Casino Stalker | Opinion

Debate: Flandreau Santee Sioux off-reservation casino

Friday, April 16, 2010

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and a group of business leaders are proposing an off-reservation casino near Sioux Falls, South Dakota..

The goal is to counteract a casino being proposed just across the border in Iowa. The Sioux Falls Argus Leader asked two city council members about the idea.

"As a Sioux Falls city councilman, my focus is what's best for our city, and it's my belief that having a resort casino built in Sioux Falls is better than having one built across the state line in Iowa," says Greg Jamison. "Do nothing and the new Iowa resort casino will shift gaming patrons from video lottery to their new casino and have a significant effect on video lottery revenues in South Dakota."

De Knudson doesn't think it's a good idea. 'During my eight years on the Sioux Falls City Council, not one person has contacted me to request more gambling opportunities. At this time, 8,900 video gambling terminals in 1,470 establishments exist throughout the entire state. More of those terminals are located in Sioux Falls than anywhere else," says Knudson.

The project is a long way from fruition. The tribe needs federal approval to have land placed in trust and state approval for an off-reservation casino.

The tribe would also need to renegotiate its Class III gaming compact, which currently limits the tribe to 250 slot machines.

Get the Story:
Greg Jamison: Gambling: Expand in Sioux Falls? (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/16)
De Knudson: Gambling: Expand in Sioux Falls? (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/16)

Another Opinion:
Jon M. Hunter: Large-scale gambling in Sioux Falls is a bad idea (The Madison Daily Leader 4/15)

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