Internet Sweepstakes Café Operators Arrested After Sting Operation


Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputies and agents from the State Department of Justice Tuesday raided two internet sweepstakes cafés suspected of being used for illegal gambling.

Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputies and agents from the State Department of Justice Tuesday raided two internet sweepstakes cafés suspected of being used for illegal gambling. In both locations, the business managers were arrested and charged with running illegal gambling operations.

“Any form of illegal gambling is a serious concern for Native American gaming facilities because it erodes our customer base and more importantly violates our compacts with California. In some ways, internet sweepstakes cafés are some of the most insidious offenders because patrons assume they are legal ventures when in fact, they undermine California’s basic principle of controlled gaming,” said the Honorable Robert Smith, Chair of the Pala Band of Mission Indians and newly-elected Chairman of the California Tribal Business Alliance.

 

Smith Elected CTBA Chair

 

Pala Chairman Robert Smith has been elected CTBA’s Board of Directors Chair for 2013. He is set to officially take office January 1.

The election was held during a CTBA Board meeting Tuesday evening. The decision was unanimous, with members representing Lytton Rancheria of California and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California, as well as Pala, voting for Smith.

“CTBA continues to be a clear and unequivocal voice for Native Americans, advocating at all levels of government on issues that impact California’s tribes,” said Chairman Smith. “CTBA’s goals are very clear: to safeguard and enhance tribal business enterprises, while advancing our status as sovereign nations through mutual respect and cooperation.”

The Pala Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe whose reservation is located along the Palomar Mountain range approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego. The majority of the over 900 tribal members live on the 12,000-acre reservation, established for Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, who consider themselves to be one proud people - Pala.