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THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL

Another threat to bingo in Santee

BY T&D STAFF
Thursday, February 01, 2007

~ the issue ~ Class II gambling

~ Our opinion ~ Making bingo less attractive has drawbacks

Orangeburg County’s efforts to land the Catawba Indian Nation’s high-stakes bingo operation in Santee may face another obstacle. The question could become less whether Santee is the right site and more whether the bingo operation is the desired tribal endeavor.

The National Indian Gaming Commission is considering new rules that would mandate more differentiation between the types of games allowed in Class II gambling and the casino-style Class III games. That could mean rules that move today’s bingo machines – which are electronic – away from similarities to slots and other Class III games that are present at some Indian-operated casinos.

The Catawbas previously have maintained they only want to be allowed to operate bingo in Santee, but opponents have said allowing the Class II games opens the door to more. For their part, the Catawbas have pledged not to seek federal approval for a Class III operation – which they could not get unless the land in Santee were turned over to the tribe under federal auspices.

South Carolina has indicated it would not sanction federal control and if there is to be a bingo operation, it would be state authorized as part of a 1993 land settlement between the state and the Catawba tribe. It is that agreement the Catawbas are contending in court has been breached by the state’s lottery. In hopes of gaining approval for the Santee operation, the Catawbas are in court arguing they can operate video poker machines if desired because the gambling was legal when the agreement was made.

So far, the Catawbas are winning in court – and well may prevail.

The Times and Democrat has advocated an end to the court battle, with the state and the Catawbas coming to terms on the parameters of a bingo operation in Santee. As much as that is what the Catawbas say they want, a change in Class II gambling that moves away from the high-stakes gaming instantly linked to other operations around the nation could make bingo less desirable in Santee or anywhere in South Carolina.

Inability to make sufficient money off the old bingo operation in York County is what prompted the Catawbas to seek OK in Santee and then file suit against the state contending South Carolina violated the accord by beginning a lottery that has markedly cut into bingo revenues.

As the state’s highest court considers the Catawba case, the tribe, South Carolina and Orangeburg County have reason to watch Washington for developments that would change Class II gaming. Indian gambling interests are opposed to alterations that take away the ability of tribes such as the Catawbas to operate only Class II-style games and make money doing so. The result will be more tribes seeking Class III operations and more controversy in states beyond South Carolina.

That won’t be good for anyone.

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