Opinion: Let non-Indian cardrooms offer electronic machines

Thursday, January 17, 2013  

"Washington's tribal casinos poured jackpot-sized contributions into state political campaigns in 2012 — more than $1 million, according to public-disclosure records.

That comes as no surprise, given the tribal casinos’ overwhelming dominance over the state’s gaming market, which netted a record $2.7 billion in the 2012 fiscal year. The tribes’ share of this market climbed to 79 percent, with more than $2.1 billion in net receipts. Gaming receipts have grown steadily every year since 2000, when the total stood at $863 million, with tribal casinos then garnering a 31.6 percent share worth $273 million.

Tribal receipts are not taxed by state or local governments, and Washington’s compact with the tribes does not provide for revenue sharing. All other states with tribal gaming have revenue sharing or provide at least some competitive equity for nontribal operations.

The phenomenal growth of tribal gaming is driven largely by the tribal casinos’ exclusive operation of some 23,000 electronic scratch-ticket machines. The tribes have made it clear that maintaining their de facto monopoly on these machines is a top legislative priority for them."

Get the Story:
Dolores A. Chiechi: Allow nontribal cardrooms to offer electronic scratch-ticket machines (The Seattle Times 1/17)