South Dakota state officials said last week they had reached an agreement on a new gambling contract with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe just days before the start of a federal trial over the dispute.
The agreement allows the tribe to double the number of slot machines to 500 at its Royal River Casino, according to Gov. Dennis Daugaard's office.
The agreement will allow the tribe to compete with nearby casinos and settle a 2007 lawsuit in which the tribe argued the state's move to block additional slot machines was unfair.
"The gaming landscape in the Sioux Falls area is changing, and this compact allows the tribe to respond to that market," Daugaard said in a statement. "We want to bring more visitors to Flandreau, and I am proud to partner with President [Anthony] Reider and tribal leadership to make that happen."
The agreement is still subject to a public hearing and federal review.
