Perhaps more important than monetary success, the casino has infused the Tulalips with self-esteem. I'm happy for (the dealers), I'm happy for the tribes, I'm happy for the casino.' 'I'm so proud of them, I can't express it well enough. 'They're doing a bang-up job of it,' he said. 'This whole thing has been a miracle,' said Herman Williams Jr., one of four Tulalip Gaming Commission members.Īlthough tribal leaders won't reveal their profit margin, revenues are so high that the tribes could repay the casino's $2.5 million construction loan by the end of its first year, Williams said.ĭealers who had grumbled about minimum wages have been delighted by the tips that bring their pay up to $15 to $17 an hour, Williams said. With up to 1,000 people a day visiting the casino, the tribes have hit a jackpot, pulling in enough cash to finance ambitious construction projects and social-service programs.Īlready, a new $500,000 expansion is being planned, with the opening targeted for February, said tribal Chairman Stan Jones. Gamblers count on miracles, so maybe the Tulalip Tribes Casino is a good omen for those who frequent the five-month-old gaming establishment.
