Jamul Indian Village casino fights delays

JAMUL, CA - A proposed Indian casino within 20 miles of downtown San Diego has been fighting a fierce opposition for the past 15 years. The casino would be built on the 6-acre reservation of the Jamul Indian Village just off Highway 94.

Proposed casino

Proposed casino site from Melody Road

The latest obstacle is a request to Caltrans for a casino driveway on busy state Route 94. The request was rejected. Caltrans tribal liaison Mark Bobotis said the driveway just won't work where the tribe is building it. “It's not an adequate access for operation of a casino,” Bobotis said. Caltrans wants an environmental review on alternatives and the impact on traffic. The study could take several years.

Here is a 15-year summary to establish this casino.

September 1993
Jamul tribe partners with Station Casinos Inc. to build a casino on its reservation.

January 1995
Agreement with Station Casinos put on indefinite hold.

October 1999
Jamul tribe and 10 other local tribes sign Indian gaming compacts with Governor Gray Davis.

April 2000
Jamul tribe partners with Lakes Entertainment Inc., to build a $100 million hotel-casino on its reservation.

2000
Jamul tribe applies to the federal government to place 101 acres adjacent to the reservation into federal trust.

September 2004
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes tribe's reservation expansion. The National Indian Gaming Act gives the governor veto power over this expansion.

August 2005
Jamul tribe revises plans and proposes building a 30-story hotel-casino on its six-acre reservation.

June 2006
Jamul tribe revises plans to half the 30-story height with some parking underground.

March 2007
Jamul tribe evicts last Indians living on the reservation, nonmembers who had challenged tribal leadership.

March 2007
Jamul Tribe revises plans and proposes a smaller casino with 1,000 bingo-based machines, which would not require approval from state and local officials.

January 2008
Caltrans rejects a tribal request for a stoplight and turn lanes on state Route 94 and needs more information.

Return to California Casinos.