SC justices: No casino allowed on Catawba land

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s highest court says the state’s only federally recognized tribe cannot have a casino on its reservation.

The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday a state law allowing gambling cruises to leave from South Carolina ports does not also mean the Catawba Indian Nation can offer the same games at a gambling hall on its York County reservation.

Video gambling is banned in South Carolina. A settlement agreement permitted the Catawbas to have gambling to the “same extent” as allowed under state law. The tribe argued that since gambling cruises are allowed, so should a reservation casino.

State prosecutors argued the law the tribe relies upon notes that gambling cannot begin until boats reach international waters and specifically prohibits any casino-like gambling in areas controlled by South Carolina.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP