Washington Tribal Gaming

Indian casinos in Washington State don't offer traditional slot machines. Instead, in accordance with a 1998 agreement with the state, they offer gaming devices modeled after the state lottery. The games also don't have handles or spinning wheels. In 1998, the maximum per-wager bet was $5 and the minimum prize payout stood at 75%. Casinos run by tribes are also allowed to offer a variety of table games.

In 2002, the Colville Tribe negotiated to have 2,000 lottery system machines in their Class III Tribal–State Gaming Compact (1,500 was the limit set under previous terms). The Muckleshoot and Tulalip tribes also had this limit authorized.

In 2007, the Spokane Tribe of Indians negotiated a compact to allow a much higher number of electronic slot machines than other tribal casinos and the ability to add off-reservation casinos. In return, the state received 26% of the net gambling proceeds. The tribe also had to disburse a 2% annual share of gross gaming revenue to help assist non-tribal law enforcement, emergency services and service agencies. Gov. Chris Gregoire approved a compact in February of that year, authorizing the tribe to operate 1,500 lottery machines for the first three years and 3,000 after that. The compact also allows the tribe to operate five casinos at least 25 miles apart. In April 2007, the agreement was approved by the Department of the Interior (DOI).

In March 2007, the state signed new compacts with 27 tribes. The compacts allowed tribes to set the hours of operation and raised betting limits from $5 to $20 on some machines. Most tribes were permitted to own 975 machines (up from 675). The Muckleshoot, Tulalip and Puyallup tribes were allowed 3,500 machines (up from 3,000) during the first year and 4,000 after three years.

Since January 2002, Clark County has been in a struggle to prevent the Cowlitz Tribe from building a casino in La Center. Beginning with an attempt to negotiate a new compact, followed by several court appearances, the county has been unsuccessful in preventing the tribe from having land placed into trust. Following a decision issued on 22 April 2013, in favor of the tribe, the county and other plaintiffs filed a suit on 6 June 2013, citing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, which prevents the DOI from placing land into trust for tribes not federally recognized in 1934 or earlier.

In 2014, the Cowlitz Tribe's compact with the state of Washington was approved by the state's gambling commission. The Cowlitz also won their court case. Casino opponents have vowed to appeal the ruling. In April 2015, the Cowlitz announced they had signed a contract with the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council to build their casino. The tribe hopes to begin construction in 2015.