TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER
TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER
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York Video Poker Less Ominous Than Santee ‘Bingo’ |
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The Catawbas Indian Nation is trying two approaches to convince the Legislature to allow it to operate a high-stakes bingo hall at Santee. On the one hand, the tribe argues that it’s only fair. On the other, it threatens to open a video poker operation in York County if the Legislature says “no.” We’re not convinced that the state has an obligation to guarantee the Catawbas a profit on gambling — and indeed, the more we learn about their proposed “bingo” operation, the less difference we can see between it and video gambling; still, the question of “fairness” is a legitimate issue that legislators should consider, and we’re glad the Catawbas are trying to make their case to state legislators rather than attempting to get the Congress to make an end-run around the state. What legislators should not consider is the threat to bring back video poker. First, we see no merit to the claim that the Catawbas have the legal right to do so. The law they cite says the tribe can operate video gambling machines “to the same extent that the devices are authorized by state law,” and state law no longer authorizes the machines. But let’s assume that a court somehow ruled that the tribe was allowed to operate video gambling machines. Since the old law required them to comply with state video gambling laws, it’s reasonable to assume that they would have to obey the video gambling law we used to have in place. That law limited payouts to $125 per day and prohibited advertising. The video poker industry grew into a monster while that law was in place, but only because the state was unwilling or unable to enforce it. Once the courts finally ruled that the law had to be enforced, the video poker barons were terrified of going out of business — so much so that they consented to a public referendum that would either shut them down forever or else lift the cap, even though it seemed clear that they would lose such a vote. The $125 cap on daily winnings isn’t the only significant restriction the Catawbas would face if they were able to bring back video gambling. Nearly as significant, the operation would be limited to their York County reservation, a remote location that people have to make a special effort to even locate, much less get to. In contrast, the bingo parlor would be at the intersection of Interstates 26 and 95, in prime position to pluck off many of the 47,000 cars that pass by daily. There would be no restrictions on billboards and other advertising. And at this point, the biggest difference we can see between video poker as South Carolina knew it and the bingo operation the Catawbas propose to operate is that the bingo jackpots could be astronomically larger than even the largest illegal video poker jackpots used to be. Up to 1,000 gamblers would sit in front of video screens that could play up to four “bingo games” every 10 seconds. Their plays would be hooked up electronically to those at other casinos across the country, creating multi-million-dollar jackpots. It’s South Carolina’s old video gambling machines — among the most addictive gambling devices available — on steroids. |
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