The Yakama Nation of Washington agreed to pay a fine of $5,000 for distributing $20 million in gaming revenues to tribal members without a federally-approved plan.

In December 2008, the tribe gave each tribal member $2,000 as part of an economic stimulus package. The per capita payments were distributed before the Bureau of Indian Affairs had approved the tribe's revenue allocation plan.

As a result, the National Indian Gaming Commission issued a notice of violation to the tribe. The agency said the payments were made without approval and weren't "legitimate" use of gaming revenues, as defined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The tribe faced up to $25,000 a day in fines, as well as the closure of the Yakama Legends Casino. But a settlement was reached last week.

“We are pleased to have resolved the misunderstanding with the federal government regarding the Nation’s infusion of necessary monies into our local economy last Christmas, when money was especially tight in our community,” Ralph Sampson, Jr., the chairman of the Yakama Nation Council. “We are happy that Legends Casino’s operations were never disrupted by the NIGC. Our gaming enterprise continues to generate monies to fund governmental operations and services for our people, including Yakama’s first gaming per capita distributions this fall.”

The tribe has continued to make per capita payments under the revenue allocation plan. The tribe distributed about 40 percent of net gaming revenues to its members in October.

"The Yakama Nation will do whatever it can to help its citizens and the local economy weather these tough economic times," said Sampson. "The nation's first gaming per capita distributions this fall are one aspect of the nation's economic recovery plan."

Get the Story:
Legends Casino fined for distributing profits (The Yakima Herald-Republic 11/11)

Relevant Documents:
Yakama Nation-NIGC Settlement | NIGC Notice of Violation | NIGC Press Release