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Council discusses closure of local card room, possible state action to allow centralized surveillance
Summary
Councilmembers discussed recent closure of one Mountlake Terrace card room owned by Maverick Gaming, the local fiscal impact and a proposed state bill to permit centralized surveillance systems; council asked staff to consult the city's lobbyist for background and potential engagement.
Councilmembers discussed an outreach received from Maverick Gaming about the recent closure of a Mountlake Terrace card room and a proposed bill in Olympia to allow centralized monitoring systems for operators that own multiple card rooms.
Councilmembers said the closed location had generated roughly $100,000 to the city budget last year and that Maverick’s three Mountlake Terrace locations accounted for over $4 million in tax contributions in 2022–2024, figures cited by Councilmember Murray during the meeting. She noted the company has faced financial pressures and is seeking the ability to centralize surveillance and monitoring across multiple facilities to reduce staffing costs.
Councilmembers also discussed the broader fiscal implications: the city collects a local share from card‑room activity (cited in the meeting as a 10% local rate), while the speaker said the state does not levy taxes directly on those gambling revenues. Members agreed the issue overlaps city revenue and local jobs, and they asked staff to alert the city’s Olympia lobbyist and gather more background on the proposed legislation and its status.
Council directed staff to contact the lobbyist and to follow up with additional information; the mayor said staff would bring concerns back to council. No formal resolution or vote was taken; councilmembers expressed general support for checking with the lobbyist and for staying engaged.
Ending: City staff will consult with the lobbyist and report back to council; if the bill gains traction, council may consider additional action or formal positions.
