State House kills Butte gambling proposal

HELENA - A $2 billion Butte gambling and entertainment project dubbed ''Destination Montana'' ran into stiff criticism in the House Tuesday, falling on a 59-41 vote.

The sprawling development promised up to 40 music halls, 10 casinos, a theme park, 15,000 hotel rooms, three golf courses, a sports stadium and sports training centers.

But legislative opponents of House Bill 757, which would have allowed the gambling, said the ''pie-in-the-sky'' project just asked too much by seeking wide-open casino games.

And its promise of more than $100 million in new tax revenue each year, 24,000 jobs and mi...