Catawba Nation says NIGC won't control gaming

Thursday, December 15, 2005  

An attorney for the Catawba Nation of South Carolina says neither the state nor the National Indian Gaming Commission would have authority over the tribe's video poker operation.

A judge ruled this week that the tribe has a right to offer video poker even if the game is outlawed in the state. He cited language in the tribe's settlement act, which was passed by Congress in 1993.

The settlement act bars the tribe from falling under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. That means the NIGC won't have a say over video poker, the attorney says.

The tribe doesn't plan on offering the game but instead hopes to expand its off-reservation bingo enterprise, which does fall under state law.

Get the Story:
S.C. officials wait and see on Catawba video poker (The Rock Hill Herald 12/15)