SEATTLE – The state’s gambling regulators are flexing too much power and need to be reined in, King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng told a group of gambling experts on Thursday.
Maleng, a prominent critic of state-supported gambling, said he is drafting legislation to restrict the state Gambling Commission’s duties in favor of greater legislative control.
“What I am calling for is our state leaders to regain control of gambling policy, away from appointed commissioners and their staff,” Maleng said. “Let’s bring these issues into the clear light of day, where they can be fully discussed and debated.”
Speaking at an Indian gambling summit, Maleng pointed to a recently rejected plan to expand the Spokane Tribe’s gambling outside its reservation as a prime reason to restrict the commission.
That proposal was killed by Gov. Christine Gregoire in late October amid complaints that it would allow other tribes to pursue off-reservation gambling.
The plan would have shared up to 35 percent of the tribe’s gambling profits with the state, and would have allowed the tribe to operate up to 7,500 electronic gambling machines.
Maleng said that proposal violated the principles governing other tribal gambling agreements. Legislation being drafted by his office would require such changes to be made by the Legislature, among other provisions, Maleng said.
“If those principles are going to be changed, it should be the result of hearings and legislation,” he said.
Maleng also said the commission has become far too permissive of expanded nontribal gambling, and said competition between Indian and private gambling has become an “arms race.”
Neal Nunamaker, the commission’s deputy director, said the panel is not out of control. Four legislators sit on its board, and commissioners’ actions are not kept secret, Nunamaker said.
“The Legislature sets the public policy for gambling. We implement regulations based on that law,” he said.
The state’s gambling industry was worth $1.6 billion in the 2005 fiscal year, with tribal casinos’ share estimated at more than $1 billion, according to the commission.
State Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, said she also was considering legislation that would require any decisions about off-reservation Indian gambling to be made by the Legislature.
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