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)
Related Stories:
Idaho files suit
against Coeur d'Alene Tribe to stop poker games (05/05)