Caesars signs casino deal with California Fresno

The recently completed deal between Western Mono Indians' Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians and Caesars Entertainment could bring the tribe millions of dollars, and the Las Vegas gaming giant could provide a foothold in the fast-growing local casino market.

However, the investment in the Friend-Auberi community is not clear.

The tribe is negotiating how much it will pay Fresno County for proxies, roads, water and sewerage. And many of the estimated 2,500 jobs will be eligible for low pay with high turnover, a former industry official said.

Estimated to open in 2006, the $250 million casino resort will have at least 2,000 slot machines and 20 gaming tables. The resort has plans for a hotel with 250 to 300 rooms and several restaurants and shops.

Caesars and the tribe did not say where they would build the 48-acre development, but county officials said it would be near the intersection of the Avery and Millerton roads, about 10 miles northeast of Fresno.

For the tribe, the agreement finalized this week represents a revenue stream that leaders say will be used for social services such as education and healthcare.

Connie Lewis, the tribal chairman of the Big Sandy Band, said, "We're very excited and things are going to go fast. It's overwhelming."

That said, the tribe must amend its agreement with the state government. Currently, the tribe's agreement controls the 329-site Mono Wind Casino, located about 15 miles northeast of the planned casino.

Rick Contreras, tribal manager at Big Sandy, said the tribe will continue to operate its Mono Wind casinos, at least for the time being.

"It could be on a smaller scale, it could be a different kind of game operation, but we're going to keep it open," he said.

If casinos are approved and built, that would mean Caesars entering California, an analyst said. This shows that California's lack of gaming industry is a "big league."

"The name Caesars means the best," said Bill Thompson, a professor at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas who has written 10 books about the gaming industry.

Caesars will be able to promote other outlets to Fresno's growing population, he said. The company may also be planning to attract out-of-state visitors by wrapping the resort as a trip to nearby Yosemite National Park.  카지노사이트