A further three Washington State tribes have received approval from the US Department of the Interior for revised gaming compacts this week. The Colville, Shoalwater Bay and Muckleshoot Tribes are now able to progress with sports betting operations.
The news was welcomed by Rebecca George, Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA).
She said: “The strong partnership that tribal governments in Washington State have built up over the last three decades with the state of Washington and the federal government was further affirmed today, with the Interior Department approving three more tribal compacts, covering the Colville, Shoalwater Bay and Muckleshoot Tribes, allowing those tribes to move forward with sports betting.
“Those three tribes join the nine others that received Interior Department approval last week. Four more tribal sports betting compacts are pending approval.”
George added that the Snoqualmie Tribe had launched its sports betting operation last week, while the other 15 approved Washington State tribes will begin offering sports wagering in the upcoming weeks.
“The public can rest assured that tribal sports betting will be conducted safely and responsibly, and will be fair for casino patrons,” she noted. “And the revenues sports betting generates will remain in Washington State to boost tribal and non-tribal communities alike.
“Tribal gaming is highly regulated gaming, and our tribal sports betting operations will meet the same high standards that have governed other forms of tribal gaming here in Washington. Our tribes are justifiably proud of our stellar record of offering safe and responsible gaming at our casinos. Washington tribes do gaming right, and we look forward to continuing to offer the highest quality gaming and entertainment options to visitors to our casinos.”
