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It's too soon to determine licensing procedures for a possible Catawba Indian Nation video poker operation, a state Department of Revenue official said Wednesday. But it's the tribe, not state officials, who will control video poker on the reservation, tribal attorney Jay Bender said. A judge ruled Tuesday the tribe can operate video poker or similar devices on its York County reservation regardless of state law. Catawba leaders have said they'll give up video poker on the reservation if state legislators allow the tribe to open a high-stakes electronic bingo operation in Orangeburg County. "This is still going through the judicial process," said Department of Revenue spokesman Danny Brazzell. "It's too soon for the department of revenue to speculate our role and whether the state will see any revenue from the Catawba video poker operation if it comes to pass." The Department of Revenue collected about $60 million annually in licensing fees before South Carolina banned video poker in 2000, Brazzell said.

The video poker activity was stopped because opponents believed it was highly addictive and led to higher rates of robberies, alcoholism and personal financial problems. Tribal member Deborah Crisco wants the possible video poker operation placed under the control of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. However, Bender said neither the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act or the state would have control over the tribe's video poker operation. "I think what the tribe would consider is establishing it's own gaming commission to provide supervision for any reservation gaming activity," Bender said. Reservation gambling will lead to more addictions, wasted personal finances and crime, Crisco said. She's also concerned other problems will occur if video poker is set up at Green Earth, a family-oriented subdivision, where it was rumored to go about a year ago, she said. No firm plan is in place to establish video poker on the reservation because the tribe's priority remains a bingo operation in Santee, Bender said. But if the tribe does offer video poker on the reservation it will be "in a place best suited for the activity," he said. The tribe says its proposed operation in Orangeburg County would help recover bingo revenue lost due to the S.C. Education Lottery.