Tribes OK Ariz. Deal on Betting

Gov. Jane Dee Hull announced an agreement Wednesday with the Arizona Indian Gaming Assn. that could put more slot machines into play at tribal casinos, allow Las Vegas-style blackjack and give the state a cut of the action.

The agreement is a blueprint for new 10-year gaming compacts between the state and its Indian tribes. Current compacts start to expire next year.

“We do have now the outline for new compacts agreed upon,” Hull spokeswoman Francie Noyes said. “The governor is very pleased. It’s very fair to all the partners involved.”

Hull and the 17 tribes in the gaming association have been negotiating new agreements for the last two years. But several steps must be taken before the deal becomes reality because Arizona’s horse and dog tracks won a lawsuit last year challenging the governor’s ability to negotiate and sign such compacts. A federal judge ruled that the state Legislature must have a significant role in approving them.

Hull has asked lawmakers to make changes in state law to comply with that ruling. Legislators would then be able to vote on the gaming plan but may not be able to make changes.

“This is it,” Noyes said. “Up or down.”

The agreement between Hull and the tribes would restrict gaming to reservation lands, maintain the state limit of 14,675 slot machines, place new restrictions on tribal gaming and provide the state with an estimated $80 million in the first full year. The state’s take could reach $1 billion over the life of the 10-year agreement.

Tribes that currently don’t use their allotted slot machines could transfer them to other tribes, putting more of them in play.