The Slot Machine that Devoured San Pablo

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians have reportedly reached an agreement to turn Casino San Pablo into the third-largest casino in the U.S., eclipsed only by the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Connecticut.

According to a story in today's San Francisco Chronicle, up to 5,000 slot machines would be housed in a building, six to eight stories tall, featuring two gaming floors, six restaurants and bars, and entertainments areas. The deal between the Governator and the Lytton Pomos also features a guarantee that no other casino could open within a 35-mile radius of CSP, a region which includes San Francisco, most of the Peninsula, the East Bay, and large chunks of Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties. In return, CSP would turn over 25% of its gambling revenues to the state.

The giant casino will be run by the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, who operate the casino at Cache Creek, and the Maloof family (who own the Palms casino-resort in Las Vegas, as well as the Sacramento Kings basketball team) will be backing the project financially. The Chronicle story gives no indication of the extent to which poker will be featured in the giant casino.

The giant casino is to be built within the next two years on "a nine-acre sliver of land" that is the site of the current CSP cardroom.