Idaho‘s Coeur d’Alene tribe got a taste of its own medicine when four lawmakers penned a letter to Gov. C.L. Butch Otter and to the U.S. Attorney’s office charging the tribe with 
being out of compliance with its compact. The quartet accuses the tribe of deploying Class III slot machines, “not stylized electronic bingo or electronic pull-tab games with spinning wheels as were once used in the past by the tribes.”
“Since slot machines are clearly not allowed in Idaho, we respectfully request that you review for compliance the electronic games in use at all Idaho tribal casinos including the Coeur d’Alene Casino,” wrote principal author state Sen. Bob Nonini (R, left). “I would say Sen. Nonini apparently hasn’t taken a look at federal laws, hasn’t taken a look at the gaming compacts, hasn’t taken a look at Proposition 1 or years of court history if he’s making accusations like that,” fired back tribal spokesman Helo Hancock. “It’s sad to see a state senator attacking the largest employer in his district because he’s on the other side of an issue. It seems pretty reckless, but not surprising.”
The Nonini letter came on the heels of a fiery day at the statehouse, with two octogenarians 
nearly coming to blows. Tribal lobbyist Bill Roden, 86, was confronted by racino owner Harry Bettis, age 80, and called a “damn liar.” “He was trying to get me to punch him, but
I’m smarter than that,” Roden told reporters. It’s understandable that Bettis’ passions were running high, as the Senate State Affairs Committee had — with only one “nay” (or was that a “neigh”?) — voted to outlaw “instant racing” machines, sending the matter to the full Senate. Solons weren’t unsympathetic to the horseracing industry but said they’d been misled two years ago: “What was represented is not what was installed,” intoned Sen. Todd Lakey (R, right). Instant racing has evolved over the country with many fits and false starts, so it would be no surprise if Idaho puts it back in the fiscal tool box.
* Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio got to polish off the charm and schmooze 75 citizens of Charlestown (who may yet get to vote on the fate of his casino) in a colloquy held 
at Bunker Hill Community College. The dominant issue was traffic, particularly regarding additional congestion that might be generated by the casino. DeSalvio pointed to a $35 million mix of long- and short-term fixes Wynn Resorts would be bankrolling for the Sullivan Square area. When pressed on why the company wasn’t paying more, he said, “I believe Wynn is doing its fair share toward a solution. A $25 million commitment, I think that’s a great commitment. The long-term solution is not a Wynn Resorts project. It’s a city of Boston project.”
Concern also focused on the removal and containment of hazardous materials from the old Monsanto Chemicals site that will become Wynn Everett. A Wynn subcontractor promised an area “where people can walk their dogs, kids can run and play.” Some areas can’t be remediated but will be capped or sealed behind containment walls along the Mystic River. However, much soil will be excavated and evacuated. Charlestown residents promised they wouldn’t be along the toxic-soil removal route: Everett would. It is unknown if anyone found that black irony amusing.
* Meanwhile, in its ongoing effort to head off problem gambling, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has authorized a big purchase. It will be installing interactive GameSense kiosks at all Bay State casinos. Launched in 2009 by the British Columbia Lottery Corp., the installations are described as providing “gamblers with factual information regarding responsible betting habits, evidence of addiction, how to make safe bets and choices, and resources to seek assistance.”
