As reported by: The Associated Press
The House voted 58-42 Wednesday to send to voters a gaming proposal that would allow three state horse tracks to operate electronic gambling machines like those available at Indian casinos in Oklahoma.

Senate Bill 1252, which also contains a model state-tribal compact that will allow the state to regulate and share in the profits from American Indian casinos, will place the issue on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

“The people who are opposed to gaming, who wanted (the issue) to come to the vote of the people, have what they wanted,” said Rep. Larry Roberts, D-Miami. “We know now, for sure, that this issue will be on the November ballot,”

Endorsement of the gaming proposal was bi-partisan, according to Roberts, who said the bill passed with 50 Democrats and 8 Republicans casting votes of support.

The measure repeals provisions of Senate Bill 553, a similar gaming bill passed earlier in the session that opponents were seeking to repeal through a statewide vote. Fearing the petition might delay the enactment of SB 553, legislative leaders agreed to repeal the bill and send the issue to a statewide vote.

The measure now heads to Gov. Brad Henry, who is expected to sign it.

The new bill contains some additional provisions, including $250,000 each year to treat gambling addiction and an increase in the number of gambling machines allowed at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Rep. Clay Pope, one of the bill's sponsors, said allowing the machines at the horse tracks is critical to the survival of the state's horse industry, which he said provides 50,000 jobs and $2 billion annually for Oklahoma's economy.

“We have an unregulated gaming industry operating in Oklahoma that the state gets absolutely no revenue off of,” said Pope, D-Loyal. “This gives us the ability to regulate that, gives us the ability to get some revenue that we can then put into what most of us agree is the most important function of state spending, which is education.”

Some opponents argued the bill promotes an industry that will lead to the destruction of Oklahoma families and increases in divorce, bankruptcy and crime rates.

“We are putting our stamp of approval on an action that hurts families,” said Rep. Joan Greenwood, R-Moore. “This will bring a curse to this state.”

But Rep. Ron Kirby, D-Lawton, said gambling is already rampant in Oklahoma and that the bill will only give the state more control over the more than 80 tribal casinos already operating in Oklahoma.

“To say that gambling is not going on in this state, you really need to wake up and smell the coffee,” Kirby said. “Folks, get your head out of the sand and let's help regulate something that's already here.”

Rep. Forrest Claunch, a longtime gambling opponent who helped launch the petition effort to repeal SB 553, questioned the legality of placing both a referendum and a repealer in the same bill.

Claunch said he plans to seek an attorney general's opinion on whether such a move is constitutional.

“I don't know of a circumstance where this has ever happened,” said Claunch, R-Midwest City. “I think (SB) 1252 is still clearly open to a legal challenge.”

Claunch also said he will continue his effort to gain the signatures necessary to repeal SB 553.

“I see no harm in people saying they're opposed to gambling,” Claunch said.

As in the previous bill, SB 1252 authorizes a limited number of electronic games at three of the state's four pari-mutuel tracks _ Remington Park, Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw and Will Rogers Downs in Claremore.

Remington Park would be allowed 650 machines during the first two years, with the option of 50 additional games in each of the following two years. The other two tracks would be authorized to operate 250 machines.

Machines would not be allowed at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, but the track would be allowed to share in a portion of the revenue from nearby casinos.

A portion of the adjusted gross revenues from the machines at the tracks would be divided among the state, the Oklahoma Breeding Development Fund and the track.

The bill also specifically forbids dice games, roulette wheels, house-banked card games and bets on sporting events.