Editorial: Gaming expansion in Washington

Tuesday, February 20, 2007  

"Skip indignation and go straight to resignation. That is the best advice for anyone upset over expanding tribal gambling in Washington. The tribes and state government tussle over details, but the federal-backed house wins.

Compacts are the coin of the realm for negotiating financing on casino expansions. They represent potential earnings, and the more generous the terms, the greater the borrowing power. Someone out there with a lot of money to loan or bonds to sell apparently believes in the existence of an infinite number of suckers.

Tribes can point with pride toward improved living conditions paid for with gambling revenues, especially in health care. Some tribes, the Tulalips come to mind, have leveraged their winnings into a diverse line of job-creating enterprises. They are wise to bet there can be too many casinos.

Washington does not share in Indian gaming proceeds, which is for the best. If Olympia had a stake in the proceeds, there would be precious little restraint on growth and no credible appearance of regulatory distance.

For the state's gamblers, they seem content to make heavy-duty, Las Vegas-style gambling a destination visit, and not something in the neighborhood. Bigger perhaps, but not closer."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribal gambling raises the limit (The Seattle TImes 2/20)