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Passage of Prop 96 Gives Sycuan Go-Ahead for Expansion

With the passage of Proposition 96, the Sycuan Indian band in East San Diego County can more than double the number of slot machines at their casino. But Sycuan officials say they have no plans to bui

Passage of Prop 96 Gives Sycuan Go-Ahead for Expansion

With the passage of Proposition 96, the Sycuan Indian band in East San Diego County can more than double the number of slot machines at their casino. But Sycuan officials say they have no plans to build a second casino in the immediate future. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

Proposition 96 allows Sycuan to have up to 3,000 more slots machines. But Sycuan spokesman Adam Day says the market would not currently bear such an expansion. He says they plan to add 1,000 new machines at the casino east of El Cajon.

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Local residents worry Sycuan will build a second casino on the Singing Hills Golf course. Sycuan has bought the golf course, but it is not Reservation land.  

Day says the compact ratified by Proposition 96 does allow Sycuan to build a second casino. But it's not in the cards right now.

Day: But if that were something we wanted to look at, I assure you it is a totally separate process with extensive public involvement and review and a very lengthy environmental document.

Day says the tribe would need state and federal permits to build on non reservation land.

Alison St John KPBS News.