It was an off-year election schedule in the United States in November, but there were several important issues at stake for the gaming industry. Some of the results will impact established gaming jurisdictions, while others may open up regions previously not officially gaming territory.


California compacts move toward vote

The California Secretary of State can continue verifying voters’ signatures on petitions that could lead to four major tribal gaming compacts being overturned in February, two Sacramento County courts decided last month.

At the same time, the 9,000-member Thoroughbred Owners of California group endorsed the pacts. Unlike the owner of two major horse tracks who opposes the agreements, the horsemen say a public vote on the 17,000 new slot machines the pacts grant the tribes “simply is not of paramount importance to the future of the racing industry.”

The backing was announced by the Coalition to Protect California’s Budget and Economy, a group the Agua Caliente, Morongo, Pechanga and Sycuan tribes formed in September to fight possible cancellation of their compacts.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the compacts in 2006. The California legislature ratified them this summer. Opponents soon launched a petition campaign to repeal ratification, seeking a ballot question for each pact in California’s February 5 president ial primary election.

After 2.8 million signatures were turned in, Morongo and Pechanga sued. They argued that state law technically mandates verifying petition signatures during, not after, the 90-day signature-gathering period set by law.

Different judges hearing the two tribes’ nearly identical suits separately disagreed, thwarting their attempts to block the ballot questions. “The referendum power is one of the most precious rights of our democratic process,” one judge said. The tribes expect to appeal.

To qualify each referendum for the February ballot, petitions must have at least 477,369 valid signatures. Totals at the middle of last week ranged from 418,485 to 451,236, with several California counties still conducting random-sample checks to pass to the Secretary of State by December 4.

The compacts would take effect January 1 if they are approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Some observers say the agency will probably delay action if the referendums make the ballot.


Mississippi: Choctaw casino loses on Coast

Jackson County residents have once again voted against a proposed casino in their section of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast region. Of an estimated 30,000 voters, about 60 percent—18,000 voters—expressed opposition in a non-binding referendum to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians proposed $375 million casino.

Former Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin said a “No” vote on the casino issue would render it dead, but new Chief Beasley Denson, who defeated Martin in an election earlier this summer, said the vote will not end the tribe’s efforts to build a new casino along the coast.

Some think tribal leaders may look to build in Harrison or Hancock counties, where gaming is already legal. They could face even stronger opposition in those counties, however, as casino operators from those two counties spearheaded the opposition to the Jackson County proposal.


Kentucky: Pro-gaming candidate wins

Democrat Steve Beshear knocked off Kentucky’s incumbent Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher in a contentious election with significant ramifications for gaming and horse racing in the Bluegrass State.

Beshear vowed to push for a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling to bring other forms of gambling other than what is already allowed in the state—wagering at horse tracks and bingo halls. He says that putting 10 casinos at horse tracks and a handful of border towns could generate as much as $500 million in extra revenue to fund public education and health care. Fletcher made the casino issue a central issue of his re-election campaign, vowing to not allow any expansion of gaming in the state.

However, the election of Beshear can’t be seen as an endorsement of proposals to expand gambling. Experts expect Senator David Boswell to introduce a constitutional amendment allowing gaming in January. Without Fletcher around to veto it, the issue will eventually end up in the hands of the voters.

Massachusetts: Three towns OK casinos

In non-binding referendums last month three towns in Massachusetts said they supported casinos.

The elections were held in Chicopee, Pittsfield and Worcester, where there are active casino development efforts.

Chicopee and Worcester voters were asked if they supported casinos in their towns. Pittsfield voters were asked only if they supported legalizing gaming in the state.

Governor Deval Patrick’s bill for three regional casinos requires that any town where one is built must approve it in an election. His bill is before the legislature, with not much action expected on it before next year.

By Casino Connection Staff

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