Washington tribes wary of Class II proposal

Monday, January 7, 2008  

Washington tribes say the National Indian Gaming Commission's proposed Class II regulations could hurt their casinos.

"This jeopardizes thousands of jobs and economic opportunities," Ron Allen, the chairman of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, told The Everett Herald.

Tribes in the state can each operate up to 975 Class III machines. So they depend on Class II machines to keep their casinos running.

The new regulations, however, would re-classify certain Class II machines as Class III machines. That means some tribes would be over their limit for Class III machines.

The NIGC says the rules are necessary because the line between Class II games like bingo and Class III games like slot machines has become blurred. Comments on the proposal are being accepted until January 24.

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Gambling change worries tribes (The Everett Herald 1/7)