Six Native American tribes on Wednesday called on Gov. Kate Brown and other state political leaders to launch a thorough review of Dutch Bros founder Travis Boersma’s plan to open a gambling and entertainment center in his hometown of Grants Pass.
“All of a sudden it’s like, has the state’s prohibition on casinos been waived?” asked Justin Martin, a lobbyist and member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. “We played under one set of rules. We invested in our facilities in rural Oregon based on those rules. And now it looks like the rules are changing.”
They argue that that Boersma’s planned “Flying Lark” will fundamentally change gambling in Oregon with little formal review.
The building’s centerpiece will be 250 gambling terminals that resemble slot machines — but which actually allow players to bet on horse races that occurred years earlier, with the names and locations obscured.
Casino-style gambling is normally allowed only on tribal lands.
A study found the two venues would generate more than $10.7 billion in spending in southern Oregon over 30 years of operation.
“We are committed to paying a living wage in southern Oregon, which will have nothing but a positive impact in peoples’ lives,” said Mike Thiessen, president of the Flying Lark.
Dutch Bros Coffee went public September 15, 2021, with co-founder and
Executive Chairman Travis Boersma doing the bell-ringing honors at the
New York Stock Exchange.
“All of a sudden it’s like, has the state’s prohibition on casinos been waived?” asked Justin Martin, a lobbyist and member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. “We played under one set of rules. We invested in our facilities in rural Oregon based on those rules. And now it looks like the rules are changing.”
They argue that that Boersma’s planned “Flying Lark” will fundamentally change gambling in Oregon with little formal review.
The building’s centerpiece will be 250 gambling terminals that resemble slot machines — but which actually allow players to bet on horse races that occurred years earlier, with the names and locations obscured.
Casino-style gambling is normally allowed only on tribal lands.
A study found the two venues would generate more than $10.7 billion in spending in southern Oregon over 30 years of operation.
“We are committed to paying a living wage in southern Oregon, which will have nothing but a positive impact in peoples’ lives,” said Mike Thiessen, president of the Flying Lark.
Dutch Bros Coffee went public September 15, 2021, with co-founder and
Executive Chairman Travis Boersma doing the bell-ringing honors at the
New York Stock Exchange.
