Some major cash has been ponied up in the pending February ballot battle over four Indian casino compacts, amended deals ratified by the Legislature for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

A coalition of horse racing companies have joined with a national hotel workers union and two other gaming tribes to have those amended compacts overturned by voters. The four referendum measures haven’t yet qualified for the ballot, but the coalition may soon have the cash to get them there.

$1.4 million in contributions were reported Friday, for a total of almost $2.9 million to gather signatures.

That’s serious money. But it’s overshadowed by the war chest the four tribes are amassing to defend their casino deals. The four tribes have now put a total of $11 million into their political account to fight the referenda, most of it also reported on Friday. $10 million of that has come from just two of the tribes — Morongo and Agua Caliente.

Expect these totals to grow… especially if the four ballot measures qualify.