Amendment seen as move to block growth of Indian gambling

The Arizona Republic said Thursday the senators are supported by the Las Vegas casino industry and the Christian Coalition in pushing an amendment that, in effect, would give states veto power over any new Indian casinos.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican, called the amendment unwarranted and ill-advised.

Indian gaming advocates say the amendment could end the expansion of Indian gaming, which generates more than $6 billion a year in revenues and is considered a major economic development tool for tribes. At the end of 1997, 275 Indian gambling operations existed in 28 states.

Tribes believe the amendment goes against a 1988 federal law requiring states and tribes to make good-faith efforts at reaching casino agreements.

The Clinton administration "is going up against a lot of political pressure generated by the governors and by the anti-gambling people and, frankly, being generated by the casino industry in Las Vegas," said Kevin Gover, assistant Interior secretary for Indian affairs.

"Their theory is that a dollar that goes into an Indian casino is a dollar that did not go into Las Vegas. What they're really doing is a disservice to tribal-state relations," Gover told the Republic.

"We're dead set against this thing, and we'll fight it until we drop."

The amendment's chief sponsor denies the measure is a "Las Vegas protection bill."

"I want everyone to be perfectly clear on this point," Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., said in a recent speech on the Senate floor. "This amendment is designed primarily for states that do not allow gambling.... We don't want casino gambling in Wyoming."

Enzi hopes the amendment will be attached to a $500 billion package of spending for education and other programs.

Among those signing on were Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev.; John Ashcroft, R-Mo.; Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; and Dan Coats, R-Ind.

Enzi said the Christian Coalition had written a letter of support for his amendment because its members are "very concerned about the explosion of unregulated gambling in America."

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