there is nothing to steal.

he first order of business is the development of policies that favor theft. Re-written constitutions and ordinances that only your attorney can understand and what they understand is that you have surrendered all you authority to them. Adoption of Management Agreements that are designed to get around the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) If there was ever a piece of legislation that legalized theft in Indian Country IGRA is it. IGRA is responsible for so many violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) because it does not provide for real oversight, investigative powers and authority or enforcement over Indian Gaming. By the time the attorneys and lobbyist were done with IGRA it was full on open season in Indian Country.
So let’s get down to the nitty gritty then. 

How does the theft occur?

Manipulation of definitions as to what Net Profit and Gross Profit mean are the first order of business. Any time you question what the net earnings were for your casino there is never a straight answer and you are deemed as stupid for not understanding the financial report. So you have an Indian Gaming Authority (IGA) approved Tribal Revenue Allocation Plan (TRAP). It is supposed to protect you from dishonesty and allow equitable distribution of revenues in a manner approved by the Tribe.

So which is it? Is your share of the profits from the net or the gross? In a perfect world all of the revenue earnings of the casino should be deposited with the tribe then the casino asks for an approved operating budget for monthly or quarterly operation of the casino. What is left is the net earning and it is from these net earnings that the TRAP funds are derived.

What is the real life situation? Some Tribal leaders allow the casino management to determine how much money is sent to the Tribe as net profit. If management was truly greedy they would just expense you out every month and you would receive nothing. But they know they can’t do this and get away with it for very long.

You alone are responsible for what comes next. Management, along with corrupt tribal leaders, gaming commissions and accountants begin a systematic testing of what makes you happy. How much money makes you happy. They start with a number that is low and will keep it there if you never challenge them. You know that according to your TRAP you are entitled to 40% of the net earnings. (40% as an example). The math is simple. If your casino has a net of $20,000,000 per month then your monthly per-capita should be $8,000,000 and then divided by the number of tribal members of the tribe. If there are 1,000 members in your tribe this should equal a payment of $8,000 per month. But you are only receiving $4,000 a month. What happened to the other $4,000? More realistic, what happened to the other $4,000,000?

What happens after you discover the discrepancy and how it is corrected is now your responsibility. This is where the lies and cover up begins. We have heard every excuse and reason imaginable as to why your per capita is not what it should be.

New construction is probably one of the easiest ways to manipulate casino revenues. Is your casino stuck in continuous construction, remodeling and upgrades? Do you really need it? The real question is why is the cost of construction coming out of your per capita when it should be coming out of economic development. Even more the question is who authorized the new construction and the source of funds?

 Full Article How Tribal Leaders and Their Cohorts Can Steal Money From Tribal Members

No California Online Poker in 2015

California Online Poker Shelved For 2015 According To Tribal Lobbyist

June 10th, 2015 | by Greg Shaun

California online poker has the potential to provide a drastic and much-needed boost to the overall health of online poker, but one tribal lobbyist in opposition of such legislation says 2015 won’t be the year.

According to David Quintana, a lobbyist representing the California Tribal Business Alliance, State Sen. Isadore Hall (D-District 35) has assured tribal organizations that the Senate Government Organization Committee (GO) that he chairs has no plans to tackle online poker this year.

Quintana told Capitol Weekly, a media outlet that covers California government and politics, that Hall “will not be setting or hearing any Internet poker bills this year.”

Read Full Article Here ->California Online Poker Shelved For 2015 According To Tribal Lobbyist


Robert Smith is Secretary/Treasurer for the California Tribal Business Alliance

Cracks In The Tribal Sovereignty Shield Are Starting To Appear

For over a decade corrupt tribal leaders all across the United States have used the shield of Tribal Sovereignty to protect themselves from prosecution.  As more and more cases work their way through  the courts many Judges are left scratching their heads wondering how this could happen and wondering when Congress will do something.

Sure, a few people have gone to jail such as Michael Thomas, the former Mashantucket Pequot tribal chairman.  But most tribal leaders just continue on in their corrupt ways.  They have learned much from the U.S. Government.  They have learned how to bribe, I mean "Lobby", Congress.  They have learned how to donate to political campaigns in return for favors.  They have learned how to use their money, I mean influence, to get their way.

But perhaps, just perhaps, things are starting to change:

(h/t originalpechanga.com)

The Press Enterprise - Ruling a setback for tribal sovereignty Court of Appeal ruling exposes a chink in the sovereign armor of the state’s tribes.

BY AARON CLAVERIE / STAFF WRITER
Published: May 29, 2015 Updated: May 30, 2015 8:43 p.m.

Excerpts:
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The ruling, which was handed down Thursday, reverses a Riverside trial court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a former casino dealer against five members of the Pechanga Gaming Commission who had revoked the dealer’s gaming license.

