Legislation | Litigation

Coeur d'Alene Tribe prepares challenge to instant racing devices

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

A row of historical horse racing machines at Les Bois Park in Idaho. Photo from Facebook

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is planning a legal challenge to instant racing devices in Idaho.

The tribe asked Secretary of State Lawerence Denney to certify Senate Bill 1011, a measure that repealed bets on historical horse races. He refused to do so amid doubts about the validity of a veto issued by Gov. Butch Otter (R).

“I think the court is probably the appropriate place to have those questions answered,” Denney told The Spokesman Review.

The tribe believes Otter waited too long to veto the measure. The governor signed it on April 3 but purposely kept it secret for another three days.

“We are in consultation with our legal counsel and will be exploring our legal options, and I can tell you this: There will be a challenge to this veto," Helo Hancock, the tribe’s legislative liaison, told the paper.

In 2013, the Idaho Legislature authorized bets on historical horse races. But tribes and lawmakers say the devices that have been installed at non-Indian facilities closely resemble slot machines and shouldn't be allowed.

Senate Bill 1011 would have required the machines to be removed by July 1.

Get the Story:
Secretary of state won’t act on CdA Tribe’s instant racing request (The Spokesman Review 5/5)
CdA Tribe preps for court fight over instant-racing veto (The Spokesman Review 5/4)
Official recalls veto details (The Coeur d'Alene Press 5/5)