(Charleston-AP) May 5, 2004 - The Catawba Indian Nation is filing a lawsuit, asking a federal judge to affirm the tribe's right to operate video gambling on its York County reservation.

The suit also seeks to prevent local law enforcement officers from trying to seize video poker machines.

The tribe wants to build a hall for electronic, high-stakes bingo in Santee near Interstate 95, a plan that has met with opposition in the Legislature. The tribe currently run a similar facility in Rock Hill.

While the tribe would prefer the Santee operation, an attorney for the Catawbas says the tribe wants the courts to reaffirm its right to operate video gambling on its reservation.

Tribal leaders say allowing video gambling on the reservation was part of a land claim settlement made with the government a decade ago.

Tribal leaders called a news conference Wednesday on their efforts to reach an agreement with South Carolina about gambling. The news conference is scheduled for 1:00pm at the Clarion Townhouse Hotel on Gervais Street.

updated 10:47am by Chris Rees