Tribes raise $13M to defeat card club initiative

Tuesday, April 27, 2004  

A group of California tribes has raised nearly $13 million to defeat a ballot initiative that would allow slot machines at non-Indian card clubs and racetracks, Copley News Service reports.

The amount eclipses the $8.4 million the card clubs and the tracks have raised. The combined figure is nearly one-fourth of the record $88.7 million spent in 1998 to promote a pro-tribal initiative.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is sponsoring its own initiative to authorize an 8.84 percent tax on tribal casinos in exchange for more slot machines and 99-year compacts. Copley News Service did not report how much the tribe has raised.

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Gaming bills already draw big money (Copley News Service 4/27)