After being denied a second bingo hall last year, the Catawba Nation of South Carolina raised the stakes when, in July, the tribe made good on its promise to sue the state for the option to manage video poker operations. As part of the continuing lawsuit, the Catawbas appeared in court this past Friday to defend their right to operate video poker, presenting their 1993 land settlement in support of their claim.

The Catawbas' land settlement says that the tribe can operate video poker machines, so long as such devices are allowed by state law. According to the state attorney general's office, the fact that state laws were passed in 2000 outlawing video poker means that this sentence does not actually serve the Catawbas' case. Further along in the paragraph, however, the settlement says that video poker devices may be operated on reservation lands if the tribal government allows it, even if the county in which the reservation is located prohibits the machines. In a further rebuttal, however, the state attorney general's office claims that this pertains to county-wide referendums and not to state laws.

Judge Joseph Strickland, the judge presiding over the case, has vowed to come to a decision before taking leave on December 19. Should Judge Strickland side with the tribe, the Catawbas will reportedly make haste in opening a new video poker facility.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Monday, 05 December 2005