Coeur d'Alene Tribe defends poker games in lawsuit from state


The Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel in Idaho. Photo from Facebook

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is defending its poker games in a lawsuit filed by the state of Idaho.

The tribe started offering Texas Hold ’Em tournament games at its Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel earlier this month. The state contends poker violates the Idaho Constitution and the Class III gaming compact.

The tribe, however, says similar games are offered elsewhere in the state -- even the Idaho Lottery promoted a Hold 'Em style scratch ticket. As such, they are legal under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, according to the tribe's response to the lawsuit.

Additionally, the tribe says Hold 'Em games are a game of skill. The National Indian Gaming Commission considers non-banked card games to fall into the Class II category, outside of state reach.

The tribe and the state will be in federal court on June 3 to argue over the lawsuit.

Get the Story:
CdA Tribe equates Texas Hold ’Em at its casino to games of skill (The Spokesman Review 5/28)

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