In 1984, Oregon voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state-owned and state-run lottery. The lottery vote also established for the first time Oregon's ban on commercial casinos.
Beginning in 1992, following passage of the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, the State entered into a series of agreements with Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes. The agreements allow each tribe to operate a casino on reservation land. In 1993, the first tribal casino began operation, and today each of Oregon's nine tribes operates a casino. The Spirit Mountain Casino (Grand Ronde), located 65 miles southwest of Portland, has become the number-one tourist attraction in Oregon. Oregon's ban on commercial casinos does not apply to Oregon's tribal casinos.
Voters also made a significant change in 1995, adding public education to the list of allowable uses of lottery funds. About two-thirds, or 64 percent of lottery proceeds are distributed to Oregon schools; 20% goes to economic development; 7.5% each to state parks and watershed enhancement, and 1% to problem gambling.
On November 23, 2005, the National Indian Gaming Commission approved the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington's "gaming ordinance"; a critical step in the tribal casino approval process. The Cowlitz tribe is partnering with the powerful Mohegan tribe of Connecticut to build a huge tribal casino just 16 miles north of Portland. The Cowlitz and Mohegan tribes' proposal is a threat to Oregon's gaming revenue and economy.
In November 2010 Oregonians will have an answer by voting on two ballot measures that will site a world-class entertainment center at the former Multnomah Kennel Club in Wood Village, Oregon. Your vote will keep thousands of jobs, nearly $200 million in tax revenue every year in Oregon to help support k-12 public education and other vital local services.