New Deal for Tribal Slot Machines

Washington State recently made the lives of many American Indian tribes in their state a little nicer. They signed slot machine compacts with 27 of the state’s tribes, which would entitle them to more than they have now. The tribes were seeking several additions to their current slot machine compacts and they got them.

They will now be allowed to have more slot machines at each of their locations, they will be able to set their own hours, and they will be able to use cash instead of tickets for slot machines. Governor Chris Gregoire signed the new slot machine compacts in March, but they just became legal when they were listed in the federal register.

The number of slot machines in Snohomish County alone could jump by more than a third within the next three years because of the new slot machine compact that the governor signed. The tribes signed the deals giving them more slot machines and more control over their casinos, so the deal was a good one for them.

In return, the tribes will have to pay the state 1/4th of 1% of their slot machine revenues, and that money has already been earmarked for smoking and gambling addiction programs. Based on what the tribes made last year, that is about $3.1 million each year, but with the addition of the new slot machines and the growing interest in gambling, that number is sure to increase.




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