The Daily Oklahoman endorses a bill to expand Indian gaming and save the state's failing racetrack industry.

The paper says SB553 enjoys strong support from the horsetracks, three of which will be allowed to offer the same electronic casino machine as tribes. The bill sets up a compact that requires tribes to share revenues - an estimated $71 million a year -- with the state.

"[T]he gaming bill makes sense," the paper says, "because it gives Oklahoma a chance to make a substantial amount of money from an industry that currently turns zero dollars over to the state, and it provides some hope for horsemen."

Democrats and Republicans in the House say there aren't enough votes to pass the measure.

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House should approve gaming bill (The Daily Oklahoman 2/23)
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