Oregon Public Broadcasting

A casino in Florence will face questions in court about its legality – after a ruling Thursday from the state Supreme Court.

Judges ruled that Florence residents can challenge the constitutionality of a deal that set up the Three Rivers Casino.

The Oregon constitution bans casinos.

But governors have, in the past, entered compacts, or made deals to let tribal governments in Oregon build casinos.

The Three Rivers case goes back to a lower court, in Eugene, where attorneys expect the state and tribes to argue the casino is a federal issue.

Kelly Clark is the lawyer for the Florence citizens group known as People Against a Casino Town.

Kelly Clark: “I don’t know the endgame. If we win, it means the casino is operating illegally. What happens next is up to the United States attorney, as to how they would enforce the law.”

Some hope the casino will be forced to close.

The $60 million tribal casino on the Oregon coast opened five years ago – it is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Umpqua, and Siuslaw.