Federal court clears obstacles to new slots

By Onell R. Soto
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. October 2, 2009

A federal appeals court yesterday paved the way for thousands of new slot machines to roll out across California over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's objections.

New slot licenses, up to 10,549 statewide, will be distributed by the California Gambling Control Commission on Monday, as ordered by a court in August.

Two tribes in North County stand to get hundreds more slots as a result.

The governor had sought to prevent the issuing of the licenses until his appeal of the August ruling is heard. But yesterday, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that request.

The court said it would hear the appeal in February, much sooner than normal.

“We still think we should win that appeal,â€