As California tribes sue their gambling rivals, cities may have been dealt a losing hand

ON THEIR FIRST opportunity since a new law took effect Jan. 1, seven casino-owning Native American tribes have filed suit in Sacramento County against dozens of California card rooms, opening a new front in one of last year’s most expensive political battles.

Now, millions of dollars of tax revenues that pay for city services such as police and road repairs could be in jeopardy.

The tribes’ suit alleges that the gambling halls scattered across California are illegally offering card games such as black jack and pai gow poker that cut into the tribes’ gambling revenues.