LOS ANGELES -- Stepping up his opposition to tribal casinos in urban areas, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday he will block any proposal to put the gambling outlets in more than 200 cities throughout the state.

The move comes as an increasing number of tribes are seeking to build casinos off their reservations and follows nearly a year of fierce community opposition to a proposed San Francisco Bay area casino.

Schwarzenegger issued a proclamation stating he will oppose tribes' efforts to acquire land in urban areas to build casinos. He also said he will approve casinos only if the community where the casino would be built supports the project.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Vince Sollitto said the proclamation is an opportunity for the governor to put his stance in writing.

"This is the governor's policy and has been for some time," Sollitto said.

According to the administration, Schwarzenegger will block the development of new casinos in 204 cities large and small — from tiny Yucaipa west of Palm Springs to Anaheim in Orange County to sprawling Los Angeles.

The cities were identified based solely on population, with a minimum of 100,000 people for incorporated cities. Smaller cities also qualified for the list if two contiguous incorporated cities have a combined population equaling at least 100,000 people.

Anthony Miranda, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, called Schwarzenegger's action unfair.

"If the governor is going to make a proclamation it should be something that is fair to all the tribes in the state of California," Miranda said.

Opposition to urban casinos mounted after the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians obtained the right to build a casino on the site of a card room in San Pablo, just north of San Francisco. The right was granted by language inserted Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, into a 2000 federal spending bill.

The language granted federal status to the land the card club is located on. Without Martinez' help, the landless tribe would have had to go through a lengthy process of getting federal and state approval.

Sollitto said the announcement would not harm the governor's efforts to collect more gambling revenues from casino-owning tribes. However, it could thwart the efforts of several tribes to build casinos.

For example, the Lower Lake Rancheria Koi Nation wants to build a casino in Oakland and pay the city $30 million a year to offset potential impacts. The landless tribe of Pomo Indians based in Santa Rosa also wants the Bureau of Indian Affairs to put 35 acres next to the Oakland International Airport in trust as tribal land.

Another tribe, the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of San Diego County, wants to build a casino in Barstow, which is located in neighboring San Bernardino County.