Operator News
US – Oregan Governor sticking to one casino per tribe model with no expansion planned
By Phil - 17 April 2023
Oregon’s governor Tina Kotek has said there will be no casino expansion in the state, having written to all nine tribes, as well as state leaders and Oregon Lottery director Mike Wells, to outline that the one casino per tribe quota will stay in place.
Her letter follows bids from the Coquille Tribe to lobby for a new casino in Medford with the Siletz Tribe wanting to do similarly in Salem.
Ms Kotek said: “Throughout my legislative career, during my campaign for this office, and since the start of my administration, I have been clear that I do not favor an expansion of gaming. Therefore, my policy on Tribal gaming facilities maintains the status quo from past governors, i.e., good faith bargaining between sovereign tribes and the state on one gaming facility per tribe on reservation land.”
Brenda Meade, Chair of Coquille Tribe, said: “Oregon’s governors consistently say they want to prevent the proliferation of casinos, but the state is the biggest casino promoter in Oregon. The Oregon Lottery’s growing video gaming empire is everywhere—grocery stores, bowling alleys, restaurants, lottery parlours and now even on the Internet.”
The Oregon Racing Commission also wants to introduce historical horse racing whilst the Oregon Lottery is lobbying to offer mobile sports betting.
“There are some folks that don’t want competition, and if you look at the state lottery as a competitor, what competitor would welcome competition in their own space,” said Tribal One CEO Judy Farm. “She [the governor] specifically called out Coquille when the state has an agreement with the tribes through their compacts that acknowledges that the governor doesn’t have a say in Class 2 gaming.
