The Idaho Senate has approved legislation that would give law enforcement leeway in enforcing gambling laws.  The measure passed the House Feb. 8.

During a committee meeting, House sponsor Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, said the proposal doesn't legalize gambling, but gives police and other law enforcement officials the discretion they have in other areas, like issuing speeding tickets.  "The best thing to do is to amend the law so that when [law enforcement] use their best judgment, they aren’t violating the law,” he said. “There is not a license here to look the other way.”

“I’ll gamble that I have support on this,” said Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, who sponsored the measure on the floor of the Senate.  She said the legislation could apply to small gambling operations, like betting on a poker game or the NCAA college basketball tournament.  The text of the legislation is available here.