Court debates Eastern Cherokee gaming rights

Thursday, October 15, 2009  

The North Carolina Court of Appeals on Wednesday heard arguments in a case that affects the gaming rights of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

At the time the tribe signed a Class III gaming compact with the state, video poker was legal. Video poker has since been outlawed but state law recognizes an exemption for the tribe.

Gaming vendors sued to overturn the ban. They say the state can't allow the tribe to operate a game that others cannot.

Some judges on the court appeared to disagree. They said nothing in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act prohibits the state from favoring the tribe.

The tribe is not a party to the case but is supporting the state.

Get the Story:
Judges grill gambling industry reps in video poker case (The Asheville Citizen-Times 10/15)
NC video poker machine ban judged by appeals court (AP 10/14)