Idaho’s gaming tribes have joined together with a widely based coalition to oppose Prop. 1, which would allow “historical horse racing,” games at the state’s racetracks, but which the tribes and their allies say would actually open the state to an expansion of non-Indian gaming.
The consortium, which calls itself Idaho United Against Prop. 1, includes tribes, public officials, small business owners, ranchers and church groups. Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe, said last week, “Proposition 1 presents a critical challenge to the economic life and well-being of our member tribes from Idaho.” He added, “We must stand together, united in support of the broad coalition of community and tribal leaders from across the state of Idaho to defeat Proposition 1.”
“Historical horse racing” games, which racetracks say they need to remain financially viable, don’t actually function like slot machines, but they look an awful lot like them.
Proposition 1, which is on the November ballot, is seen as a threat to the promise that was made years ago to limit gaming to Indian tribes, and to threaten tribal gaming profits.
Ernie Stensgar, chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and who helped found the coalition, commented, “It’s clear when you look at the facts around Proposition 1, that this initiative is misleading and disingenuous on several levels.”
Historical horse racing was approved for racetracks in 2013, only to be banned the legislature two years later under intense pressure from the gaming tribes.
