Gaming briefs for Dec. 5, 2003

Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

Tribe floats new gaming deal

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has once again proposed building a casino to help pay for a Portland construction project.

Earlier this year, the tribe offered to pay for a $350 million baseball stadium in return for a Portland casino, but Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he wouldn't approve it.

This time the proposal involves a hotel near the Oregon Convention Center in northeast Portland, The Oregonian reported today.

The tribe's proposal is one of eight received when the Portland Development Commission put out feelers asking developers whether a long-desired headquarters hotel could be built by private enterprise without substantial public subsidies.

Portland development and convention recruitment officials have been trying to attract a large headquarters hotel since before the convention center opened in 1990.

Although the agency's executive director doesn't sound enthusiastic about the casino idea, the tribe remains among seven development teams that will be asked to submit more detailed proposals early next year.

"I'm not in any way encouraging a casino," said Don Mazziotti, the development agency's executive director. "It's a real stretch, it seems to me, to see a casino as part of a convention center hotel."

Tribe seeks to add table games

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians wants to amend its gambling compact with the state to expand the types of games it can offer at its casino, the tribal chief says.

The tribe, which currently operates video gambling machines at its Harrah's Cherokee Casino and Hotel on its reservation, would like to add tables that offer games such as roulette and blackjack.

The new games could bring new jobs and more than $20 million a year in taxes to the state, according to the tribe.