Sunday, January 21, 2007

The state Supreme Court is hearing arguments today on whether the Catawba
Indian Nation's land settlement with the state allows it to offer video
gambling on its York County reservation. A lower court ruled in favor of the
tribe, but the state is appealing. The Catawbas say their 1993 land deal
allows video gambling, despite South Carolina outlawing it years ago. The
Catawbas are considering using the right to offer the games as a bargaining
chip to get lawmakers to let them build a high stakes bingo parlor near
Santee on Interstate 95. Critics say allowing bingo in Orangeburg County
would open the door to more high-stakes bingo locations in the state.