OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) has reached a tentative agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation on an amendment to its Class III gaming compact. The proposed amendment includes provisions that already exist in other tribal compacts, including a framework for electronic table games at the Tribe's gaming facility.
Also included is additional funding earmarked for public programs, including an increase in the Tribe's problem gambling contributions (full amendment attached).
Washington State Gambling Commission Chairperson Alicia Levy said of the tentative compact amendment: Our mission of keeping gambling legal and honest means building relationships with tribal governments that ensure we are creating effective rules that everyone can agree upon. This amendment creates a foundation of trust between the Chehalis Tribe and WSGC that will grow for years to come.
This amendment is a clear example of how government to government relationships work when both parties have a common respect for each other and work together. Chehalis Tribal Chairman Dustin Klatush said. The result is a powerful tool which will assist the Chehalis Tribe in effectively providing essential government service to its members. We look forward to working with the WSGC in the future to ensure safe and fair gaming on the Chehalis reservation and providing a world class experience for guests at the Lucky Eagle Casino.
Next Steps:
- Formal notification about the proposed compact amendment will be conveyed to the Governor, Legislature and others.
- The Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee and House Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee will hold a joint public hearing on November 1, 2023.
- The Gambling Commission will vote at its public meeting on November 16, 2023, and decide whether or not to forward the proposed compact amendment to the Governor.
- If the Commission votes to forward the Tribe's amendment, it will be sent to the Tribal Chair for final consideration and signature.
- Once the Tribal Chair signs the amendment, it will be sent to the Governor for final consideration and signature.
- After obtaining the signatures of the Tribal Chair and the Governor, the Tribe will send the amendment to the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior for consideration, signature and publication in the Federal Register.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 provides that Indian tribes may conduct Class III gaming activities on Indian lands when the gaming is conducted in conformance with a tribal-state compact. RCW 9.46.360 provides that the Gambling Commission negotiate those compacts on behalf of the state. The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation tribal-state compact for Class III gaming was originally signed on December 21, 1992, and this is the seventh amendment. Public comments regarding this compact amendment may be submitted to compactcomments@wsgc.wa.gov.