South Carolina court hears Catawba Nation case

Thursday, January 18, 2007  

The South Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in the Catawba Nation's video poker case.

The tribe was recognized by a special act of Congress that settled its land claim. The 1993 law bars the tribe from following the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act but permits gaming under the laws of the state.

At one point, state law allowed video poker. A lower court ruled that the tribe can therefore offer the game on its reservation even though it has since been outlawed.

The state argues that the tribe must abide by the video poker ban. But the tribe says the 1993 federal law can't be broken.

"A deal is a deal,” an attorney for the tribe told the court, The State reported.

Get the Story:
Video poker 'beast' back in spotlight (The State 1/18)
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Catawbas make case for video gambling before S.C. high court (AP 1/18)