Sports betting plan faces challenges

Both native tribes and a private corporation think sports betting should be legal in Washington, but they clash over how it should be implemented.

The push is being led by Maverick Gaming owners of the Great American Casino and 18 other cardrooms in Washington State.

CEO Eric Persson wants to bring sports betting out of the shadows.

“It’s about providing a safe, secure product that consumers can have confidence in. And it can be working within the confines of the law.”

Native American tribes told the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee that they also support sports betting. But they believe that letting non-tribal companies offer it threatens the revenue that tribes rely on.

“Ultimately to us, tribal gaming revenue to us isn’t about creating millionaires. It’s about governmental programs and services to my tribe, said Patrick Depoe, the Makah Tribe’s Treasurer.

“We’re not saying the tribal casinos can’t do it. We’re just saying it ought to be available to those entities in the state of Washington that have the same opportunity, that’s all we’re saying," said Republican State Senator Curtis King of Yakima.

Notably, Maverick Gaming’s CEO is a member of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe.

“Ultimately, the way I look at it is I’m very proud of my tribal heritage. I’m a member of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. [Gaming] provided great benefit, facilitated me going to college. Ultimately at the end of the day, what this is about is the needs of the Washingtonians, providing the product they want and providing tax revenues for social causes that this state needs,” Persson said.

Shoalwater Bay Tribal Chairwoman Charlene Nelson told the committee, “We’re happy for his success, but he does not speak for our tribe’s behalf. And we oppose Senate Bill 6277.”

The odds are longer for this proposal. By law, it requires a supermajority, 60 votes, to pass the state legislature.

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