South Carolina Senators are arguing whether to allow a new 24-hour high-stakes bingo parlor in the Catawba Indian Nation Reservation. Republican Senator Hayes argued that the bingo parlor could be the beginning of more serious gambling practices, and pointed out that high-stakes video bingo was similar to video poker, which the state recently outlawed.

In response, Democrat Brad Hutto said that the randomness of Bingo as well as the nature of bingo games distinguishes bingo from video poker. In addition, Hutto said, since South Carolina allows gambling boats to leave from State ports, South Carolina’s gamblers do not lack opportunity to gamble. The bingo hall would employ close to 1000 workers.