By Andrew Selsky, Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. — A confederation of tribes in Oregon announced plans Tuesday to build a casino in the state capital, and draw in crowds of gamblers from Portland.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon said they hope to open the 140,000 square foot entertainment, gaming and hotel facility in 2021 on reservation property on the northern end of Salem, and that they want to partner with other tribes.
The Siletz would need approval from the governor for a casino. The initial reaction from Gov. Kate Brown’s office indicated the Siletz will have to hedge its bet by getting the other eight federally recognized tribes in Oregon on board — and some already have casinos or have their own plans.
“To date, Gov. Brown has not received any proposal that enjoys comprehensive tribal support,” Bryan Hockaday, Brown’s press secretary, said in an email. “Should Gov. Brown receive such a proposal, the discussion would focus on whether the proposed casino would be in the best interest of the tribes, and of the people of Oregon.”
The Siletz said they expect to create 1,500 full-time jobs the first year of operation of the casino, which the tribe wants to build near Interstate 5 on the north side of Salem. They project $185.4 million in gross revenue in the first year of operation.
The tribe said it is working to expand tribal participation in the project.
“We know that when Tribes come together with a shared mission, we achieve more for our community,” said Dee Pigsley, tribal council chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, in a statement.
On April 24, another tribe opened a casino near La Center, Washington, 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Portland, causing traffic jams on I-5 as the parking lot quickly filled up. It is now the closest major gambling venue for residents of Oregon’s largest city.
Oregon has a one casino per tribe policy. The Siletz has a casino in Lincoln City, on the coast, so it is doubly important it recruit other tribes as partners.
The proposal would have a “devastating” impact on the Grand Ronde tribe’s Spirit Mountain Casino west of Salem, said Grand Ronde tribal member and tribal lobbyist Justin Martin, the Salem Statesman Journal reported. Martin predicted his tribe would not support the proposal.
Participating tribes would share 50 percent of the net revenues of the entertainment facility, 25 percent would go to state and local governments with the Siletz getting the remaining 25 percent, according to a spokeswoman.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is a confederation of all the tribes of western Oregon. In the 1800s Siletz ancestors were removed from their valley homelands and moved to the Siletz Reservation on the coast.
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