Idaho Governor Butch Otter, running for his third term, recently collected a total of ,000 from Nevada casino gaming operators, Steve Wynn and brothers Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta at a fundraiser. Each contributed the maximum allowed under Idaho law. In addition, their companies, Wynn Resorts and Station Casinos, also gave the limit, and so did Wynn’s wife, Andrea. The four individuals and two companies each contributed ,000 to both Otter’s primary and general election campaigns.
Otter said online gaming was not discussed at the event. His spokesperson, Mark Warbis, said, “The governor is opposed to online gaming in Idaho.”
Still, because of the large contributions from gaming interests, two leading anti-gambling lawmakers said they were considering legislation that would make it clear Idaho is not interested in legalizing online gaming.
State Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill said an anti-online gaming bill “might raise a few eyebrows, as some may wonder why the interest in Idaho. I don’t mind sending them a message to say stay out and leave us alone.” Hill added he doesn’t think the contributions were an attempt to influence Otter’s support of Idaho’s tough gambling laws. House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher said the Idaho Constitution bars online gambling, but he would support a statutory ban, similar to Utah and Maine, if he found out gaming interests were considering Idaho.
Currently Idaho law permits a state-run lottery; parimutuel horse racing; video racing at tracks in Boise, Post Falls and Idaho Falls; and gaming on Indian reservations.
Otter said it would not make good business sense for Nevada operators to establish casinos in Idaho. “They’d be the first to have money up here to stop it. Rationally, why would they want to have to build another hotel and another casino? They’ve already got it focused. Why would they want to have to come into Idaho?”
