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Nooksack Tribe, Gambling Commission outline proposed amendments to tribal gaming compact
Summary
The Washington State Gambling Commission and representatives of the Nooksack Tribe presented a proposed amendment that would add electronic table games, sports wagering and change age limits; public comment will be accepted before a commission vote in March.
The Washington State Gambling Commission and the Nooksack (Nooksack) Tribal Council presented a proposed amendment to the tribe’s gaming compact during a public hearing of the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee. The tribes and state reached a tentative agreement that will be reviewed by the commission and the governor before final action.
The proposed amendment would add an electronic table-games appendix and a sports-wagering appendix, and would change the tribe’s minimum gambling age from 21 to 18, among other updates. Tina Griffin, director of the Washington State Gambling Commission, said the compact amendment process begins with a tribal request that proceeds to the governor’s office and then to agency negotiations. "When we reach tentative agreement, as Chair Kauffman indicated, we give notice to the legislative committees and they have 45 days during session to hold public hearings," Griffin told the committee.
Rosemary LeClaire, chairwoman of the Nooksack Tribe, described the tribe and its casino operations near the Canadian border in Whatcom County and said gaming revenue funds tribal programs. "This casino...helps bring revenue for a lot of our programs that we deliver back to our tribal members," LeClaire said. LeClaire and commission staff showed slides describing the tribe’s Northwood Casino, its membership in the Treaty of 1855, and the compact updates the tribe is seeking.
Julie Lees, the Gambling Commission’s tribal liaison, told the committee the Nooksack compact was first signed in 1991 and the proposed changes would bring that compact into closer alignment with more recent compacts across the state. "For electronic table games, they will be the eleventh tribe that will add this to their compact. For sports wagering, they will be the 21st tribe to incorporate these provisions in their compact," Lees said.
Senators asked several procedural and policy questions. Senator Bob Hasegawa asked about the legal gambling age; Lees explained that Washington law allows 18-year-old gambling in some contexts and that coordination with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board would determine how the gaming floor is classified. Griffin and Lees told the committee that the Gambling Commission will take public comment and that the commission will vote at its March 13 meeting on whether to forward the amendment to the governor or return it for further negotiation. The commission will accept public comment in person at the March 13 meeting or by email; comments must be received by March 12 for inclusion in the commission’s packet.
The hearing was informational; no formal legislative action was taken at the committee hearing. Committee members closed the public hearing after questions and the commission and tribal representatives remained available for follow-up.
The committee record shows the compact amendment remains subject to the commission’s March 13 vote and possible further negotiation with the tribe and the governor’s office.
