"The money must be difficult to resist, but a long-term outlook ought to be adopted before tribal gambling is expanded on the West Plains. On Tuesday, the Spokane County commission voted to not oppose the Spokane Tribe’s effort to build a large casino complex in Airway Heights.

The Spokanes have many obstacles to hurdle before gaining federal approval. In the meantime, the tribe would make annual payments to the county and city of Airway Heights that start at $14,500 and increase to $29,000. If the feds approve the casino, then payments would jump to $600,000 and top out at $1.5 million.

But this issue has ramifications beyond reliable proceeds to local governments.

The Spokanes’ casino would be “off-reservation.” The tribe purchased the land in the late 1990s and had it taken into federal trust to avoid taxation and local land-use restrictions. The Indian Gaming Act of 1988 generally prohibits the building of casinos on land purchased after the law was enacted.

When the feds granted the Kalispels an off-reservation waiver for Northern Quest Casino, it was one of only three such deals in the nation. The tribe had to demonstrate that it didn’t have reservation land suitable for a casino. The Spokanes already have two casinos, so they couldn’t qualify on those grounds."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Caution advisable as casinos get on a roll (The Spokesman Review 8/19)

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County won’t oppose casino plan in Airway Heights (The Spokesman Review 8/18)