A row of historical horse racing machines at Les Bois Park, a non-Indian racetrack, in Idaho. Photo from Facebook
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe made good on its promise to challenge the legality of instant racing devices in Idaho. The tribe asked the Idaho Supreme Court on Wednesday to force the state to certify Senate Bill 1011. The measure, which repealed betting on historical horse races, sailed through the Legislature only to be vetoed by Gov. Butch Otter (R) at the last minute. “The record clearly shows the Governor did not follow the constitutional requirements for a legal and valid veto," Chairman Chief Allan said in a press release. The tribe first asked Secretary of State Lawerence Denney to certify the bill, citing doubts about the legality of the veto. He refused, prompting the petition to the state's highest court.
The Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel in Worley, Idaho. Photo from Facebook
"It’s a shame the Secretary of State has chosen to waste taxpayer dollars by refusing to do his job. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to pursue this matter in court," Allan said. “We hope this issue can be resolved promptly and Secretary Denney takes the action he should have taken weeks ago and certify S. 1011 into law." The Legislature authorized bets on historical horse races in 2013. But the devices that have been installed a non-Indian racetracks raised alarms because lawmakers believe they closely resemble slot machines that are not legal outside of tribal casinos. Certification of Senate Bill 1011 would require those machines to be removed by July 1. About 250 devices at three tracks would be affected. In addition to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the Kootenai Tribe, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes support the removal of the instant racing machines. Get the Story:
Coeur d’Alene Tribe sues over instant racing ban veto (The Spokesman Review 6/4)
Coeur d’Alene Tribe asks Idaho Supreme Court to enforce historical racing betting ban (The Idaho Statesman 6/4)
Coeur d'Alene Tribe wants gaming machines out by July (KBOI 6/3)
Adler: Instant racing cases poses constitutional, political questions (The Spokesman Review 6/3)
Tribe's filing raises constitutional question about 'pocket veto' (The Spokesman Review 6/3)
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