Native Tribe Considers Myrtle Beach, S.C., for Bingo Casino
By Kent Bernhard Jr., The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
 
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 02:55:37 -0500
 

Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News

Mar. 14--A consultant for the Catawba Indians said Wednesday that the tribe is 
looking at several sites along the Grand Strand for a high-stakes bingo 
development.

``We're sort of narrowing in on that part of the state,'' said Bobby Price, a 
Columbia consultant hired by the Catawba Nation to help find land for the 
development.

But tribal officials say a final decision has not been made on the location for 
their bingo operation.

Contacted at her home, the tribe's transition director, Wanda Warren, said the 
Catawbas were actively looking at sites in the North Myrtle Beach area. She 
would not discuss details, citing ongoing negotiations.

``The North Myrtle Beach site is one of several that we're looking at along the 
coast right now,'' she said.

Price said the tribe is also looking at sites in Myrtle Beach near the backgate 
to the closed Myrtle Beach Air Force Base and at sites in Surfside Beach.

Under an agreement with the state, the Catawbas could operate two bingo parlors 
that would be larger than any others in South Carolina.

Those parlors could also make the biggest payoffs, up to $100,000 a night. The 
Catawba Indians voted last year to run the high-stakes bingo operations.

Tribe economic development officials have said bingo could generate as much as 
$10 million a year.

The tribe is also looking into possible sites in the Charleston area and in the 
Beaufort and Hilton Head area, Price said.

Price said if chances for the location of the bingo development were broken into
 thirds between the three coastal areas, the Grand Strand's chances would be, 
``well better than a third.''

The Beaufort-Hilton Head area has an advantage because it is close to Interstate
 95, Price said.

But, he added, ``Myrtle Beach is...God, there's so much going on there.''

Price said he expected to have his recommendation on the location ready by the 
time the tribe's general council meets in May.

Connie Wade, chairman of the tribe's economic development board, also said the 
Catawbas had not made any decisions and were still researching the locations.

``We still haven't got a site tied down or anything,'' he cq said.

The Catawbas became the nation's 317th recognized tribe through a 1994 
settlement which allowed the tribe to expand on its land holdings in eastern 
York County.

That transfer followed a 13-year legal fight about an 1840 treaty the Catawbas 
claimed illegally took away 144,000 acres. The settlement provided the tribe 
with $50 million, in addition to restoring its rights as a nation.

The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer contributed to this report.

END!A7?MB-CASINO

AP-NY-03-14-96 0131EST