The Casino Economy: Indian Gaming, Tribal Sovereignty, and Economic Independence in the Pacific Northwest

The Emerald Queen Casino is a landmark in Tacoma, Washington that was made possible by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, a federal law establishing the governing structure for Indian gaming and which subsequently provided the opportunity for substantial economic independence to emerge for American Indian tribes across the United States. Opening in 1996, the Emerald Queen Casino, owned and operated by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, is unique in Washington State in that it is located in an urban environment within the city limits of Tacoma. This unique geography has allowed the Emerald Queen to become one of the most prosperous Indian casinos in the Pacific Northwest. In this presentation I examine through factual data the positive impacts of the Emerald Queen Casino on the Puyallup Tribe and its surrounding community. Specifically, I focus on several of the benefits of the casino economy, including business development, support of higher education, and creating opportunities for employment. By exploring these benefits, we will begin to see how the Tribe has grown to become a vital component of the South Sound economy as well as being an ideal model for sharing its wealth amongst the broader Puget Sound community