Senate Urges Crackdown On Gambling Gaming Machines In Indian Casinos ‘Appear’ To Be Illegal, Idaho Legislative Measure Claims

A non-binding but strongly worded memorial urging federal authorities to crack down on Indian gaming in Idaho passed the Senate on Tuesday on a voice vote.

Only about half a dozen senators opposed SJM101, including one North Idaho senator.

Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, said, “I’m in doubt as to whether or not we’re being hypocritical in this, though I oppose gambling.”

Another opponent, Sen. Marguerite McLaughlin, D-Orofino, said, “The animosity is becoming so great. This kind of triggers more of it, and we don’t need to add fuel to that.”

Tribes and the state have differed over whether the gambling machines in reservation casinos are legal.

In an effort to remove some of the tribes’ legal arguments in favor of their machines, Gov. Phil Batt had proposed legislation tightening the law that legalized Idaho’s state lottery. But after two days of packed hearings Batt withdrew his measure in favor of a less strongly worded bill that simply identifies the lottery’s games.

That was a victory for the tribes, but the Legislature also kept SJM101 alive, which some tribal officials saw as a slap.

The memorial states that the tribes’ machines “appear” to be illegal and that federal authorities should crack down on illegal gambling on Idaho reservations.

Sen. Bruce Sweeney, D-Lewiston, was the only senator to argue against the measure on the Senate floor.

“What I want to make sure of is that we deal with the Indian tribes fairly,” he said. “I think this attempts to prejudice what we’re trying to do.”

McLaughlin said questions of what’s legal should be left to the courts to decide.

Sens. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum; Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; and Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, all voted for the memorial, which goes to the House for a final vote.

Riggs said, “I am not opposed to gambling. I am in favor of consistency and accuracy within the existing law.”

Keough said that to her, the memorial appears to simply ask the federal government to enforce existing laws.

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