Casino news source: The Daily News - http://www.tdn.com/
Governor expects to sign gambling compact with Spokane tribe
Jan 30, 2007 - 06:39:28 am PST
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gov. Chris Gregoire says she'll likely sign a gambling compact with the Spokane Indians to allow as many as 4,700 slot-style machines at as many as five casinos, despite opposition from some state legislators.
In a news conference Monday in Olympia, Gregoire said she had not given the compact close scrutiny but added that as she understands the basic terms she would be inclined to sign.
"I'm delighted they finally did come to the table," she said. "They have stayed the course and negotiated in good faith."
Separately, leaders of the Snoqualmie Tribe announced plans to break ground Feb. 26 for a 165,000-square-foot casino complex near North Bend with $330 million in underwriting by Bear Stearns, The Seattle Times reported.
Including a 1,000-seat event center, five restaurants, a cigar lounge and wine bar, Casino Snoqualmie is scheduled to open by Nov. 1, 2008, on a 56-acre site off Interstate 90 outside the town of Snoqualmie. It would be the closest tribal gambling operation to Seattle.
"It will be a world-class place," said Matt Mattson, tribal administrator, told The Times.
Spokane Tribal Council members were traveling and unavailable for comment on the governor's comments Monday night, tribal public relations director Jamie Sijohn said. The Spokanes, who first proposed a state agreement 18 years ago, are the only tribe in the state that offers casino gambling without a compact. The compact would not cover an off-reservation casino the Spokanes want to build on land owned by the tribe near Airway Heights, just west of Spokane. That project is subject to federal approval, after which it goes before Gregoire.
"I'm not approving them doing that without them going through the federal system," the governor said.
As it is the compact would allow _ for the first time in the state _ cash-fed slot-style machines and high-stakes betting for preapproved high rollers, and grant Spokanes the right to have the second-highest number of slot-style machines in the state, trailing only the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
At hearing last week, some lawmakers said the compact would lead to similar requests from other tribes involved in the state's $1.2 billion Indian gambling industry.
"If the governor's compact is approved, it will lead to a large expansion of gambling throughout the state," said Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale.
Gregoire said the Spokane compact "is almost a mirror of the Colville compact," while allows up to 4,800 machines at three existing casinos and three future mini-casinos, although tribal lawyer James Bellis said the Colvilles have yet to use more than 675 machines.
When she was attorney general, Gregoire sued the Spokanes for offering gambling without a state compact, and as governor she rejected an earlier draft of the compact that would have allowed more machines.
The issue goes before the state gambling commission for a recommendation next month, but the governor has the final word. Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesmanreview.com
A service of the Associated Press(AP) |
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