BOISE - Increased scrutiny over Idaho's variety of slot-like machines has lawmakers calling for a new oversight board to regulate and investigate gambling throughout the state.

The House State Affairs Committee introduced the proposal Tuesday.

According to the legislation, a seven-member Gaming Commission would oversee all gambling, including Idaho tribal gaming, horse racing and state lottery gambling. It would also dissolve the state's current racing and lottery commissions.

"It might be a good idea for us to look at a gaming commission, recognizing we probably need to enhance regulation over the various forms of gambling in Idaho," said Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, who introduced the proposal.

Slot machines have been illegal in Idaho since the 1950s. However, allegations from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe that the horse-racing industry has improperly installed slot-like machines have sparked criticism from both sides.

The Tribe has introduced legislation that would repeal a 2013 law authorizing historic horse racing video machines. That bill has passed the Senate, and had two hearings in the House State Affairs Committee.

The repeal bill, SB 1011 will face a vote in that committee later this week. If it passes the House, several horse-racing supporters said, it could spell the end of horse racing in Idaho.

Douglas Okuniewicz, manager of the Greyhound Park and Event Center, said it makes sense for the state to have one agency interpreting Idaho's gaming laws.

"If we survive this session, I think it would make a lot of sense," he said, adding if the Tribe successfully repeals the law, it won't make any difference to him who regulates pari-mutuel betting.

The Greyhound Park currently has 35 of the historic racing machines in operation, and Okuniewicz argues that operating those pari-mutuel machines are just as legal as the Tribe's slot-like, bingo-based video machines.

"The function and form of these machines are the same," he said, arguing if the Tribe's machines are constitutionally legal in Idaho, then his horse-racing machines should be considered legal as well.

Horse-racing representatives argue that the tribes operate slot machines on their reservations and do not want to compete with the lucrative electronic instant-racing betting terminals.

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe reserved comment on the creation of a state Gaming Commission until it has had longer to study the bill.

"We haven't had a chance to fully digest the 34-page bill introduced today regarding the creation of a new gaming commission," said Helo Hancock, legislative director for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. "We are, however, looking forward to finally getting a vote on SB 1011 soon."

Meanwhile, others have pointed out that the Idaho Lottery has quietly unveiled electronic versions of paper pull-tabs, which also closely resemble slot machines.

Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene, said she voted to introduce the legislation.

"We need an entity to make sure that all the tribes are gambling correctly, but also to make sure that the lottery is gambling correctly," she said.

During a lengthy hearing, a House panel recently expressed alarm after a member of the state's Racing Commission told lawmakers he did not know there were concerns over the horse-racing betting machines.

"I think it's essential given what we've heard. We need a process to investigate these allegations to make sure these machines are compliant in all forms of the law," said Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens.

Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane first suggested the idea of a gaming commission while speaking during a hearing in February about repealing instant horse racing.

Kane added that his office has little authority to investigate claims regarding gambling.

Post Falls Police detectives are currently investigating the legality of the horse-racing machines. Some lawmakers would like to see the results of that investigation before voting on the repeal legislation.