Nevada's gambling industry raises its presidential ante

In Washington, the casino industry's goal is to be left alone, said Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., head of the American Gaming Assn., the nontribal gambling industry's main Washington lobby arm. The industry created the trade association in 1994, after President Clinton proposed a national gambling tax and then dropped the idea. "We believe gaming should be regulated by state governments," said Fahrenkopf, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Although states regulate traditional casinos, the federal government has the authority over Indian casinos. It can authorize or reject new Indian casinos, and has some regulatory authority over existing ones.

Tribes have spent little on the presidential race. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) collected the most in the first quarter -- $47,000, most of it from tribes that own large casinos in his home state. But as the recent scandal over lobbyist Jack Abramoff showed, tribal casinos are prepared to spend heavily on federal politics.

"Tribes are watching, examining and waiting. There is no need now to make a decision," said lobbyist Tom Rodgers, whose clients include the National Indian Gaming Assn.

For a Democrat hoping to win Nevada's caucus in January, casino money might prove less important than union support, particularly that of the union that represents 60,000 Nevada casino workers.

The union is among groups seeking federal legislation that would grant labor greater rights to organize workers, a measure opposed by casino owners. The union also wants to organize Indian casino workers in other states, particularly California, an effort opposed by most tribes.

"What we're saying is that workers who produce a lot of that wealth should reap the kind of benefits that we have achieved" for workers in Nevada, said D. Taylor, secretary-treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents Nevada casino workers.

Among the major candidates, McCain has sometimes rankled the industry -- for example, pushing a ban on college sports betting.

McCain spokesman Matt David said the candidate was not taking tribes' money, because he believed their money would be better spent on education and healthcare. He took that stand when he was chairman of a Senate committee with oversight of tribes.