TAMA -- Tribal officials are considering a plan to let 18- to 20-year-olds play cards at the Meskwaki Bingo-Casino-Hotel.

Larry Lasley, tribal director of government relations, said the council is considering the measure to allow minorsto play certain games, like Texas Hold'em, at the casino.

"There's been discussion - I guess we're still waiting for a final decision on that," Lasley said.

One of the things holding up the process is a determination on whether poker falls under the Class 2 or Class 3 designations described in the Meskwaki tribe's gaming compact, which controls what types of gambling can occur at the Meskwaki casino.

The compact, which is negotiated with the state, separates games like bingo into Class 2 gaming, because it doesn't require a dealer to participate. Black jack, on the other hand, requires a dealer and is considered a Class 3 game, according to the compact.

Tribes control Class 2 games, said Dave Werning, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which handles the compacts.

Werning said Class 3 gaming is controlled by state law, which prohibits anyone under 21 from playing. A clause in the tribal compact requires the tribe to adhere to the 21 and up law, he said.

"They cannot be inconsistent with state law or cannot go beyond the conditions of state law," he said.

Two other casinos -- the WinneVegas Casino in Sloan, which is overseen by the Winnebago, and Casino Omaha in Onawa, operated by the Omaha -- are also under those same restrictions.

The Winnebago tribe attempted to lower its gambling age to 18 in 1999 after its compact expired, but the tribe eventually agreed to change it back, Werning said.

Lasley said the tribe is considering the switch because it could give them an increased competitive advantage on Iowa's 19 other casinos. The Meskwaki casino has faced increased pressure as gambling has expanded across the state. Four casinos opened recently, including the Isle Casino and Hotel at Waterloo.

"I think the bottom line is competitive advantage," Lasley said.

He said there is a "certain amount of risk" to make a change like that, but tribal officials believe there is a good market for that demographic in the state.

It's not the only change. The tribe voted to end a 150-year ban on the sale of alcohol on the settlement last month. The referendum called for alcohol to be sold in certain areas of the casino, but not on the settlement itself.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.