In 2013, the trial court dismissed the case filed by Benedict Cosentino of Temecula, saying the tribe was a sovereign nation and state courts did not have jurisdiction in the matter.
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Cosentino appealed the Riverside court’s decision. This week’s ruling said the individual actions of particular commissioners do not shield them from liability if they use their official position to “intentionally harm” someone. (emph. added).

Read Full Article Here-->The Press Enterprise - Ruling a setback for tribal sovereignty Court of Appeal ruling exposes a chink in the sovereign armor of the state’s tribes.

Pala Interactive Launch Delayed

pokerfuse.com Pala Interactive Puts Online Poker “On Hold” In New Jersey

Ryan said that the plan has changed. “We put that on hold because we do expect PokerStars to enter the market,” Ryan stated about Pala Poker.

Ryan revealed that the company did not expect to garner a large market share anyway, but that the lack of potential liquidity in the market was also a contributing factor in the decision. “[L]iquidity is obviously a challenge, we’ve seen one poker network already exit the marketplace,” Ryan said in reference to the closing of Ultimate Poker last year.

Read Full Article Here-->pokerfuse.com Pala Interactive Puts Online Poker “On Hold” In New Jersey

Also:

calvinayre.com BECKY’S AFFILIATED: JIM RYAN ON PALA INTERACTIVE AND THE STATE OF US REGULATED REAL MONEY GAMING

4flush.com New Jersey Online Poker Launch by Pala Interactive Postponed

Pala Casino Renovation Project

Pala starts $5 million renovation project

19 February 2015

PALA, Calif. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Pala Casino Resort and Spa has started a $5 million construction project that will add new venues to the property and renovate several existing restaurants. It also will add a permanent outdoor stage to Pala’s popular Starlight Theatre. All elements are slated to be completed and open to the public just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. Specific opening dates will be announced.

The cornerstone will be CAVE, a new 6,000-square-foot, full-service dining experience, bar, lounge, underground wine cave and entertainment complex. CAVE will build on the success of Mama’s Cucina Italiana, the restaurant it will replace. Mama’s popular Italian Chef Luciano Cibelli and his entire staff will remain to ensure the quality of CAVE’s “Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian flair.” CAVE also will offer an extensive wine list from Napa Valley, Sonoma, France, Italy and Australia, a wide variety of wines by the glass and a creative selection of large-format bottles. The CAVE lounge also will provide an imaginative menu of craft cocktails.

The subterranean wine cave will be one of a kind and will provide a unique, elegant setting for wine enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite selection. Atop the wine cave Pala will build a permanent outdoor concert stage which will host a diverse schedule of headline entertainers in the Starlight Theatre. The spring/summer concert series will kick-off Saturday, May 23 with Queen Nation and Zeppelin USA followed on Friday, May 29 with Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

“Chef Luciano’s new CAVE menu will offer many of the authentic Italian dishes for which Mama’s was well- known, but will add many new Mediterranean specialties as well,” said Bill Bembenek, Pala’s chief executive officer. CAVE’s menu will include “small bites” of Beef Tartare, Tuna Crudo, Lamb Carpaccio, Chicken Liver Cognac Pate, Bruschetta and Charcuterie selections of Cured Meats and Cheeses. Appetizers will include Chef Luciano’s family recipes for Octopus, Mussels, Clams, Escargot, Quail and Foie Gras. CAVE will also offer fresh pasta dishes and salads while entrées will include Carbonara with Pancetta, Chef’s Daily Ravioli, Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu, Muscovy Duck, Luciano’s Daily Risotto, Prime Filet or Rib-Eye Steaks and daily selections of fresh Fish, Shrimp and Lobster.

In conjunction with the opening of CAVE, Pala also will unveil Luis Rey’s, a new indoor-outdoor entertainment venue with a patio lounge and bar. Luis Rey’s will bring the scenic, mountain views that are unique to Pala into a comfortable, casual patio bar with live entertainment. Its menu will offer a blend of appetizers from around the U.S. and Mexico to include Pala’s famous Street Tacos, Carne Asada Nachos, Taquitos, Empanadas, Grilled Halibut Tacos, Ahi Tuna Carnitas, Ahi Tuna Poke, Oyster Shooters, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Coconut Shrimp, a selection of Sliders, Wings and Specialty Burgers, Fish and Chips, Beer or Chicken Satay, Egg Rolls, Lettuce Wraps, Fried Frog Legs and additional bar appetizers. Luis Rey’s will also feature a wide variety of local craft beers from San Diego and Mexico, craft cocktails and Tequila. Luis Rey’s guests also will enjoy live bands performing on stage during weekend evenings and holidays.

