Washington state officials and the Tulalip Tribes have reached a tentative agreement on a new amendment to the Tribe’s Class III gaming compact, consolidating decades of revisions into a single governing document.
The proposed twelfth amendment restates the original 1991 compact and incorporates the first 11 amendments into one updated agreement. Regulators say the change simplifies administration while reflecting current gaming practices, public health priorities, and oversight standards developed over more than 30 years.
The agreement is described as modernizing the state’s first tribal-state gaming compact and demonstrating a sustained record of collaboration between the state and the Tribe. Officials say the goal remains keeping Class III gaming legal, honest, and well-regulated for the public.
Tribal leadership says the updated compact supports both the Tribe and the broader region. The agreement is framed as a government-to-government partnership that helps fund community services, create jobs, and contribute to the regional economy.
The amendment replaces older contribution requirements and allows wagers of up to $50 on tribal lottery system player terminals, matching lottery ticket pricing. It also raises the maximum wager for existing table games and electronic table games to $1,000.
A new framework permits shared jackpots between the Tribe’s gaming facilities for table games. The amendment also opens a phased path to add as many as 1,000 extra player terminals, modeled on another Washington tribal compact.
Additional updates establish a new appendix for tribal licensing and state background investigations, along with a definitions section for terms used throughout the agreement. The proposal also confirms the Tribe’s continuing support for emergency services, government agencies, nonprofits, and charitable groups.
Public health measures are expanded under the amendment. Casinos that permit smoking must provide a designated non-smoking gaming room.
Responsible gambling rules are strengthened to cover employee training, self-exclusion programs, signage, and self-imposed limits. The changes align with broader efforts to update gaming oversight across the state.
The proposal now enters public review. A joint legislative hearing is scheduled for July 22, with a commission vote expected on August 28.
If approved, the amendment will go to the Tribal Chair and the governor before federal review by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The effort follows similar compact modernization work with other Washington tribes aimed at consolidating older agreements and updating gaming standards.
