Sacramento, C.A. – A measure to allow communities to vote on urban casino proposals passed a key legislative committee yesterday evening. AB 2412 by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) was approved by the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee by a bi-partisan vote of 7-0. The bill will require a county to place an advisory measure on the ballot when a casino has been proposed in an urban area of that particular county.

"My measure will give a voice to the people. Reservation shopping for urban casinos is now a regular occurrence," said Hancock. Three urban casinos within a 15 mile radius, including Casino San Pablo, have been proposed for Assemblymember Hancock’s East Bay district. A fourth casino was proposed for an area near the Oakland Airport.

"AB 2412 sets up a democratic process which will allow local communities to express an opinion about the expansion of Las Vegas-style gambling. People feel passionately about the expansion of casinos into urban areas. This bill allows the impacted communities to have their voice heard," continued Hancock.

AB 2412 applies to every county in the state and will allow the advisory vote to be consolidated with the next regularly scheduled election to reduce the costs.

"What we are seeing is a response to Proposition 1A. I believe that people who voted for the ballot measure with the understanding that the casinos would be small enterprises in rural areas. After fighting to stop four local casinos in the East Bay, it is clear to me that the voters never imagined that out-of-state and Las Vegas interests would attempt to open casinos in major urban areas like the Bay Area."

For more information, please call Armando Viramontes at (916) 319-2014.;