The Tigua Tribe of Texas says it can't afford a proposed $25,000 licensing fee per slot machine but does support an 8 percent revenue-sharing compact.

The tribe testified at a Texas House committee hearing yesterday. The tribe's lawyer said a bill to allow 40,000 slot machines in exchange for the high fee is "something that we can't afford," according to The El Paso Times.

The tribe supports another bill to authorize the compact. Tribes would pay 8 percent of slot machine revenues while racetracks would pay 40 percent.

The Tigua Tribe and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe were operating Class III facilities that have been shut down by the federal courts. The Kickapoo Tribe is eligible for Class III gaming under procedures approved by the Interior Department. The tribe opposes the slots bill.

Get the Story:
1 gaming proposal wouldn't help Tiguas (The El Paso Times 4/27)
Lawmakers see slots as school funding source (The Dallas Morning News 4/27)
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