Catawba Nation takes casino case to state Supreme Court


Artist's rendering of proposed Catawba Nation casino in North Carolina. Image from Catawba Nation Project Brief

The Catawba Nation is arguing a gaming case before the South Carolina Supreme Court today.

The tribe is required to follow the state's gaming laws. A 2005 law authorizes gambling cruises so the tribe says it is entitled to the same types of games on its reservation.

The case is Catawba Indian Nation v. South Carolina, No. 2012-212118. The court's description follows:
Appellant brought this declaratory judgment action seeking a determination of the effect of the Gambling Cruise Act, S.C. Code Ann. §§ 3-11-100 to -500, on its settlement agreement with the State, which has been codified at S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-16-10 to -140 and provides in relevant part that Appellant may permit video poker or similar electronic play devices on its Reservation to the same extent that the devices are authorized by state law. At issue is Appellant's contention that the authorization of "cruises to nowhere" allowing video gambling only outside the State's territorial waters enables Appellant to offer video gaming on the Reservation based on the settlement.

Separately, the tribe is pursuing a casino across the border in North Carolina. A land-into-trust application is pending before the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Get the Story:
Catawbas take casino bid to SC Supreme Court (AP 1/22)
Catawba Indian Nation chief: County 'caught the eye of everybody' for resort (The Shelby Star 1/19)
Resort application reveals more details about proposed project (The Shelby Star 1/19)

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