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Wisconsin Governor: No Expansion Outside of Tribal Casinos

"Tavern owners will make their pitch today for legislation authorizing state-sponsored video lottery terminals in their businesses. The proposal comes a day after officials with the Oneida Nation announced a tentative agreement with the state on a permanent gaming compact allowing casinos to add craps and roulette and raise their betting limits.

"But Doyle, speaking Wednesday with The Post-Crescent editorial board, said video gaming is not a consideration as he and legislators craft a two-year state budget that must eliminate a $3.2 billion deficit.

"…Scott Stenger, a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Tavern League, said allowing lottery machines in taverns would generate up to $400 million annually for the state. He said tavern owners need video gaming in their businesses because they are unable to compete with the glitz and glitter of casinos.

"…Doyle's budget calls for $237 million in additional payments to the state from all tribal compacts to help balance Wisconsin's budget deficit.

"`We ought to be very grateful to the tribes for supporting the state in these difficult times,' state Department of Administration Secretary Marc Marotta said Wednesday.

"The perpetual compact would the first of its kind in Wisconsin, Marotta said.

"The agreement would allow the tribe to keep its Oneida Bingo & Casino in Ashwaubenon open 24 hours a day and to remove betting limits from games. The agreement calls for the tribe to pay the state about $20 million in 2004, $20 million in 2005 and $18 million in 2006.

"…But while Doyle said the gaming compacts have no effect on other proposals, supporters of video machines said the agreement with the Oneida tribe can only help.

"State Rep. Terry Musser, R-Black River Falls, is co-author of the tavern legislation. It would legalize existing gambling machines in taverns for two years until the state could phase in lottery-sanctioned video gaming machines…"

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