"Despite what some people may think about casino gambling, the bottom line is that both the state of Wisconsin and its Indian tribes have a huge financial stake in the continued operation and success of those casinos. Yes, the tribes turn a handsome profit from the casinos, but they share their earnings with the state and, of course, its taxpayers. Advertisement

So it was simply good business sense for Gov. Jim Doyle and the Forest County Potawatomi tribe, who operate the most lucrative casino in the state, to reach a new agreement, which was announced Tuesday.

Although the new compact was immediately criticized by Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo), no one, not even Gard, can dispute that the state will get a lot in return, although clearly not as much as Gard thinks it should. The Potawatomi estimate that the tribe will pay the state $750 million over the life of the agreement for its Milwaukee casino. The state will get the first installment, about $43.6 million, this year."

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Editorial: Good deal for Wisconsin (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 10/6)