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SC Native Americans Take Video Gambling Issue to State Supreme CourtThe Catawba Native American tribe of South Carolina has certainly posed its fair share of legal challenges in recent years, keeping both the legislative and judicial branches of the state’s government occupied.The Catawba tribe is currently arguing that it has both the right to operate video gambling machines on its Rock Hill reservation, and the right to operate a high- stakes bingo facility off- reservation, in Santee on Interstate 95. The video gambling machine issue is before the Senate, and the bingo gambling hall issue is being battled out in the courts. Although video gambling is illegal in the state of South Carolina, Judge Joseph Strickland rules in December of last year that a 1993 settlement between the state and the Native American tribe allows the tribe to operate video gambling machines. The tribe, however, would like to trade that right for permission to operate the high- stakes bingo hall in Santee. The tribe needs high- stakes bingo, tribe officials say, in order to compete with the state lottery, which has been taking away business since it was founded in 2002. Some, however, say that Strickland’s ruling to allow the video gambling machines on the reservation even though video gambling is illegal in the state is invalid. Attorney General Henry McMaster appealed Strickland's ruling, and asked the state Supreme Court to re- try the case. "We would say it's a very favorable development for the state because the Supreme Court has decided to hear the matter instead of denying a hearing and remanding it the Court of Appeals, which could draw the case out potentially for years," McMaster spokesman Trey Walker said. The issue will have to be approved by the Supreme Court before it can be considered by the Legislature, so the main issue becomes one of timing. The Legislature is scheduled to close its session on June 1, just three months from now, which means that the Catawba high- stakes bingo gambling hall bill will die if it does not reach the house by May 1st. Jay Bender, a lawyer representing the tribe, said that he is optimistic that the tribe’s bingo hall and video gambling machines will be approved by both the Supreme Court and the Legislature this year. The bingo hall and video gambling machines are expected to bring upwards of 1,800 jobs to the overly manufacturing- dependent Orangeburg County. According to County Administrator Bill Clark, the jobs that these new gambling methods would bring would provide workers with health care benefits, unlike many existing jobs in the area. The expanded gambling is also expected to have an economic impact of $72 million.
The police recently raided an illegal casino site located in a dusty warehouse in Port Richmond, confiscating thousands of dollars and illegal gambling equipment. |
