Catawba Nation of South Carolina has filed an appeal, following its being served a notice of violation in regards to its Two Kings Casino last November. The notice was issued by the National Indian Gaming Commission (IGRA) and alleged various infractions.
One infraction in the 30-page document was the Catawba Nation allegedly allowing an expansion of the Two Kings casino without an approved management contract. According to the document, the casino faced fines of up to $57,527 per violation per day and potential temporary closure.
However, currently, its doors remain open and the venue experiences a heavy footfall of customers. The casino’s social media pages continue to document recent big wins, saying one man recently walked away with an $11,000 jackpot.
Catawba Nation Marketing and Communications Manager Tylee Anderson commented: “The Catawba Nation has filed an appeal of the notice of violation issued by the National Indian Gaming Commission as we work to resolve issues regarding lease agreements with Sky Boat Partners for our casino resort project.”
Anderson addressed the notice and its complaints of non-compliance with regard to Two Kings Casino. He said the Tribe was working closely with the IGRA to ensure changes were properly and duly implemented.
The question of whether any fines have been paid by the casino was not answered in the appeal issued by the Catawba Nation. IGRA states it rarely issues violations and has only handed out four since its inception as a regulatory federal agency.
The notice of violation states: “Within 10 days of filing a notice of appeal, the party must file an appeal brief, stating with particularity the relief desired and the grounds in support; including supporting documentation and evidence in the form of affidavits.”
Verbal testimony may be presented at the hearing, or the Tribe can elect to have written submissions only.
