A coalition of California Native American tribes on Thursday sued dozens of California card rooms, alleging that the non-tribal-owned gambling parlors are in violation of the California Constitution.
The tribes are suing under a law — Senate Bill 549 — that went into effect Wednesday.
That law, called the “Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act,” authorizes California tribes to bring legal action against card rooms that are operating outside of the law.
Seven tribes — the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Indians, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation — brought the suit, filed by the San Francisco-based law firm Keker, Van Nest & Peters.
