The Lummi Nation and the Washington State Gambling Commission on July 10 presented a proposed sixth amendment to the Lummi Nation–Washington State tribal-state gaming compact that would authorize electronic table games, allow the extension of credit to customers and permit higher wager limits, and would give the tribe the option to expand to a second gaming facility. The presentation took place at a public hearing of the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.

The proposed amendment was described by Tina Griffin, director of the Washington State Gambling Commission, and Johnny Bray, the commission’s tribal relations adviser, and by Vice Chair Terrence Adams and Councilperson Vindine Washington of the Lummi Nation. Griffin said the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA) provides the framework for negotiating class III gaming compacts and that “gaming provides tribal governments with funds necessary to build and sustain their governmental infrastructure.” Johnny Bray summarized the package as including electronic table games (ETG), a limitations appendix covering extension of credit and higher wagers, and language allowing a second facility option.

Why it matters: IGRA requires states to negotiate compacts in good faith and confines what may be negotiated; compact amendments, if approved by the commission, still must be forwarded to the governor for final review. Griffin told the committee that after the legislative hearing period the Gambling Commission planned to hold a public meeting at 9:30 a.m. the same day to take comment and vote whether to forward the amendment to the governor or return it for further negotiations.

Key provisions described at the hearing included certification and field testing for ETG equipment, limits on higher-wager tables, and federal compliance for credit programs. Griffin said ETG must be certified by an independent testing laboratory and undergo field testing agreed by tribe and state before being placed into regular play. She told the committee that the higher-wager appendix would allow table wagers up to $5,000 but that “no more than 25% of their floor or operational tables can be at those higher limits,” and such tables must be clearly marked. She also said electronic table games must be player‑versus‑player games rather than wagering directly against a machine.

On extension of credit, Lummi Nation representatives and commission staff said the tribe currently does not offer customer credit and that creating a credit program would require developing administrative and internal control procedures. Johnny Bray said the amendment authorizes the possibility of extending credit and that tribal programs operating under similar appendices are treated as money service businesses under the Bank Secrecy Act and therefore must follow the federal requirements that apply to those entities. Lummi’s representatives said they would work with their operators to develop responsible internal controls for any credit program.

Committee members asked about implementation and oversight. Representative Delia asked how integrity and monitoring of ETG would be enforced; Griffin and commission staff described the certification, lab evaluation and agreed field-testing process, and said the state and tribe retain ongoing oversight. Bray and Griffin said that seven tribes in Washington already operate electronic table games and that 13 tribes have adopted limitation appendices with higher limits and credit provisions; Griffin noted the first tribe to adopt higher-limit language did so in 2018.

The committee hearing included a technical question about what ETG would look like in practice; Lummi Nation representatives said options include dealer‑assisted systems with a dealer present and systems that operate autonomously when dealers are not on duty, similar to ETG implementations at some other tribal casinos. Lummi Nation officials emphasized that regulatory safeguards and internal controls would govern any new offerings.

No formal committee action was taken at the hearing. The Gambling Commission planned a public meeting at 9:30 a.m. the same morning to receive additional comment and vote on whether to forward the amendment to the governor or to return it for further negotiation. Committee members said they intend to study the topic further, including a possible visit to the Gambling Commission testing lab.

Ending: The committee closed the hearing after questions and invited additional public comment by email to the Gambling Commission. The commission’s public meeting and vote will determine whether the amendment is forwarded to the governor for final review.