Suit Could
Reopen Talks About Bingo in Santee
As reported by the Times
and Democrat: "The Catawba Indian Nation —
which is still seeking authority to open a high-stakes
bingo operation in Santee — is preparing to
file a lawsuit against the state of South Carolina.
"...The Catawbas will argue that the state
has unilaterally changed the 1993 settlement of
a land claim that gave the tribe the right to operate
two bingo operations in South Carolina, Bender said
in an interview.
"One of those bingo halls must be within the
boundaries of the original land claim in the Rock
Hill area. That facility opened in 1997, but has
become far less lucrative in recent years, Bender
said.
"One reason is the education lottery. The
state has superseded the Catawbas as the preeminent
purveyor of games of chance.
"Another reason is the $18 fee that the tribe
must charge all bingo customers just to walk in
the door. The state requires the fee, which cannot
be reduced, tiered or waived.
"...The tribe also will ask the court to acknowledge
its right to offer video gambling on its York County
reservation..."
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