Catawba Nation blames lottery for killing bingo

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The Catawba Nation says its thriving bingo operation was killed by the South Carolina lottery.

The tribe was doing well until the state legalized the lottery in 2002. After that, bingo profits dropped in half and the tribe was forced to cut governmental services and lay off employees.

The tribe is now seeking to legalize high-stakes poker. But it would take a new state or federal law for that to happen, something Chief Donald Rodgers doesn't foresee any time soon.

“The state doesn’t want anyone else in the gambling business because it is in the gambling business with its lottery,” Rodgers tells The State newspaper.

The tribe settled its land claim and gained federal recognition through a special act of Congress. The law requires the tribe to operate its gaming facilities under state law and not the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Get the Story:
Tribe says lottery killed its business (The State 12/18)