WA Gambling Commission & Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Reach Tentative Agreement on Gaming Compact Amendment

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Gambling Commission has reached a tentative agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe on an amendment to its Class III gaming compact. The proposed amendment includes new provisions for the tribe and new provisions that don’t exist in other tribes’ compacts.

“This compact amendment represents a great opportunity for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and their gaming operations, offering customers unique opportunities,” said Bud Sizemore, Gambling Commission Chairman. “It’s the result of comprehensive negotiations between the Washington State Gambling Commission and Muckleshoot Gaming Agency and tribal government.”

A summary of major changes in the proposed amendment:

  • Allows operation of 125 gaming tables in one gaming facility or a combination of two facilities
  • Allows designated area for 25% of table games in operation to offer up to $1,000 wagers and limited tables can offer up to $5,000 wagers after customer screening
  • Allows operation of 4,000 player terminals in one gaming facility or a combination of two facilities
  • Allows $30 wagers at the player terminals in operation
  • Allows for extension of credit to qualified customers, based on screening criteria set out in the appendix, and documented in a memorandum of understanding
  • Provides additional funding for problem gambling treatment
  • Provides additional funding for charitable contributions
  • Establishes a moratorium on additional changes until six months after Problem Gambling Task Force completes its report
  • Adds a framework to review and approve a wide-area progressive connected to the Tribal Lottery System
  • Adds a framework for new security features for the Tribal Lottery System

“This gaming compact amendment will help keep our casino a competitive gaming and entertainment facility and thereby help ensure resources needed to fund important tribal government programs and services for our community to keep pace with a growing need,” said Muckleshoot Tribal Council Chair Jaison Elkins. “It also makes possible greater levels of funding for charitable contributions and problem gambling programs.”

Next Steps:

  1. Formal notification about the proposed compact amendment will be conveyed to the Governor, Legislature and others
  2. The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee will hold a public hearing on Oct. 5, 2021 at 9:00am
  3. The House Commerce and Gaming Committee will hold a public hearing on Oct. 8, 2021 at 10:00am
  4. The Gambling Commission will vote at its public meeting on Oct. 14, 2021 and decide whether or not to forward the proposed compact amendment to the Governor
  5. If the Commission votes to forward the tribe’s amendment, it will be sent to the Tribal Chair for final consideration and signature
  6. Once the Tribal Chair signs the amendment, it will be sent to the Governor for final consideration and signature
  7. 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 Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s tribal-state compact for Class III gaming was originally signed on Feb. 19, 1993, and this is the seventh amendment.