Spokane Slot Machine Compact Means Trouble

The Spokane Tribe is the only tribe in Washington that has not negotiated a slot machine agreement with the state. Because of this, there has been a lot of problems between the tribe and the state, as they have been running their slot machines illegally on their land – while other tribes have been towing the line. The state and the feds know that these slot machines are illegal, but are unsure of what to do about it.

The other tribes are angry, and justifiably so – they have stayed to the letter of the law, and with the Spokane’s now coming in and demanding more slot machines than the other tribes are currently allowed, there are sure to be problems. They believe that the new slot machine compact will reward the Spokane’s for operating illegally all this time.

There are 27 other tribes who have been operating legally this whole time, and for fewer slot machines. The Spokane Tribe is looking to bring in as many as 4,700 slot machines; which is so far in excess of the 675 slot machines currently allowed by law in all of the other tribes’ casinos that it is ridiculous. They also want cash-fed slot machines, which would allow high stakes betting, but again, not something allowed at the other tribes’ casinos.

The state feels that if they allow the Spokane’s to bring in this many slot machines, and this type of slot machines, that they are going to have to allow the rest of the tribes to do the same thing. The state would then be facing the problem of being overrun with slot machines. They also don’t think that the voters of the state are going to be happy about is as they rejected an initiative that would have allowed slot machines outside of the tribes’ casinos in 2004.

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