Earlier this week, the Washington State Gaming Commission revealed that it reached a tentative agreement with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.
Under the conditions of the agreement that amended the Indian nation’s Class III gaming compact, the tribe would be able to offer sports betting services. As announced by the state’s gambling regulator, the Kalispel Tribe will now be able to address the legislature’s primary concerns associated with the new form of gambling, such as licensing and regulation, responsible gambling promotion, problem gambling, sport integrity, agency funding, money laundering and criminal enforcement.
The Washington State Gaming Commission revealed its expectations to have draft rules for its members to review at the body’s public meeting scheduled for June 10th. The agreement between the state’s gambling watchdog and the Indian tribe will have to get the approval of state and federal authorities in order to be finalized.
Under the procedure, first, a legislative hearing is set to be held in two local committees – the House Commerce and Gaming Committee and the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee. Then, the gambling watchdog of the state is set to take the compact amendment into consideration and vote on it at the June 10th hearing.
As explained by the Washington State Gaming Commission, if approved, the proposed amendment of the tribal compact is set to be forwarded to the Tribal Chair and then – to the Governor of the state.
Kalispel Tribe Becomes Third Indian Tribe to Get Sports Betting Provisional Permit in Washington
Once the two parties sign the tribal compact agreement, the amendment is set to be sent to the Secretary of the US Department of Interior for further consideration, and then it will be published in the Federal Registered. After the publication of the agreement, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians will be officially allowed to start offering sports betting services.
According to the local gambling watchdog, this is the third tentative agreement regarding sports betting in the state of Washington, and the fourth amendment of the tribe’s gambling contract with local authorities. The compact between the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the state, under which the tribe is allowed to offer so-called Class III gambling, was originally signed in October 1998. It opened its Northern Quest Resort and Casino in 2000.
Now, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians joins the Suquamish and Tulalip tribes that also got provisional permits that would allow them to offer sports betting services within the state borders once the approval process for the compacts is finalized. The Tulalip Tribe managed to reach the tentative agreement with the Gambling Commission of the Washington State on its sports betting compact in the middle of April, while the Suquamish Tribe received a similar permit earlier this week.
The news has been confirmed by the Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA), Rebecca George, who said that all tribal gaming, including sports betting, is regulated through the compacts negotiated between the state’s gambling regulator and each tribe.
