Tom Heffelfinger, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and the chairman of the Native American Issues Subcommittee for the Department of Justice, is actively promoting legislation to restrict the types of games that tribes can offer without a tribal-state compact.

Heffelfinger announced the proposal last week at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. He has since given several interviews to media outlets across the nation, saying the legislation is needed because technological advances have "blurred the lines" between Class II and Class III machines.

But The Contra Costa Times said Heffelfinger wouldn't define some of the key terms that would distinguish the machines. He did say, however, that the bill will be open to comments before a final draft is submitted to Congress.

The key terms include whether or not the machine is "readily distinguishable" from a slot machine in appearance, speed of play or graphics; whether the player can "actively participate" in the play of the machine; and whether the machine is "based on" a Class III game.

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Lyttons face new threats to casino (The Contra Costa Times 9/21)
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