Seeking expansion
Seeking expansion
South Dakota tribes press state for more slot machines
South Dakota tribes are pressuring Gov. Mike Rounds to raise the limit of slot machines they can operate at tribal government casinos. The seven Sioux tribes currently are limited to 250 devices, a cap tribal leaders say severely limits their ability to generate economic development and provide social services to tribal citizens.
The impoverished Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation wants to expand its Prairie Winds Casino with a new hotel and conference center. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is contemplating moving its Rosebud Casino off U.S. Highway 83. And the Flandreau Santee Tribe in Flandreau claims customers at its Royal River Casino & Hotel often have to wait for machines to become available.
"We need more machines," Santee tribal secretary Eloise Drapeau told the Rapid City Journal. "We're already built to hold 500 (machines) on the floor, so it would be no added expense."
Tribes are allowed an unlimited number of bingo-style, or Class II devices, but they contend the casino-style, Class III machines are far more lucrative.
Tribal leaders met in Rapid City in mid-February to discuss rewriting tribal-state agreements to lift the cap. Tribal leaders suspect Gov. Rounds and the State Legislature is limiting tribal casino operations to protect state revenue generated from video lottery and gambling in Deadwood.
In 1989 the state Legislature imposed a limit of 30 gambling devices per building in Deadwood and restricted bets to $5. But the bet limit was raised in 2000 to $100. Tribal leaders question why the city has 2,998 slot machines and 92 card tables while tribes are limited to 250 machines.
Larry Eliason, executive secretary of the South Dakota Gaming Commission, said the state's public policy is for limited gambling. But he told the Journal that the machine limit is subject to negotiation.
"I would never be quoted as saying that 250 is a line in the sand," Eliason said. "I'd never make that statement."
-Staff Reports
South Dakota tribes press state for more slot machines
South Dakota tribes are pressuring Gov. Mike Rounds to raise the limit of slot machines they can operate at tribal government casinos. The seven Sioux tribes currently are limited to 250 devices, a cap tribal leaders say severely limits their ability to generate economic development and provide social services to tribal citizens.
The impoverished Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation wants to expand its Prairie Winds Casino with a new hotel and conference center. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is contemplating moving its Rosebud Casino off U.S. Highway 83. And the Flandreau Santee Tribe in Flandreau claims customers at its Royal River Casino & Hotel often have to wait for machines to become available.
"We need more machines," Santee tribal secretary Eloise Drapeau told the Rapid City Journal. "We're already built to hold 500 (machines) on the floor, so it would be no added expense."
Tribes are allowed an unlimited number of bingo-style, or Class II devices, but they contend the casino-style, Class III machines are far more lucrative.
Tribal leaders met in Rapid City in mid-February to discuss rewriting tribal-state agreements to lift the cap. Tribal leaders suspect Gov. Rounds and the State Legislature is limiting tribal casino operations to protect state revenue generated from video lottery and gambling in Deadwood.
In 1989 the state Legislature imposed a limit of 30 gambling devices per building in Deadwood and restricted bets to $5. But the bet limit was raised in 2000 to $100. Tribal leaders question why the city has 2,998 slot machines and 92 card tables while tribes are limited to 250 machines.
Larry Eliason, executive secretary of the South Dakota Gaming Commission, said the state's public policy is for limited gambling. But he told the Journal that the machine limit is subject to negotiation.
"I would never be quoted as saying that 250 is a line in the sand," Eliason said. "I'd never make that statement."
-Staff Reports
