The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is moving forward with plans for a $700 million casino resort in Vallejo, California, following the US Department of the Interior’s approval to place 160 acres of land into federal trust for the tribe.

The proposed development plans include an eight-story, 400,000-square-foot casino, 24 tribal homes, an administration building, and a biological preserve.

However, this project is now facing numerous legal challenges. Two lawsuits have been filed against the US Department of the Interior, claiming that the Scotts Valley Band intends to develop a revenue-generating site far from its tribal homeland and that the federal agency failed to adhere to established environmental laws in approving the project.

Opponents have also expressed concerns about “reservation shopping,” accusing the Scotts Valley Band of attempting to establish a casino near its ancestral lands to maximize potential revenue.

This scenario is reminiscent of other tribal casino projects in Northern California, such as the Koi Nation’s proposed casino near Windsor, which has encountered similar legal and political challenges.

The outcomes of these legal proceedings will significantly impact the future of the Scotts Valley Band’s casino project in Vallejo. They may also set precedents for other tribal gaming initiatives in the region.

In the final days of his presidency, the Biden administration approved off-reservation land for both the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Koi Nation, along with several other tribal requests around the country.

California Casino Laws

The state of California only permits casinos on federal land. Since the state does not allow commercial casinos, all gaming in California is located on land placed into trust by the federal government. Currently, more than 80 tribal casinos in California are owned by 73 of the state’s 109 recognized Indian tribes.

While there are no licensed online casinos, California is one of the many states that allow offshore betting. Since no federal or state laws outlaw online gambling in the state, CA residents and visitors can wager online with offshore casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites.

Offshore Casino Options

California players over 18 can enjoy online real-money casino games, sports betting, and poker tables from out-of-state sites. Popular casino games include digital slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, specialty games, and live dealer games.

In addition to endless gaming entertainment, CA players can also take advantage of generous welcome bonuses, online reward programs, digital currency acceptance, and 24/7 access via mobile casino apps.

This week, a legal battle over casino apps involving Apple, Google, and Meta is intensifying in a San Jose courtroom.

The three tech giants are asking a federal judge to throw out a case in which they are all accused of profiting from casino apps available on their platforms. Apple, Google, and Meta are all trying to use Section 230 of the Communications Act, which prevents them from being liable for third-party content available through their services.

Plaintiffs in the case are alleging that the companies listed in the lawsuit are providing sensitive user data to these online casinos and targeting vulnerable users and problematic gamblers. The case is centered around commission rates stemming from user downloads.

Apple’s representative Colin McGrath of DLA Piper said, “It’s not profit-sharing. It’s simply facilitating a transaction.” McGrath noted that the companies providing the platform for the apps are not profiting from the gambling revenue.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that nine of the top twelve app downloads for 2021 were social casinos, where Apple, Google, and Meta are the financiabeneficiariesry. Judge Edward Davila has not given her ruling concerning the motion to dismiss the case, but if it does go to trial, it could change the way social casinos operate on popular application platforms.

Do Social Casinos Offer Real-Money Payouts?

According to multiple internet sources, social casinos often allow players to redeem coins for real money or crypto payouts. They must also give free “entries” to be considered sweepstakes casinos.

Unlike the most trusted offshore gambling sites recommended by our industry professionals, social casinos typically wager with digital coins purchased by the user. It is important to note that many social casinos do not offer real money payouts but instead allow users to redeem their coins for non-monetary prizes.

Are The Best Online Casinos Found In the App Store?

Absolutely not. Most “social” casinos in the app store are for entertainment and are not viable real-money casinos. While some App Store casinos might offer ways to cash in chips, either by selling to other users or by offering crypto payout options, in most cases, these sites offer little to no consumer protections.

Offshore casino sites that a trusted gaming regulator licenses must abide by strict regulations that ensure the games offer fair odds and that security measures are working correctly.

If you choose to participate in social or sweepstake casinos, know that the likelihood of getting your money off the app is slim to none, as no governing body typically regulates sweepstake casinos.

According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), gaming authorities raided three Ohio businesses with assistance from Columbus police, seizing nearly 200 slot machines and arresting two individuals as part of the investigation.

After receiving complaints about potential illegal gambling operations, gaming agents from the OCCC initiated investigations into three local businesses: Winners Arcade!, Blackjack Skill Game, and 777.

Following an investigation, gaming agents and Columbus PD executed search warrants at the three locations, seizing 184 suspected illegal slot machines and an unspecified amount of U.S. currency. Two individuals were arrested in association with the raids, but their charges have not been made public.

So far, the OCCC has confirmed executed search warrants on over 160 businesses in the state and has seized more than 7,386 illegal slot machines.

How Many Casinos Are In Ohio?

There are currently four state-licensed retail casinos in Ohio: Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Columbus Casino, and JACK Cleveland Casino. Seven racinos in the state also offer limited gaming options.

The first Ohio casino opened in 2012 and featured no-table games. Today, all state-licensed casinos have class III gaming licenses, which allow them to offer slots, table games, video poker, and specialty games. Racinos can only offer VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals), similar to slots.

Are Online Casinos Legal In Ohio?

In January 2023, Ohio enacted its first online gambling legislation to allow online sports betting. Daily fantasy sports wagering and online horse betting are also legal, but no current legislation exists to enable state-licensed online casinos.

Due to the lack of state and federal laws concerning online casino gambling, residents and visitors can access offshore betting sites without concerns of legal ramifications. Since online operators do not reside in the state, local officials cannot prosecute them.

Will Ohio Pass Online Casino Legislation In 2025?

Online casino legislation is not on the Ohio docket for 2025, but with the success of online sports wagering, it will likely be considered at some point. While more than 38 states and D.C. have passed online sports legislation in the post-PASPA era, the trend has not continued with online casino gambling.

According to the American Gaming Association, only eight states have passed laws to allow iGaming: Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware. However, Ohio could follow suit with neighboring states and spark what many believe is an inevitable iGaming revolution.