Patrons may now consume alcoholic beverages on the gambling floor at Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Mission, Oregon. Tribal officials estimate the move will raise profits by more than 0,000 a year.
Under the new guidelines established the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation board of trustees, alcohol beverages must be purchased at the casino bar or the sports bar, and may not be consumed in family friendly areas of the property, including the cineplex, hotel and the hallway to restaurants. In addition, because of the change, patrons under age 21 may not enter the casino. Wildhorse officials added allowing alcohol on the gaming floor will likely reduce instances of drinking in the parking lot and restrooms.
CTUIR Director of Communications Chuck Sams said, “The management at Wildhorse came back before the board of trustees to update them on the proposed plan and get their concurrence on it after we had already solicited for those liquor changes, also with the U.S. Congress. The funds that we do receive from the sales of alcohol come back into the general fund and are used for our alcohol and drug program, so that’s supplemental funding that we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”
