Tulalip Tribes of Washington attain tentative settlement with Gambling Commission on proposed gaming compact modification

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) has reached a tentative settlement with the Tulalip Tribes of Washington on an modification to its Class III gaming compact. The proposed twelfth modification is a restatement of its authentic Compact signed in 1991, incorporating amendments 1 by means of 11.

Washington State Gambling Commission Chairperson Sarah Lawson mentioned of the tentative compact modification: “The proposed compact amendment modernizes the first Tribal-State Gaming Compact signed in Washington 35 years ago and demonstrates the robust history of collaboration between the State and the Tribe. Together, the State and the Tribe continue to keep Class III gaming in Washington legal, honest, and well-regulated for the public.”

Tulalip Tribes Chairman Hazen Shopbell mentioned of the tentative compact modification: “These compact amendments reflect a strong government-to-government partnership between the Tulalip Tribes and the State of Washington. This agreement helps ensure we can continue providing essential services for our community, creating good jobs, and contributing to the regional economy while maintaining the high standards of regulation and integrity that have long defined tribal gaming in Washington.”

Below is a abstract of the foremost modifications within the proposed modification that features some provisions that exist already in different tribal compacts and provides new provisions that don’t exist in different tribes’ compacts (full modification hooked up).

• Replaces contributions with up to date provisions.
• Allows $50 wagers on tribal lottery system participant terminals according to lottery per ticket worth.
• Allows desk video games and digital desk video games in operation to supply as much as $1,000 wagers.
• Allows desk recreation jackpot sharing between its gaming services.
• Provides an possibility for extra 1,000 participant terminals to be added to the Tribe’s allocation and complete working ceiling, in a stepped strategy according to one other tribe.
• Creates a brand new appendix that features all Tribal licensing and State background provisions and authorizes eligibility & registration according to one other tribe. 
• Creates a definition appendix that features outlined phrases used within the Compact and Appendices according to one other tribe.
• Clarifies the Tribe’s dedication to the neighborhood by means of assist to emergency companies, authorities, and non-profit/charitable organizations.
• Adds a non-smoking room requirement if smoking is allowed within the gaming facility.
• Enhances accountable gaming provisions on coaching, self-exclusion, accountable gaming signage and posting, and self-imposed limits.

Next Steps:

1. Formal notification in regards to the proposed compact modification was conveyed to the Governor, Legislature and others.
2. The Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee and House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee will maintain a joint public listening to on July 22, 2026, 3:30 pm.
3. The Gambling Commission will vote at its public assembly on August 28, 2026, and determine whether or not or to not ahead the proposed compact modification to the Governor.
4. If the Commission votes to ahead the Tribe’s modification, will probably be despatched to the Tribal Chair for last consideration and signature.
5. Once the Tribal Chair indicators the modification, will probably be despatched to the Governor for last consideration and signature.
6. After acquiring the signatures of the Tribal Chair and the Governor, the Tribe will ship the modification to the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior for consideration, signature, and publication within the Federal Register.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 supplies that Indian tribes might conduct Class III gaming actions on Indian lands when the gaming is carried out in conformance with a tribal-state compact. RCW 9.46.360 supplies that the Gambling Commission negotiate these compacts on behalf of the state. The Tulalip Tribes of Washington’s tribal-state compact for Class III gaming was initially signed on August 2, 1991, and that is the twelfth modification. Public feedback concerning this compact modification could also be submitted to [email protected].