Arizona tribe files gambling initiative

Paul Davenport

Tuesday, June 4, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

PHOENIX -- A western Arizona Indian tribe filed nearly 30 boxes of petitions Monday, expecting to earn a November ballot spot for the first of up to three proposed Indian gambling initiatives.

Supporters of the so-called "YES for Arizona" initiative sponsored by the Colorado River Indian Tribes in the Parker area submitted what they said were petitions with 165,222 signatures, more than the required 101,762.

The Secretary of State's office will send samples of the petitions to county recorders to check the submitted signatures against voter records. If there are enough valid signatures, the measure will appear on the ballot as Proposition 200.

Signature collection drives are under way for competing offerings by the 17-tribe Arizona Indian Gaming Association and by dog and horse race tracks. July 4 is the deadline to submit signatures.

There are differences among the proposals, but all would raise the minimum gambling age to 21 from 18, expand gambling operations in various ways and provide the state with a cut of the action.

"We think it's good for all tribes and that it's good for all Arizona because we all share this time," Dennis Patch, a Colorado River tribal council member, said.

According to supporters, the Colorado River proposal would provide a projected $50 million for revenue-sharing with the state and among tribes. The money would go for state regulation, health care and college scholarships.

The Colorado River initiative would give the state 3 percent of the net profits to use for education and health care. Each of the others offers shares of total revenue, not just profits.

The Indian Gaming Association's initiative would give the state up to 8 percent of gross casino revenues, while the tracks' version would allow slot machines at racetracks and give the state 40 percent of the take. It also would require tribal casinos to give the state a flat 8 percent of their gambling revenue.

In another difference, the Colorado River proposal would provide casinos a wider range of table games, including craps and roulette.

A feature common to the three proposals would allow tribes to put more of the currently allotted slot machines into play by transferring them from rural Arizona where they go unused to urban areas with casinos.

Indian casinos have been operating in Arizona since 1993 under state-tribal compacts limiting the types and amount of gambling that is allowed. The first compacts are due to expire next year.

After Gov. Jane Hull started negotiating renewals, a federal judge ruled state law did not allow slot machines and other casino gambling at all. He also prohibited Hull from signing new deals, saying the Legislature or voters needed to have an active role in outlining their provisions.

The renewal issue was left in the hands of voters when the Legislature recently ended its 2002 regular session after rejecting an Indian gambling agreement negotiated by Hull and the association.

Ray Bernal, campaign chairman for the Colorado River initiative, said the campaign has a $7 million budget but that it could be increased. About $3.5 million has been spent so far, he said.

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