The Washington Gambling Commission last week approved of compacts that 2,700 slots to the collective number tribal casinos are allowed to have now, and to let market conditions determine how many they are allowed in future.
“All it does is allow for incremental growth that’s not going to happen really any time soon,” said a general counsel for the Suquamish Tribe, one of the gaming tribes. All that remains for the compacts to go into effect is the signature of Governor Jay Inslee, whose representatives participated in the negotiations between the commission and some of the state’s 27 tribes.
Tribes that didn’t participate in the negotiations but which would benefit from them include the Puyallup and Muckleshoot tribes.
It is estimated that Washington has about 28,000 slot machines in operation. That number was set by compacts negotiated in 2007. Under the existing compacts, tribes must ask the commission permission to add slots.
Washington gaming tribes, unlike many other gaming tribes, do not share their casino revenues with the state, except for contributing towards programs that educate the public about gambling addiction.
