The Minnesota Supreme Court is tasked with deciding whether off-reservation electronic gambling tables violate the state’s deal with Native American tribes that gives them exclusive rights to video games of chance.
The court heard arguments Tuesday about the implementation of Interblock technology, which allows for electronic blackjack, poker and baccarat tables at Running Aces, a horse track about 40 minutes north of the Twin Cities.
While the horse track also serves as a card club, it is barred from operating gambling devices by both state statute and agreements between the state and the 11 federally recognized tribes in Minnesota.
“The implementation of these games in the metropolitan area takes different customers from the casinos,” said Josh Peterson, who represented the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
