[BBMW]

TT,

You miss my point. Everything you talk about relates to using the indian gaming "loophole" to the state constitution. That brought the feds into play, but only as regards indian gaming.

I don't know why, but Pataki avoided the direct approach of just changing the constitution. This can be done. If that's done, the indian gaming issue goes away. The state could just authorize private casinos, as is done in Nevada, AC, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc..

Now, I'm not minimizing what it would take to push this through. It's a vote of both houses of the state legislature AND it has to go on a ballot for a statewide election. But casino gaming in general, and poker in particular, has gotten much more popular than it was the last time this was tried (back in the 80's maybe). I think a push now could be successful.