Santa Ysabel Launches Real Money Online Gambling Site In California

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Thursday, November 6th, 2014 | Written by Lucy Brown

This summer, The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel vowed to launch real money gambling on its online poker site PrivateTable.com as early as July 14th, but several months later and the Californian tribe has now only just made good on its promise. The only catch, though, is that it’s not a poker product, but bingo that has been launched on a Santa Ysabel owned site called DesertRoseBingo.com.

This week, the online bingo site went live in Californian without a hitch, and one can assume that if DesertRoseBingo.com continues operating without any legal challenges, then online poker will surely follow thereafter. Commenting on its plan to launch real money iPoker as soon as the next couple of weeks, Santa Ysabel Interactive Director of Marketing Chris Wrieden told news source pokerfuse:

“Some believe our promise to bring regulated cash poker games to California has all been a great big bluff, for any number of self-serving reasons. I can tell you it hasn’t been, it just takes time to put all of the pieces together. When we launch it will put our critics’ bluff theory to rest and when we accept our first online bet, we will be on our way to creating change for our industry.”

Desert Rose Bingo

Despite the Golden State having no regulatory framework in place, the Santa Ysabel’s bingo site is fully operational and taking bets solely from California residents. The site is currently accepting wagers from players who are 18+ year old, and gives them the opportunity to play bingo in denominations ranging from $0.01 to $1.

DesertRoseBingo.com is being operated in collaboration with one of the USA’s leading interactive iGaming companies, Great Luck LCC, whose unique VPN Aided Play System (VPNAPS) has now been set up to offer registered users access to the country’s first web browser-based iGaming platform. Punters will then be able to play Class II bingo games from any PC, mobile device or tablet, and commenting on the implications such technology may have on the future of iGaming in the USA, Great Luck CEO Joe Valandra, also a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, said:

“With states like Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware already implementing online gaming, our VPNAPS technology is an anticipated next step for an industry in high demand. This technology will play a critical role in transforming the gaming landscape, bringing a myriad of games, starting with Class II bingo, to a whole new generation of enthusiasts. We look forward to announcing more licensing agreements with more Sovereign Nations in the very near future.”

Bingo Only Played On Indian Lands

Santa Ysabel’s use of the VPNAPS technology will ensure Class II bingo games are played only on its Indian lands, a requirement critical in ensuring compliance with state laws which insist online gambling takes place on tribal lands regulated by its own tribal government.

Exerting Sovereign Rights Under IGRA

In addition, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988 defines poker and bingo as Class II gaming, and so the tribe insists it is exercising its sovereign rights, regardless of the games’ legal status at either a state or federal level. Class III games, such as house-banked games and slot machines, can only be offered in tribal casinos following a Tribal-State Gaming Compact with the Californian state, and as the tribe explains on its website:

“Santa Ysabel has had such a compact with the state since 2005, but has no plans to offer Class III gaming through its interactive website.”

Legal Challenges

Nevertheless, the Santa Ysabel’s legal assertion that the IGRA defined Class II games of bingo and poker are the same as online bingo and online poker, could very well face challenges. Furthermore, as Ian Imrich explained to Online Poker Report recently:

“Some legal commentators believe that limitations in tribal-state regulatory compacts and provisions in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) limit the ability of tribes to accept wagers from off Indian lands. They also argue that IGRA must be amended in order to address internet gaming in this setting.”

Needless to say, while the current situation squarely falls within a grey area, Californian lawmakers eager to push through iPoker regulation and legalization next year are unlikely to welcome The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel’s attempt to agitate and confuse the issue at this critical juncture.