Oklahoma lawmaker seeks to allow Class II gaming at racetracks

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ An Oklahoma lawmaker believes allowing Class II gaming at the state's horse racing tracks could mean more income for the facilities. <br><br>State Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, R-Edmond,

Tuesday, November 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ An Oklahoma lawmaker believes allowing Class II gaming at the state's horse racing tracks could mean more income for the facilities.

State Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, R-Edmond, told the Lawton Constitution that he plans to introduce a measure allowing games offered at American Indian casinos to be available at Remington Park and other racetracks.

Those games include bingo, pull-tabs, lotto, punch boards and tip jars.

``Why would you not let a legitimate business enterprise do what is already legal for the tribes to do?'' Pettigrew asked Monday.

If Remington Park and other state racetracks were allowed to offer Class II gaming, the state could tax it and reap much-needed revenue, he said.

Legislators have hesitated legalizing Las Vegas-style casino gaming because they believe it would also legalize such gaming for Indian tribes, Pettigrew said.

Some horse racing industry officials have said attempts in the past few legislative sessions to get casino-style gaming at race tracks has failed.

Gov.-elect Brad Henry said last week that Remington Park and other tracks should be allowed to offer the same gaming as Indian casinos offer.

State Rep. Forrest Claunch, R-Midwest City, a frequent opponent of gambling interests, said the proposal would only prop up a failing industry and move the state farther away from gaming to benefit charities.

Claunch said gaming to help charities is what Oklahomans intended when they legalized bingo for groups such as veterans.

So-called pull-tab machines in tribal casinos are really slot machines, he alleges.

``It looks the same, it functions the same,'' Claunch said. ``It's not legal ... those are clearly class III gambling devices, not class II.''

Claunch noted that when pari-mutuel racing was approved in Oklahoma, the state received six cents of every dollar. Now Oklahoma gets one cent, and the racetracks are losing money even though they can offer off-track betting.

``Racing in America is in trouble. It has been for years. They no longer draw people to the track,'' Claunch said.

Pettigrew's measure is currently being drafted and he plans to introduce it during the upcoming legislative session, which begins in February.