LARRY Flynt hasn't turned in his chips yet.
The Hustler publisher recently lost his case in San Francisco Superior Court over the right to add slot machines and house gambling games at his two Gardena venues, Hustler Casino and Normandie Casino.
Flynt last year sued the California Gambling Control Commission and state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, claiming he has the same right to offer slot machines and house gambling games as American Indians.
"Our casinos have a place to play these card games in a style similar to a Las Vegas casino, but we'd like slot machines and the same games Indians can offer," said Michael Franchetti, the Sacramento attorney representing Flynt. "Those are more lucrative and more attractive."
The two casinos in Gardena offer poker-type card games where players bet against each other but not the house.
In his Jan. 24 ruling, state Judge David Garcia ruled that the "right to conduct the forms of gaming at issue here is limited to federally recognized Indian tribes, all of which are political entities not similarly situated to plaintiffs' private businesses -- or any others."
Franchetti said Flynt plans to appeal and if necessary go to the California Supreme Court.
COPYRIGHT 2002 CBJ, L.P.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group