Indian Casino in Iowa to Allow Underage Poker Players
The Meskwaki Indian tribe in Iowa has made plans to offer poker to gamblers below the state's legal age limit of 21 at its Tama Casino. Patrons between the ages of 18 and 21 will be allowed to participate in poker games, which the casino will run without taking a rake.
Slots, blackjack and other casino games will still be prohibited to those under 21.
The tribe is using a clause of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to justify its action. According to the federal law, certain forms of gambling may be offered by tribes when not covered by a state compact.
Previously, the state faced a challenge from the Winnebago tribe in 1999 when the tribe rejected state age limitations and allowed gambling in all forms to those 18 and older. The tribe insisted its sovereign status prevented state law requiring gamblers to be 21 from affecting the Indian casino. The issue was solved in 2005 under a new compact between the Winnebago and the state.
Jack Ketterer, of the Iowa Gaming Association, said the state's 17 casinos would continue to allow only those 21 or older to play, noting the law did not give them the option to follow the Indian example.
The president of the Iowa Gaming Association, Wes Ehrecke, questioned the motive behind the move, and wondered what safety measures would be in play regarding the subject age group. "What will be the enforcement and regulating mechanism so they are not playing other games when they are not playing poker?" Ehrecke saw the decision as another attempt to cause a competitive disadvantage for state-licensed casinos.
It's hard to see what good allowing underage particpants does the Tama Casino, unless the limit is changed for all games, or a rake created for the underage poker games. This move may be the beginning of either serious renegotiation with the state, or a declaration of an overall policy change under the umbrella of sovereignity.
