South Dakota tribes seek action on gaming compacts

Friday, October 20, 2006  

South Dakota tribes are considering litigation and legislation as they seek to negotiate new compacts with Gov. Mike Rounds (R).

So far, the tribes say Rounds has not be open to new agreements. "They don't want us to prosper. They don't want anything to happen for us," Yankton Sioux Chairman Robert Cournoyer said at a meeting on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

Eight of the nine tribes in the state operate casinos. The compacts generally limit the tribes to 250 slot machines, for a total of 1,667 machines as of 2005.

That pales in comparison to the 11,560 slot machines operated off the reservation, according to the United Sioux Tribes, the group that hosted the meeting.

To advance gaming issues, the tribes formed the South Dakota Indian Gaming Association. "We have no choice but to really stand together," said Cournoyer, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported. State officials "don't want us to progress."

Get the Story:
Tribes drop threat to defeat video lottery (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/19)
Tribal leaders say governor blocking gambling compacts (AP 10/20)