The majority of the last six months have been devoted by FBI agents to their investigation into possible violations of federal antitrust law connected to the tribe's initiatives to defend the Ilani against rival casinos. The Cowlitz Tribe is dealing with a lot of other problems.

Some tribe members opposed the concept of expelling the Mohegans. The gaming management agreement will be put to a public vote at a future Tribal Council meeting, according to a statement from the council. Skilled players fear that new management may worsen the games in a misguided effort at “game protection.” Though the blackjack games offered at its Connecticut casino, the Mohegan Sun, are largely worthless, management at Ilani has maintained surprisingly good games, though the table limits are low. To card counters at blackjack and other types of advantage players, getting rid of Mohegan management ai Ilani is not viewed as a good thing. The Cowlitz, however, lack management experience in the casino industry in contrast to the Mohegans, who run casinos all over the world. The fees the tribe is paying the Mohegan could be retained. The Ilani has also been a gold mine for the Cowlitz Tribe, which only regained federal recognition as a tribe in 2000, with annual revenue estimated at $400 million to $500 million.

The casino, which receives more than three million visitors annually and employs more than 1500 people, has swiftly risen to the top of the list of the region’s tourism attractions. The Ilani casino, which is next to La Center, has had great success.

The Mohegan Tribe has been managing the Ilani since it opened six years ago, and their management agreement expires in June 2024.įor the tribe and southwest Washington, it's a risky and high-stakes choice. When the Cowlitz Tribal Council said that it is reviewing its options, even some of its own members were taken aback. The troubled Cowlitz Indian Tribe, which is embroiled in a criminal antitrust probe, is thinking about terminating its long-standing business partnership with the Connecticut gaming organization that runs the tribe's Ilani Casino Resort in southwest Washington State.

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