With the first (and only) non-Indian Card Room set to open in April of this year (Ref: http://www.canterburypark.com/cardclub.html); at least two of the Indian casinos are considering also opening poker rooms as reported by the Thursday, March 2, 2000 St. Cloud Times as follows:

2 Indian casinos weigh odds of poker clubs
SHAKOPEE (AP) - Two Indian gmabling casinos are consdering hosting poker clubs, prompting officals to ask wheter the tribes should first seek state approval and whether the push might open up debate on a state-run casino.

In Morton, the Lower Sioux have advertised for a poker-room manager for Jackpot Junction. The White earth Chippewa are considering putting a poker club in the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen.

The state approved a poker club for Cantebury Park last year in an effort to boost revenue for the Shakopee race track, which is struggling to compete with tribal casinos and other legal gmabling (NOTE: Both bingo and pull tabs are legal throughout the state of Minnesota).

The state attorney general's office hasn't commented. But Norm Pint, director of gambling enforcement for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said this week that the state needs to decide whether tribes can run poker without an agreement, or compact, with the state.

House gmabling subcommitte Chairman Mike Osskopp, R-Lake City, warned tribes that the poker tables could reinvigorate a debate about a state-sponsored casino.

"The one big threat to their porsperity is government-run casinos, and they have got that drive stalled," Osskopp said.

"Why they wourld risk bringing it back over four lousy card tables is beyond my ability to reason."

Gambling authorities last week asked Gov. Jesse Ventura to take a position on what the tribes can do. Under the federal Indian Gaming Regulator Act, governors have authority to negotiate gambling compacts between states and tribes.

But tribal leaders and one lawyer who has reserached the issue say tribes could open poker rooms without compacts. Tribal casinos can offer high-stakes poker without the areements because federal Indian law defines poker differently than blackjack or slot machines they say.

NOTE: The only games presently in Minnesota Indian Casions are: Black Jack, Bingo, Pull Tabs and Slot Machines. No roullette or sports books are presently allowed under the existing compact.

I will try to keep everybody advise as to not only the status, but of course any and all newly issued chips.

John!