LAKEPORT, Calif. – Effective Jan. 1, 2016, California state law requires all business (with few exceptions) to pay their employees a minimum wage of $10 per hour.

Konocti Vista Casino plans to implement this new legislation during the Christmas week, increasing the wages of current KVC team members under this level and new hires to $10 per hour minimum pay.

Most businesses in California are subject to both state and federal minimum wage laws with the businesses usually following the stricter of the two wage legislations.

However, Indian gaming casinos generally follow federal rules as the casinos sit on federal land.

In the case of Konocti Vista Casino, the casino's owner, Big Valley Rancheria, has decided to beat the Jan. 1 deadline, follow California state law and increase the minimum wage level of the Konocti Vista Casino team members to $10 per hour.

Konocti Vista Casino considers this to be a benefit not only to its business, tribal members and employees, but also the greater Lake County community as well.

The casino believes that raising the minimum wage of its team members rewards the local families with more money that they can spend on housing, food and gas.

This boost in demand for goods and services will help stimulate the local economy and help create further opportunities not only for Konocti Vista Casino but all businesses in Lake County, casino officials said.