Tribal Casino Ordered To Stop Paying Cash At Texas Casino

The Tigua Indian tribe is not sure whether or not they are operating illegal slot machines in the state of Texas. A judge on Monday made it crystal clear for the tribe, they need to stop operating the illegal machines, or risk a fine every day.

US District Court Judge Harry Hudspeth has ordered the Tigua tribe to stop using the slot machines that pay out Visa debit cards as prizes. The Visa cards are essentially cash, and that is not permitted by Texas law.

The original legal battle between the state and the Tigua tribe took place back in 2001. It was at that time that a court ordered the closure of the Speaking Rock Casino, claiming that the Tigua tribe was not authorized to offer casino gambling.

The tribe, in response, started to run the slot machines will small stakes payouts. If the payout was under $5, then the machines would be legal. The Visa cards, however, have made the slots illegal again, according to the state.

The Tigua tribe has attempted in recent years to have that original 2001 ruling overturned. They have lobbied the state, unsuccessfully, to allow them to once again offer casino gambling. The tribe's lawyers are now dissecting Monday's ruling before issuing any statements regarding the order.

The nickel machines that are being used at the establishment can only pay out up to ten times the amount of the game. Therefore, Judge Hudspeth ruled that the slot machines were illegal because the Visa cards were being loaded with much more than $5.

August 5, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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