Question of Wisconsin Indian Casinos Still Up In the Air
9 September 2005
In 1993, an amendment to the state constitution restricted Wisconsin's governor from allowing American Indian tribes to run casinos. Stephen Morgan, a lawyer acting in defense of Dairyland Greyhound Park, argues that the Wisconsin governor failed to refuse the renewal of gambling compacts in 1998 and 2003. However, attorney Thomas Bellavia, who represented the state, argued that this amendment does not apply to the compacts in question, as they were approved before voters ratified the amendment.
The governor at the time, Tommy Thompson, had signed compacts with 11 Indian tribes in 1991 and 1992 permitting them to operate casinos. The deals were renewed in 1998, and the present Governor, Jim Doyle, signed a new set of compacts 2 years ago. Dairyland claims these casinos are operating illegally, but a court ruling determined that the amendment did not apply to these compacts.
In a different court case that took place in 2004, the court ruled that Doyle overstepped his boundaries, and should not have signed these compacts and allowed tribes to run casino games other than blackjack and slot machines. Bellavia requested that the court prohibit tribes from offering more games in casinos. Morgan has requested a ruling that would not mean shutting down Indian casinos, but would allow them to continue operations until 2008 with the original blackjack and slot machines that were approved.
Source: Authorized Online Casinos News Staff
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