Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, pressed Coeur d’Alene Racing Manager Doug Okuniewicz on his contention that HB 127 wouldn’t put Idaho’s tribal casinos out of business, noting that Idaho has long had tribal gaming. “We don’t know the impacts – the impacts will be negative,” Manwaring said. “I didn’t hear of a specific problem. Do you know of any specific problem?”

Okuniewicz replied, “Certainly. The tribes have games, they’re not constitutional. That’s a problem. The agency that’s being directed to monitor the compacts is not doing anything about it, that’s a problem.” He said the state Lottery Commission takes no action against tribal gaming because of current Idaho law, and said that’s why he believes the law should be changed.