Grand Ronde Tribes won't rule out casino at former racetrack

Friday, October 16, 2015

The former Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village, Oregon. Photo by A.F. Litt via Flickr

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The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde acquired the site of a former racetrack in Oregon and could pursue a casino there.

The tribe previously fought efforts to turn the old Multnomah Greyhound Park into a casino. The purchase of the 31-acre site closes off that possibility.

But the tribe is also interested in its own casino there. "I wouldn't say we would never do gaming there," lobbyist Justin Martin told The Oregonian.

The tribe's Class III gaming compact authorizes only one Class III location. A change in the agreement, or in the state's gaming laws, could lead to the new casino.

The site is located in Wood Village, just outside Portland, the state's most populous city. A casino or other development there could help address competition from the Cowlitz Tribe, whose Cowlitz Casino and Entertainment Resort in Washington is about 30 miles away.

"While we cannot rule anything out in terms of the future of gaming in Oregon, our priority at this time is to develop this property in a manner that diversifies our investment holdings," Chairman Reyn Leno said in a press release quoted by The Oregonian.

The Grand Ronde Tribes, whose leaders are fighting the Cowlitz project in federal court, operate the Spirit Mountain Casino about 60 miles outside of Portland.

Get the Story:
Grand Ronde tribe buys former dog racing track, sparking new casino speculation (The Oregonian 10/16)
Grand Ronde Tribe Purchases Former Multnomah County Dog Track (Willamette Week 10/16) Related Stories:
Cowlitz Tribe already in debt $485M for long-delayed casino bid (10/12)
Grand Ronde Tribes continue fight against Cowlitz Tribe casino (10/29)