Oregon Wants Share Of Gambling Profits Report Says Money Could Offset Bad Effects Of Tribal Casinos
Five other states have figured out a way to share in the profits from Indian casinos. Some Oregon officials hope it isn’t too late to get a piece of casino profits here.
The idea has been raised several times over the past few months at meetings of the governor’s task force on gaming.
A recent draft report said the state should offset the negative effects of tribal gaming centers through some type of revenue sharing.
But there was no mention of revenue sharing last week when the task force recommended more studies.
Tribal spokesmen say the state indirectly benefits from Indian gaming.
They say casinos bring jobs and tourists to Oregon, and many tribes give thousands of dollars each year to state-funded or nonprofit programs, including scholarships, health care and social services.
Tribal leaders also argue that revenue sharing would amount to taxing the tribes, which are exempt from taxes as sovereign nations.
Gov. Barbara Roberts signed the first Indian gaming compact four years ago with the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe. Every detail was negotiated, down to the number of slot machines and security guards.
Whether the state could get a cut of the money was never discussed.
“Our governor did a poor job of negotiating,” said Oregon Lottery Commissioner Mike Schwartz. “She gave away the farm.”
Roberts, who now directs a government program at Harvard University, said state leaders wanted to give tribes a deserved shot at self-sufficiency and did not believe they had authority to assess the tribes.
“Obviously not many states have done that, so a lot thought the same way,” Roberts said.
An estimated $150 million is gambled in Oregon’s six casinos every year.
In neighboring Washington state, $1 million a year in casino taxes pays for county sheriff patrols, road projects and ambulance services.
Other states take in enough money each year to beef up law enforcement budgets and pay for gambling addiction programs.