Tribal self-sufficiency

In 1988, after considerable lobbying effort by Indian tribes, the gaming industry and easy-money interests, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

According to Wikipedia, the purpose of IGRA “is to provide a statutory basis for the operation of gaming by tribes to promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments”.

Of the 556 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., 220-plus tribes in 29 states own/operate 350 gaming enterprises that generate over $26.5 billion in revenues annually, or roughly $120-plus million per year on average per tribe. Regrettably, the state of Washington sees very little of this money thanks to a self-serving political decision made years ago (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Tribes-give-big-to-Gregoire-avoid-sharing-casino-1276446.php)

According to tribal data, there are 32 Class III casinos operated by 23 tribes in Washington state, with more in the planning stages. Eight (one-quarter) of these 32 casinos are located in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties. Most are housed in lavish structures that include not only expansive gaming areas, but also hotels, restaurants, gas stations, entertainment halls, conference rooms, swimming pools, smoke shops, RV parks, golf courses, etc. Other than competing with each other, most Indian casinos operate as monopolies – tax-free, with no outside competition.

Many of these Indian casinos are approaching 30 years of successful operations. Judging by the expansive scale of their facilities and apparent high volume of business, one has to assume they are substantially profitable, thus representing an equivalent share of the $120-million each Indian casino takes in on average.

According to available data, the federal government (i.e., the U.S. taxpayer) continues to contribute more than $20-billion per year to Indian tribes (https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/politics/20-billion-total-us-support-for-american-indians/). Included in this sum are recent grants to two local tribes, each of which operate casinos.

The question is, when – and by what means – will the federal government determine when a tribe has attained “self-sufficiency” and reduce/cut off the flow of federal monies?

Bruce Elliot

La Conner