Friday, March 11, 2005 | 10 a.m.
GRANDE RONDE, Ore. -- Grande Ronde tribes and the operators of horse racing at Portland Meadows are considering a joint effort to build the state's largest casino at the racetrack.
Tribal officials said the resulting racino has worked with struggling tracks elsewhere, notably West Virginia and Delaware.
Several regulatory hurdles would have to be met.
It would require approval by the governor and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
In addition, casinos must be on tribal or tribal trust land, and each tribe is limited to one casino. The Grande Ronde tribes already operate Spirit Mountain west of Portland the state's most popular tourist attraction.
The tribe would have to buy Portland Meadows and have it put in trust, said Justin Martin, a lobbyist representing the tribe.
Martin said talks so far are preliminary.
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