"Voters thrashed a Tim Eyman-led initiative that would have expanded gambling in restaurants, bars and other venues. That was 2004. This is now.

With a big budget chasm threatening to yawn wider with tomorrow’s revenue forecast, The Recreational Gaming Association is back with a new video-slot machine proposal, and RGA says it could deliver $190 million a year to the state coffers.

The proposal would let about 63 house-banked card rooms or "mini-casinos" install electronic or video slot machines like those now allowed only for tribal casinos, according to RGA executive director Dolores Chiechi.

Past efforts by the RGA have failed to elicit legislative support but drew tribal opposition. The state Gambling Commission says 28 of the state's 29 tribes have compacts and 22 run 28 casinos around the state.

But the group is using good timing – in the midst of a state fiscal crisis – and its announcement today cited a study by a Las Vegas-based consultant, Gaming Market Advisors, to claim the state could pick up $157.6 million in new revenues in 2012."

Get the Story:
The Politics Blog: Gaming groups dangle $380M video-slots proposal (The Bellingham Herald 3/16)

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KUOW: Non-Indian card clubs in Washington eye slot machines (3/16)