Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe agree new compact with Washington state
Officials from the Jamestown S’Kallam tribe have confirmed the tentative agreement of a new tribal compact agreement with the state of Washington.
The new compact will supersede the tribe’s original agreement signed in 1993, and aims to both streamline and modernise regulatory practices, whilst also clarifying each organisation’s role.
Notable amendments include the provision of a Class III table gaming licence, allowing the tribe to operate more games in its casino and automatic state authorisation of any proposal by the tribe to build a second casino facility on existing tribal land should they decide to do so.
The Jamestown S’Kallam tribe also agree to greater cooperation with state measures to combat problem gambling and confirm the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies which will eventually define financial penalties payable by both employees and casino in the event of any regulatory breaches.
Under the new compact individuals convicted of fraud or theft are prevented from being employed by the casino, with all new employees being subject to registration, fingerprinting and extensive background checks by the tribal gaming authority.
State officials will conduct annual reviews of the tribe’s gaming operations and all manufacturers, suppliers and financiers being used by the casino must first be licensed by the tribe and certified by the state before they can conduct any business.
The new compact will now be sent to both the House of Representatives and the Senate for approval before being debated at a public hearing on 13 July. Should all parties agree, the revised compact will be passed to the US Secretary of the Interior for final signature and publication in the Federal Register of Recognised Indian Entities.
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