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State Republican chief chairs slot-machine business

Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 | 9:10 a.m.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota, who has criticized the state's casino compacts with Indian tribes, also chairs a company that sells slot machines to casinos, the Star Tribune reported Saturday.

Ron Eibensteiner is board chairman of Spectre Gaming, which is based in El Cajon, Calif., and has an office in Minneapolis. He said Spectre grew out of a telecom company that he had headed and liquidated in 2000.

Spectre Gaming is involved in the gambling machine market at a time when Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has threatened to open a nontribal casino to compete with Minnesota Indian casinos unless the tribes give the state $350 million a year.

Eibensteiner unveiled a statewide radio ad last week supporting Pawlenty's proposal to obtain a share of tribal casino revenues.

When the newspaper asked Eibensteiner about his role in the gambling business, he said he is concerned about "the perception factor," and intends to resign from Spectre's board as two additional board members are recruited.

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