KUOW: Non-Indian card clubs in Washington eye slot machines

Wednesday, March 16, 2011  

"At the Iron Horse mini-casino in Auburn, Washington the motto is: "Let us help you take a break from your worries." The place has 15 card tables, Vegas-style dealers and real poker chips. Customers can play Blackjack, Spanish 21, even Texas Hold 'Em.

But owner Chris Kealy says the list of what you can't play here is even longer.

Chris Kealy: "We do not do Craps, we do not do Roulette, we do not do Keno, we do not have any Electronic Gaming Devices at all."

It's that last category, electronic slot machines, Kealy wants to be able to offer.

Chris Kealy: "51 percent of the population that gambles wants to use a slot machine or an electronic gaming device of some form."

Kealy says not having slots is killing Washington's non-tribal gaming industry. According to the State Gambling Commission, card room revenues in Washington have been on the decline since 2006. And 23 card rooms have closed – including one of Kealy's.

So now he and his fellow card room owners are rolling the dice on a plan they say will save their industry - and provide cash-strapped state and local governments with a new stream of tax dollars."

Get the Story:
Wash. Non-Tribal Casinos Renew Push For Video Slot Machines (KUOW 3/15)