The number of slot-style machines at American Indian casinos in Snohomish County could jump by more than one-third within three years, thanks to changes to tribal gaming compacts that became effective late last week.Twenty-seven of the state's 29 tribes fought for more machines and the option for gamblers to feed the machines cash instead of casino-issued tickets. The tribes also won the right to set their own casino hours.
In exchange, the tribes will give about one-quarter of 1 percent of their revenues to fight smoking and gambling addiction. Based on last year's revenues, that's about $3.1 million each year.
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed re-negotiated compacts with the tribes March 30, but the compacts were formalized Thursday, when they were listed in the federal register.
Tom Fitzsimmons, Gregoire's chief of staff, said the compacts represent a "a fair and equitable settlement." Neither side got everything they wanted, he said.
Gregoire wanted to approve fewer machines than the compacts allow. Tribal leaders fought to rescind monetary limits on the machines, but failed.
All 27 tribes can now own a total of 975 machines - an increase of 300.
Tribes are allowed to lease additional machines. The Tulalip, Muckleshoot and Puyallup tribes can now have up to 3,500 machines each through a combination of leasing and owning, 500 more than the current limit. After three years, that will increase to 4,000 machines.
The other 24 tribes can now have up to 3,000 machines each - an increase of 1,000.
For all tribes, the maximum number of machines at a single facility was raised from 2,000 to 2,500.
The Tulalip, Muckleshoot and Puyallup tribes are allowed more machines because their original gaming compacts allowed them more machines, said Amy Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Gambling Commission.
Casino opponents said the state should have taken a tougher stand against the tribes.
"We're very unhappy," said Barb Lindsay, a spokeswoman for Redmond-based One Nation United, which works to reform federal Indian policy. "We don't believe Washington needs any more gambling expansion."
Lindsay's group believes the state should have pushed for a greater share of gaming revenue.
The tribes first asked to renegotiate their compacts two years ago, said Glen Gobin, a member of the Tulalip Tribes' Board of Directors.
Under the old compacts, there weren't enough machines to go around, he said. Now, each tribe will be allowed to own 975 machines instead of 675. Tribes that do not own casinos lease those machines out to gaming tribes, Gobin said.
The Tulalip Tribes operate 2,625 machines between the Quil Ceda Creek and Tulalip Casinos, he said. Nearly 2,000 of those are leased from other tribes, including 675 machines from the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe.
Now, with more machines available, the Tulalip Tribes will most likely add at least 100 machines at Quil Ceda Creek Casino right away, Gobin said. When a luxury hotel adjacent to the Tulalip Casino is completed, more machines will be added there, he said.
The Stillaguamish Indian Tribe leases 150 machines to the Suquamish Indian Tribe, and operates the rest at its Angel of the Winds Casino, said Shana Swanson, president of the Stillaguamish Enterprise Corp.
The chance for gamblers to use cash directly at the machines will have the biggest impact, Swanson said.
Now, they have to wait in line to exchange their cash for machine-friendly tickets. The change could begin to close the gap between Washington state's tribal-owned casinos and casinos in Las Vegas.
For the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, the changes mean more money to repair tribal members' homes and send high school graduates to college.
"Any way we could get a little bit of financial help is great," Sauk-Suiattle chairwoman Janice Mabee said.
The tribe owns 675 machines and leases them all to the Tulalip Tribes. Three hundred more machines could mean a larger day care center or a better computer system for tribal leaders.
"That money goes a long way," Mabee said.
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