A Kitsap Peninsula tribe broke ground Monday for a major new building to replace its existing casino at Kingston.

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe is building a 52,000-square-foot structure that will augment the existing Point Casino at Kingston on the northeastern end of the Kitsap Peninsula.

When the new building opens in the first half of 2012, the 20,000-square-foot existing casino building will be repurposed as office space and casino backup space.

The casino expects to hire about 60-80 more casino workers, the tribe said.

The general contractor for the new casino project is Lonestar/KHS&S, a joint venture. 

If you have an opinion either way on whether the number of Bingo cards in electronic Bingo daubers should be increased from 66 to 144, then Vancouver will be the place the place to be next week.

That’s when the Washington State Gambling Commission will conduct its next meeting – on August 11 and 12 – at the Vancouver Heathman Lodge, 7801 Greenwood Dr.

Along with daubers, the commission will hear presentations concerning or discuss tribal gaming, linking progressive jackpots between various house-banked card rooms, the reduction of fees for charitable licenses and details concerning the manufacture of pull-tabs.

At …

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The Recreational Gaming Association, which represents non-tribal mini-casinos in the state, will support a bill expanding machine gaming in the state.

According to Dolores Chiechi, association executive director, the bill will be introduced in the state House as soon as next week.

“Look for bill to be introduced Monday,” she said Thursday afternoon.

The bill will propose that mini-casinos, or “house-banked card rooms,’ be allowed to offer customers a chance to bet on slot-machine-like devices similar to those in tribal casinos.

Although previous efforts to legalize the machines have failed, Chiechi said this proposal may gain favor with legislators.

“I’m …

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Attorney General Rob McKenna wants you to know you don’t have to buy any magazines from Publishers Clearing House to have the Prize Patrol knock at your door.

The magazine subscription service, best known for its multi-million dollar sweepstakes prizes, has agreed to make clear that no purchases are needed for you to be eligible for their prizes, under a deal announced by McKenna and other attorneys general this week.

Several states previously had reached an agreement with PCH about its promotional practices, said McKenna, but an investigation showed the firm was not fully complying with those agreements.

Of particular …

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The Lucky Dog Casino is back open year-round after a 10-month hiatus, David Owens, general manager said Friday.

The Skokomish Tribe casino also is still looking to hire a few more folks with casino experience, Owens said. Lucky Dog is on U.S. Highway 101 north of Shelton. Officials plan a grand opening the weekend of Aug. 27-29.

“We have rebranded and redesigned the casino,” Owens said. “Anybody who comes in here will have a new experience.”

About 50 people currently work at the casino and its restaurant, the Northfork Bar and Grill. When the casino closed for the winter because …

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The Washington State Gambling Commission will conduct its monthly meeting – open to the public – on Thursday and Friday at the DoubleTree Guest Suites at South Center, 16500 Southcenter Pkwy.

Thursday’s public agenda includes, among other items, a report on a November Texas Hold’em discussion group; a look at the agency’s 2009 employee survey; and a report on gaming-related bills in the current Legislature.

On Friday, commissioners will hear a review concerning the Seattle Junior Hockey Association; a request by Evergreen School District to exceed the limit on raffle prizes; and details concerning employment revocations of four gaming workers. …

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Pierce County, bid goodbye to casino keno.

Don’t go to either of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ Emerald Queen casinos looking for the Bingo-like game – wherein customers pick from one to 20 numbers on a card, after which the casino selects 20 ping-pong-like balls from among 80 swirling in a machine that somehow resembles a hot-air popcorn popper.

The Emerald Queen casinos have discontinued keno due to a growing lack of interest from players.

“People just aren’t playing keno like they used to,” said tribal spokesman John Weymer on Monday.

Employees who previously worked in the keno area have …

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