Davis administration talking about constitutional amendment

The newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said negotiations likely will deal with the number of slot machines and other games now played at Indian casinos in California.

Those details would be decided in "compacts" between Gov. Gray Davis and the tribes, separate from any proposed amendment that might make it to the March ballot. Those compacts are subject to approval by the Legislature and could be changed down the road.

Last week, the state Supreme Court overturned Proposition 5, an initiative approved overwhelmingly by voters in 1998 which permitted the kind of Nevada-style gambling outlawed when the state established a lottery.

Quickly thereafter, Davis, legislative leaders and tribal officials began negotiations to allow the Indians to keep operating the casinos, which bring in $1.7 billion annually.

"All I can say is that the governor has transmitted a proposed tribal-state gaming compact to the tribes," Hilary McLean, a Davis spokeswoman, said Saturday. "The governor would like to see no more than a modest increase in gaming."

The newspaper reported its sources said the amendment would open the door to the tribes having such games as blackjack and roulette and sports betting at some point.

William Campbell, president emeritus of the California Manufacturers Assn., which opposed Proposition 5, said he understood the negotiations could lead to casino-style gambling for Indians.

"Then it's wide open.... You could do roulette, craps ... casino-style gambling in California for one segment of society," said Campbell, a former state senator.

Attorney Howard Dickstein, who represents some Indian tribes, said the proposed amendment "would exempt tribes from the prohibition" on casino-style gambling; "it would undo the effect of the Supreme Court's decision," he said.

Dickstein said the compacts being discussed are "more limited than Proposition 5," and would last for several years, "seeing us through the next two or three governors, at least."

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