Incentives detailed on blocking non-Indian gaming

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 | 9:45 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin would forfeit millions of dollars in annual payments from the Forest County Potawatomi and refund more than $84 million if it expanded gambling to anyone other than Indian tribes under a deal Gov. Jim Doyle signed.

Previous gaming compacts the state has signed with tribes included similar exclusivity clauses.

But the Potawatomi deal would add the additional penalty of forcing Wisconsin to refund the more than $84 million the tribe is scheduled to pay the state over the next two years if the state allowed things such as video poker in taverns or allowed another casino within 50 miles of the Potawatomi facilities.

Doyle's administration announced Monday it had signed an amended compact with the Forest County Potawatomi allowing the tribe to continue operating its casinos in Milwaukee and Carter indefinitely in exchange for substantially increasing the tribe's annual payments to the state.

The tribe also would be able to offer games such as roulette, craps and electronic keno as well as pari-mutuel wagering. The compact would have no expiration date, though it includes provisions to amend the deal.