CEO of Pala Interactive Jim Ryan Concerned Online Gaming Could Be Made Illegal

Sheldon Adelson is throwing a lot of money at various members of Congress doing everything he can to get anti-onling gaming legislation passed.  Of course this is completely transparent on Adelson's part.  He owns several large brick and mortar casinos which he worries will lose revenue if online gaming becomes legal.

There was once hope a couple of years ago that Congress would legalize all or at least some forms of online gaming.  That hope has now faded.  Pala Interactive's CEO Jim Ryan thinks there's a good chance anti-online gaming legislation can pass through Congress.

Pala Interactive’s Jim Ryan Says Federal Ban of iGaming Has “A Good Shot of Passing”

By Steve Larson

Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan recently expressed strong concerns that the Restoration of the Wire Act legislation could pass in 2015. Mr. Ryan, who is the former CEO of Party Gaming, said that the RAWA has a much better chance of passing in 2015 than it did in 2014.

The gaming executive spoke on a number of subjects, including his own company’s plans for 2015 and the chances of state-level online gaming legislation passing this year. The quotes seized upon by the online gambling community were those involving legislation introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Jason Chaffetz of Utah last week.

Jim Ryan Online Gambling Quotes Quotes

Jim Ryan spoke to the website Pocket Fives recently. He said, “I think Adelson’s legislation has a good shot of passing. We have a Republican-controlled Congress and a well-financed political effort to amend the Wire Act. This is the most significant threat we’ve had post-Black Friday.”

Mr. Ryan says that Sheldon Adelson and his congressional allies’ arguments are simply wrong. Ryan said, “They’re worried about underage gambling and terrorism. Why push it into the black market as opposed to regulating it? I would love to get involved in the debate when that point is discussed.”

Read Full Article Here-->Pala Interactive’s Jim Ryan Says Federal Ban of iGaming Has “A Good Shot of Passing”

Sheldon Adelson Continues Push to Stop Online Gambling

National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling

Is the billionaire casino magnate already exerting his influence over the new Congress?

BY DUSTIN VOLZ

House lawmakers Wednesday are reintroducing a bill that would effectively ban betting sites in the U.S.

The Restoration of America's Wire Act, spearheaded by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, would "restore" a decades-old federal ban on some gambling operations by extending it to include Internet gaming. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, is introducing the bill with six GOP cosponsors and the backing of one Democrat, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. The three-page measure is the same as the one Chaffetz introduced last year.

An aide for Sen. Lindsey Graham confirmed that the South Carolina Republican also intends to reintroduce a version of the bill, though he said a timetable was unclear. The companion bills debuted last spring but never gained much traction.

The House reintroduction renews a long-standing fight between Internet gambling sites, brick-and-mortar casino owners, and family-values advocates.

Chaffetz told reporters Wednesday that online gambling presents a troubling family-values threat because of the ease with which players can sign up and start betting.

Read Full Article Here ->National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling

California Online Poker

UT San Diego - CA to legalize online poker?

By Chris Nichols

SACRAMENTO — Will 2015 be the year California legalizes online poker?

Two lawmakers at the state Capitol are betting big that it will be. 

But their competing bills, introduced early this session, show there’s still strong disagreement about which industry players should control and benefit from the popular, and lucrative, business.

Candidates include card clubs, Indian tribes, race tracks and out-of-state gaming companies. 

Lawmakers and these groups have failed for nearly a decade to craft rules for who should control state-regulated poker sites and how much they should pay to do so. During this time, thousands of California poker players have migrated to playing online through unauthorized, often untrustworthy sites based overseas, letting industry and tax money slip away.

With hundreds of millions in revenue at stake, potential operators including San Diego County’s Indian tribes want action, not more delay.
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The Pala Band of Mission Indians, based in North San Diego County, established an Internet poker website for New Jersey residents last fall, becoming the first tribe to break into the online gaming market. A spokesman for the tribe declined comment for this article.

While Pala is considered among the most aggressive on the topic, many other tribes are eager to play a hand in online poker.

Read Full Article Here ->UT San Diego - CA to legalize online poker?

Santa Ysabel Claims Sovereignty - Seeks Case Dismissal Over Online Poker

Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel Files Motion to Dismiss California AG Lawsuit, Claiming Sovereignty

January 8th, 2015 | by Brian Corlisse

The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit launched by the State of California via the Attorney General’s office, that seeks to pull a plug on its online gambling aspirations.

The tribe, which ran a land-based casino until it was forced to closed in 2007, leaving it millions of dollars in debt, has vowed to go it alone and offer online poker and bingo to Californians, whether the state chooses to legalize or not.

The Iipay Nation says it’s its sovereign right to do so, and that it is justified under the Indian Gaming and Regulations Act 1988 (IGRA).

Read Full Article Here-->Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel Files Motion to Dismiss California AG Lawsuit, Claiming Sovereignty

Also:

Iipay Nation Ask Court to Dismiss Calif iBingo Case