Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe — Hearing on Proposed Compact Amendments
Summary
Slides for a Joint Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee and House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee Hearing on Proposed Compact Amendments, December 19, 2025, for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. The slides outline the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the compact amendment approval process. Port Gamble S'Klallam changes include higher wager limits, up to 125 gaming stations and 3,000 player terminals, and adoption of Appendix G-Electronic Table Games. For Upper Skagit, the slides state that the Skagit is the only casino in the area without electronic table games and that 12 other Tribes have amended their compacts to permit them.
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- Issuer
- Congressional materials
- Document type
- Congressional Hearing
- Date
- 2025-12-19
- Case
- 2025 12 19 A33554 D290185 Pgst Usit Joint Legislative Hearing On Proposed Compact Amen
Cite this document
“Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe — Hearing on Proposed Compact Amendments.”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2025-12-19. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-12-19-2025-12-19-a33554-d290185-pgst-usit-joint-legislative-hearing-on-proposed-compact-amen/
, SHA-256 ad9e7b887e335c34ed4dcc470fc8f3f24e15e5722be7689fdbb25afb96d307fc.Full text
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Joint Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee and
House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
Hearing on Proposed Compact Amendments
December 19, 2025
Commissioners
Chair Alicia Levy Sarah Lawson
Michael Charles Noah Skartvedt Vacant
Ex-Officio Members
Senator Senator Representative Representative
Steve Conway Jeff Holy Shelley Kloba Kevin Waters
29th District 6th District 1st District 17th District
1988: Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
“Class III gaming activities shall be lawful on
Indian lands only if such activities are located
in a State that permits such gaming and are
conducted in conformance with a
tribal-state compact…”
Negotiation Topics
▪ Casino-style gaming activities
▪ Criminal and civil jurisdiction
▪ Fees for state regulation
▪ Remedies for breach of contract
▪ Standards of operation
1988: Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
“The purpose of this chapter is…
to protect such gaming as a means of generating
tribal revenue.”
“The State must
negotiate in good faith
when a compact or amendment is requested by
a tribe.”
Public Protection Interests
▪ No criminal involvement
▪ Gaming conducted fairly, honestly
▪ Gaming limited to authorized
activities
▪ Minimize negative impacts on local
law enforcement, emergency
services
Gaming Compact Amendment Approval Process
Proposed
Amendment
Compact negotiated Direction from State
submitted to
by WSGC Director policy makers
Commission &
Legislature
Governor Reviews &
Legislative Hearing Commission Hearing
has final execution
Amendment
Tribe forwards to Effective when
Secretary of Interior published in the
Federal Register
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Council
Amber Renee
Chris Tom
Caldera Veregge
Vice
C hairwoman Council
Chairman
Person I
Donovan Kyle
JonelleGrady
Ashworth Carpenter
Council
Council Council
Person III
Person II Person IV
We are the Strong People
Summary of Compact Changes
(Consistent with other Compacts)
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
▪ Higher wager limits: $1,000 table games and $5,000 table game
wagers for prescreened customers in high limit rooms
▪ Can operate up to 125 gaming stations and 3,000 player terminals
between their facilities
▪ More than 60 gaming stations will require allocations from another
tribe
▪ $30 TLS wagers without 15% limitation
▪ Extension of credit
▪ Updated problem gambling/responsible gaming policies
LIMITATIONS - APPENDIX F
Summary of Compact Changes
(Consistent with other Compacts)
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, cont.
▪ Compact Amendments on Limitations similar to Jamestown
oCompact Section IIIE updated with second facility language
oAdd Appendix F to Compact
▪ Adoption of Appendix G-Electronic Table Games
oSimilar to Stillaguamish
oCompact Section II & IIIA amended to carry Appendix G into effect
oAdd Appendix G to Compact
COMPACT & ETG
Upper Skagit Indian
Tribe
1855 Enter the Treaty of Point Elliot
USIT Landless Until Late 70’s
Approximately 1500 members
1995 Skagit Valley Casino Opens
Historic Background
• 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott
• 1924 Indians legally recognized as citizens/Right to Vote
• 1934 Indian Reorganization Act Assimilation
• 1950 Termination
• 1975 Indian Self Determination
• 1988 Enactment of IGRA
Upper Skagit’s Compacts/Amendments
• Upper Skagit Entered into its Washington State Gaming Compact in 1992
• 1998 Appendix X (Tribal Lottery System)
• 2007 Appendix X2 expansion of the number of TLS
• 2015 appendix X2 amendment additional number of TLS
Impact of Gaming
• Funds programmatic as well as direct assistance to Tribal members through
the following programs:
• Nutritional Support
• Education Assistance
• K-12
• Higher Ed
• Home Ownership
• Down Payment Assistance
Impact of The Skagit Casino to the Local
Community
• The Tribe’s Casino provides over 300 jobs to the local economy, most of
which are held by non-tribal members
• The Tribe contributes to numerous charities throughout the County
• The Tribe provides significant funding to local law enforcement
Local News Report
• Upper Skagit Indian Tribe makes large donation to Skagit Valley Herald
Christmas Fund
• The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe has made a $60,000 donation to the Skagit
Valley Herald Christmas Fund.
• It is the largest donation received by the Christmas Fund since 2007.
• The Upper Skagit has donated over $300,00 this year to various local
charities.
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe makes large donation to
Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund
Skagit Valley Herald - Ava Ronning 12/3/25
The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe has made a $60,000 donation to the Skagit
Valley Herald Christmas Fund. It is the largest donation received by the
Christmas Fund since 2007. The Christmas Fund has provided toys, books
and meals to children and families in need for 75 years.
Jennifer Washington, chairwoman of the Upper Skagit tribe, made the
donation on behalf of her tribe.
The Upper Skagit tribe has been the fund’s biggest contributor each year.
Washington said the large donation is especially necessary this year as many
families are struggling because of inflation, Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) reductions and the government shutdown.
“(The Christmas Fund) has helped so many families, and then having the
same individuals be part of that annually has just been amazing,” Washington
said.
The Upper Skagit tribe donates to other area programs as well, including
major food banks. This year, the tribe contributed about $300,000 to charities,
including the Christmas Fund.
The Need for the Requested Amendment
• To enable the Tribe to remain competitive with the other Tribes in our
market
• Currently, the Skagit is the only casino in our area that does not have electronic table
games
• 12 other Tribes have amended their compacts to permit electronic table games
Summary of Compact Changes
(Consistent with other Compacts)
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
▪ Compact Sections II & III amended to carry Appendix G into effect
▪ X2, 14.5 Smoking Cessation Contribution removed
▪ Compact Section XIV amended to address air quality
▪ Adoption of Appendix G-Electronic Table Games, which is
very similar to that previously implemented by Port
Gamble, Stillaguamish, and other tribes
ELECTRONIC TABLE GAMES - APPENDIX G
Next Steps
Today Commission Meeting
January 8, 2026
• Hold required • Vote to forward to
hearing Governor
• Answer questions • Vote to return for
further negotiations
Public comments in-person or at
compactcomments@wsgc.wa.gov
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