Indian Lottery Meets Opposition

Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods is researching a possible legal challenge to a national Indian lottery that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe wants to conduct by telephone, a spokeswoman says.

The Coeur d’Alenes say a revenue-sharing plan it has would return $2.29 million to Arizona in various forms. That would offset an estimated $816,000 the state Lottery would lose from the competition, tribal spokesman Chip Azano told the Tucson Citizen.

The promise of shared revenue doesn’t shake Woods’ opposition to the game, said his spokeswoman, Karie Kloos.

“I don’t think any of the attorneys general around the country like it,” Kloos said. “Grant doesn’t like it, and we’re looking into the legalities. You will see an objection from this office, but it will take some time to get it done. This involves a lot of intricate gaming compacts here.”

The National Indian Lottery is expected to produce minimum sales of $1.5 billion per year, Azano said.

He said lottery revenue would be provided to the states according to a formula based on population.