SEARCH NEWS:

 

Gambling foes may find ally in casino tribes

SOUTH DAKOTA – As reported by the Argus Leader: "In their fourth attempt to eliminate video lottery since it was adopted in 1989, foes of South Dakota's seemingly omnipresent casinos might have found an ironic ally - tribal gaming.

"Representatives from South Dakota's nine tribes will meet Thursday in Pierre to form what they'll call the South Dakota Indian Gaming Association and to discuss tactics in their effort to renegotiate gaming compacts with Gov. Mike Rounds.

"…If they are unsuccessful in persuading the governor to approve increases in gambling at tribal casinos, the tribes threaten to rally a growing power bloc of Indian voters to back ballot Initiative 7 in the Nov. 7 election and repeal video lottery.

"That would mark a new twist in the debate because, traditionally, many of those who have opposed video lottery have also opposed large-scale gambling of all forms, including the reservation casinos. In addition, one of the arguments raised in past elections, in support of maintaining the state's video lottery system, is that gamblers would simply go to tribal casinos to spend money if video lottery were repealed. The state does not collect a share of tribal gaming proceeds…"

< Gaming News