An agreement, although tentative, has been reached between the Washington State Gambling Commission and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
The agreement will allow the Chehalis Tribe to add sports wagering, operate higher wager limits, and extend credit to customers of its Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, Washington.
WSGC Chair Bud Sizemore said: "This amendment is an agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation to join other tribes modernizing their gaming operations and adding sports wagering to their casinos."
He continued: "It also means a boost in funding for programs to help people struggling with problem gambling along with charitable contributions and community impact funding."
The next step to getting the agreement fully completed is the formal notification of the proposed compact amendment to the Governor, Legislature, and others. From there, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and House Commerce and Gaming Committee will hold public hearings.
At the public meeting of the Gambling Commission on May 12, a vote will take place to decide whether the compact amendment will be forwarded to the Governor for signature. If voted on, it will first go to the Tribal Chair for final consideration and signature then to the Governor.
In a press release, Chairman Harry Pickernell, Sr. of the Chehalis Tribe said: "The Chehalis Tribe views this updated Compact as an expression of the continued excellent working relationship between the Tribe and the State and the continuation of the Tribe’s well-regulated offer of safe gaming for the citizens of the State of Washington."
After signatures are obtained by 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 Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation’s tribal-state compact for Class III gaming was originally signed on Dec. 21, 1992, and this is the sixth amendment.
