Idaho GOP still fighting tribes over gaming

Thursday, February 16, 2006  

Idaho Republicans are planning to challenge the constitutionality of a 2002 voter initiative that authorized Class III gaming for the state's tribes.

The initiative passed with 58 percent of the vote. Republican lawmakers, who were unable to defeat the measure, are now saying that gaming is getting out of hand.

Separately, the Shoshone-Bannock Nation and the state are going to court over the tribe's right to offer video gaming machines. A federal judge ruled that the tribe can offer the devices because they were legalized for three other tribes in the state. A hearing is set before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals this spring.

The tribe sought an off-reservation casino near Boise and sought an exclusive right to offer gaming in the southern part of the state, but the state refused the proposals. The tribe is apparently worried that the Northwest Band of Shoshone Indians, a federally recognized tribe, wants to open a casino near the Idaho-Utah border.

Get the Story:
Sho-Bans made "secret" request for casino near Boise (AP 2/16)
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Idaho's Indian casinos (AP 2/15)