Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's attempt to use gaming to patch up holes in the state's budget is being treated a major failure.

First, Pawlenty (R) threatened to expand non-Indian gaming if tribes didn't renegotiate their compacts and share $350 million with the state. When that failed, he turned to three tribes and offered them an urban casino. But when that didn't get enough support, he added a non-Indian race track to the deal.

All along, Pawlenty failed to see the flaws in his plans, observers and participants said. He appeared in radio ads that criticized tribes, a move that some say cost Republicans some seats in the state House. His inclusion of the non-Indian track turned off the tribes that were interested in the urban casino.

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Betting on casinos hasn't paid off for governor so far (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 5/31)
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