Cowlitz Tribe gains state approval for Class III gaming compact


Artist's rendering of the proposed Cowlitz Casino Resort.

The Cowlitz Tribe of Washington is one step closer to joining the Indian gaming industry.

The Washington State Gambling Commission on Thursday voted to approve the tribe's Class III gaming compact. Now it can be signed by Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for review.

Once the agreement is approved by the BIA, the tribe will be able to lease its gaming machines to other tribes. Chairman Bill Iyall hopes to start collecting revenues by the end of the year.

The land-into-trust application for the Cowlitz Casino Resort remains under litigation so it will be some time before the tribe can operate gaming machines of its own.

A copy of the compact can be found on the commission's web site.

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