“The Oregon Lottery’s growing video gaming empire is everywhere-grocery stores, bowling alleys, restaurants, lottery parlors and now even on the internet.” “Oregon’s governors consistently say they want to prevent proliferation of casinos, but the state is the biggest casino promoter in Oregon,” Meade said. “This helps all of us avoid confusion, use of resources, and advocacy for and against changing my stance in favor of one gaming facility per tribe on reservation land.”Ĭoquille tribal chair Brenda Meade blasted Kotek’s opposition to the Coquille’s Medford project this afternoon, asserting that the governor is simply protecting the Oregon Lottery, the state’s second-largest source of revenue. “I wanted to provide this clarification of my tribal gaming policy so that Tribes, the federal government, and local entities know where I stand,” she wrote. Kotek is hoping to head off further skirmishing over gaming expansion in Oregon. It also follows a long period of uncertainty during which in addition to potential tribal expansion, the Oregon Lottery moved aggressively into mobile sports betting and the Oregon Racing Commission tried unsuccessfully to expand betting on what’s called “historical horse racing” at Grants Pass Downs. Kotek’s statement comes as the Siletz Tribe, whose sole casino is in Lincoln City, pursues a $230 million casino off Interstate 5 in north Salem and the Coquille Tribe continues its quest to open a casino in Medford. 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.” Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City is the sole casino operated by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

“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,” Kotek wrote in a letter to leaders of the nine tribes and state and federal officials, including interim Oregon Lottery director Mike Wells. In response to questions her office has received and to pending proposals that would add two tribal casinos, Kotek simply said no. Tina Kotek gave unambiguous guidance Thursday to Oregon’s nine recognized Native American tribes and the Oregon Lottery about where she stands on gambling. Architect’s drawing shows what a casino and motel complex proposed by the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz would look like along Interstate 5 in north Salem.

Oregon casinos