Kalispel Tribe worried about Spokane off-reservation casino

Wednesday, May 4, 2011  

In the history of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, only three tribes have opened an off-reservation casino under the two-part determination section of the law.

The Kalispel Tribe of Washington is one of them. The tribe opened the Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights in 2000 and it has proven to be a lucrative facility that taps the large market in Spokane.

Now the Spokane Tribe wants to get into the game. The tribe is proposing a $400 million off-reservation casino in Airway Heights.

"It's very exciting to be able to have a plan, something for the future, for the tribe and generations to come," Chairman Greg Abrahamson said, KXLY-TV reported.

But the plan has the Kalispels worried. They say a rival casino will hurt their business and lead to layoffs among employees.

The Spokane gaming site is less than three miles from the Kalispel casino.

Get the Story:
Spokane Tribe Announces Ambitious $400M Casino Plan (KXLY-TV 5/3)
Proposed Airway Heights casino creates an economic fight (KREM-TV 5/3)
Lots of action in battle for Spokane area gamblers (AP 5/4)

Related Stories:
Spokane Tribe gathering support for off-reservation casino (5/3)
Group's web site criticizes Spokane off-reservation casino (4/22)
Letter: Objections to Spokane Tribe off-reservation casino (4/21)
Spokane Chair: Off-reservation casino a step forward for region (4/4)
Business coalition opposes Spokane Tribe off-reservation casino (3/15)
Spokane Tribe waits for answer from BIA on off-reservation casino (2/4)