Governor claims tribes want 'unlimited' gaming

Monday, October 30, 2006  

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) says tribes in the state want "unlimited" access to gaming.

The tribes have compacts that limit them to 250 slot machines. They have asked Rounds to negotiate new agreements, citing more than 11,000 machines on operation at non-Indian gaming sites across the state.

Rounds has balked at the request, claiming the state constitution limits gaming. "I will tell you that they're lobbying very hard, because they would like to have more gaming," he said at a debate, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported. "In fact, in some cases, they would like to have unlimited gaming. I have a responsibility constitutionally to have limited gaming."

Rounds is running for re-election. His Democratic opponent, Jack Billion, disputes the claim that tribes want "unlimited" gaming.

"What they want is, they want to be able to discuss gaming and discuss the future of gaming," Billion said at the debate.

Get the Story:
Candidates debate Indian gaming (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/29)