More to the point, however, this is an intense economic battle with both sides contributing heavily to legislative campaigns and preparing to spend millions in the Proposition 5 campaign. The debate was one of the most emotional of the legislative session, with considerable rhetoric about compensating tribes for past wrongs and preserving the sanctity of tribal sovereignty. This is likely to touch off a frenzy of slot machine wheeling and dealing. A tribe that chooses not to operate a casino could sell its allotted quota to another. A questionable feature sets a statewide limit of 19,900 slot machines, with each tribe receiving a predetermined number. This was designed to overcome fears that casinos would begin popping up in residential neighborhoods. One of the best parts of the new law requires that tribes involve local government in decisions on the location and construction of casinos. It will be a costly, hard-fought campaign. Their owners are seeking to legalize their machines by sponsoring Proposition 5 on the November election ballot. The federal government has vowed to close these casinos, which now violate state law.
The bill was bitterly opposed by 40 other tribes that now operate casinos with 13,000 Nevada-type video slot machines.
