M&R: Indian gaming war prompts blizzard of ads

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/4/8 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

Just about every statewide election has a mega-million-dollar, special-interest issue that results in the public being swamped by brain-numbing commercials.

This time out the prize goes to the $143 million (and counting) fight over four Indian gaming compacts - with the average TV viewer being subjected to about 69 ads a week coming from both sides of the fight.

Negotiated by the governor and approved by the state legislators, the compacts would allow four Southern California tribes to add 17,000 slot machines to their reservation casinos.

The compacts are being opposed by coalition of two other tribes that think the deals are too sweet and will lead to more competition with their own casinos, plus racetrack owners who are afraid they'll lose money to the new slots and labor groups that wanted the compacts to be more union-friendly.

The four tribes fighting to keep their compacts have raised an estimated $109 million so far - which may be a ballot-box record.

"It's overkill," said consultant Garry South, who is working with the campaign to roll back the compacts.

All that money, South said, "is meant to make a point that win or lose, these tribes are not to be messed with."

But Roger Salazar, who's with the gaming tribes, said the $34 million being spent by South and Co. to defeat the compacts is no pittance.

"It takes extra resources to both deliver your message and counter misinformation," Salazar said.

At least that's what they're betting on.

[Stentor]

The compacts are being opposed by coalition of two other tribes that think the deals are too sweet and will lead to more competition with their own casinos, plus racetrack owners who are afraid they'll lose money to the new slots and labor groups that wanted the compacts to be more union-friendly.

Maggots have developed into being able to fight over a corpse by organizing into groups. Evolution at work.

[BenLurkin]

If slot machines are to fund public services then it is well past time to end the near monpoly on casinos in California.

The Queen Mary and adjacent facilities in Long Beach would be a good location for a casino. It has a hotel on the ship and plenty of room under that dome for gambling of every kind that you see in Vegas

That way the city of Long Beach could partner with an established Vegas propreitor — maybe move one of the smaller casinos lock stock and barrel to California.

[NorCoGOP]

Slot machines - a tax on statistically-ignorant (stupid) people.