Gaming briefs for Oct. 9, 2003

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003 | 11:20 a.m.

Lottery defends enforcement in video poker challenge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State lottery officials have tried to crack down on businesses that allegedly violate or skirt the law when they host the lottery's video poker-type machines, according to filings in the pending Supreme Court challenge of the machines' constitutionality.

Among its moves, the Lottery Commission has asked the Legislature to ban "casino" and related phrasings from the names of bars, clubs and other video lottery retailers.

The commission proposes to change video lottery's anti-advertising rule to ban retailers from using "words commonly associated with gambling, either when displaying its corporation name or its doing-business-as name."

A legislative interim committee could review the rule change as early as this month.

Antigambling coalitions from Cabell and Greenbrier counties allege the retailers' advertising practices violate the 2001 law that added them to the lottery system. They have asked the Supreme Court to unplug the machines.

Tribe nominates candidates

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Members of the Meskwaki tribe in Tama nominated nine candidates for the tribal council on Tuesday night.

The tribe is holding its general election and recall election Oct. 21 in an attempt to end a leadership dispute that led to the shutdown of its casino.

The general election covers three of the council's seven seats set to expire next month; the recall election targets the other four seats.

Some tribal members have been working for months to recall members of the elected council. Last fall, the elected council rejected recall petitions, causing a group of leaders hand picked by the hereditary chief to take control in March of the casino and government offices.

The nine nominees Tuesday night forces a primary election next Tuesday. The six top finishers then will be on the ballot for the Oct. 21 general election.

Those nominated were Homer Bear Jr., Harvey Davenport, Wayne Pushetonequa, Galen Wanatee, Joe Wanatee Sr., Troy Wanatee, Alex Walker Jr., Milo Buffalo Jr., and Robert John Roberts.

Bear and Pushetonequa are members of the appointed council. Walker was the leader of the elected council but has said he would not seek re-election.