Contact: Doug Elmets Nicole Poimiroo (916) 329-9180
NEWCASTLE, CA — The United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC) today announced the reaching of an agreement with Station Casinos, Inc. to develop and operate the Tribe's proposed casino, located near the corner of Athens Ave. and Industrial Blvd. in the unincorporated area of Placer County.
After months of reviewing management companies, UAIC selected Station Casinos, a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, for its history of operating well-run gaming facilities.
"The plain fact is that we are not a wealthy tribe nor experienced in the management of gaming facilities and must obtain outside assistance in order to develop the casino — a project that will create economic self-sufficiency for our members," said Jessica Tavares, Chairperson of UAIC. "Following an extensive search, we selected Station Casinos for its experience and integrity to assist us in financing, building, and operating our casino.
"Station Casinos combines the best qualities of all applicants. In particular, we admired the company's financial depth and stability, many years of successful experience in the gaming industry, and impeccable credentials. These items, along with the company's corporate culture of participating in the communities in which it operates, clearly illustrates that Station Casinos will greatly assist us in developing and operating a first class facility."
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Station Casinos, Inc. began as a family-owned and operated business in 1976. Station Casinos became a publicly traded company in 1993 and is listed currently on the New York Stock Exchange (STN).
Today, the company operates five gaming and entertainment centers in Nevada — Palace Station, Boulder Station, Texas Station, Sunset Station, and the Wild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel — and two in Missouri — Station Casinos Kansas City and Station Casinos St. Charles. It also has a 50 percent interest in Barley's Casino & Brewing Company, and owns and operates Southwest Gaming, a slot route management company in Southern Nevada.
Station Casinos is licensed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Missouri Gaming Commission, which both conduct extensive background investigations of companies involved in gaming.
"While the company certainly will play an important role in the development and operation of the casino, the Tribe maintains ultimate authority over the development process," said Tavares. "It is our goal to continue to cooperate with local government, community groups, and citizens to ensure that impacts from the project are mitigated."
The Development Services Agreement between Station Casinos and UAIC is subject to approval by the Department of Interior, and the Management Agreement is subject to approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission. Station Casinos, its officers, directors and principal shareholders, also will be subject to determinations of suitability by the California Department of Justice Division of Gambling Control, under the Tribe's compact with the State.
On September 10, UAIC signed the Tribal-State Compact negotiated by Gov. Gray Davis and ratified by the Legislature that allows the Tribe to conduct Class III gaming on trust land, subject to an amendment to the State Constitution in March.
The United States Congress restored UAIC's federal recognition through the Auburn Indian Restoration Act of 1994, which also entitled the Tribe to acquire a new reservation in Placer County.
In August, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive land use agreement (the memorandum of understanding) under which the Tribe agreed to mitigate any environmental and public service impacts arising from the development of the property, and the County agreed to support the Tribe's actions to place the land into trust.
