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Video Poker Scores a Victory In South Carolina
The State of South Carolina was reluctant to allow the Catawba Indian Nation to operate any Video Poker machines on their reservation for fear that the game would become addictive to the many residents who would likely flock to go play it.But just this month, the Catawbas scored a court victory that will allow them to offer Video Poker at their reservations, despite the fact that the game was legally banned across the entire state.
The Catawbas claim that the Video Poker machines are needed in order to recoup losses that they suffered at their Bingo Hall when South Carolina instituted a lottery. The lottery supposedly hurt profits so bad at the Rock Hill bingo hall since 2002 that they had to find an additional stream of revenue, and Video Poker was it.
Judge Joseph Strickland ruled on December 13 of last year that the Catawbas could use the machines. However, State Attorney General Henry McMaster put in a formal plea to ask Judge Strickland to reconsider his initial ruling. He was joined in opposition by US Senator John Sprat (D-SC).
Strickland denied the request in January, paving the way for the Catawbas to offer the game.
