SILETZ — The Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians announced it will reduce a key revenue stream to Lincoln City starting next year due to meager returns on the investment.

Since opening 30 years ago, Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City has voluntarily paid transient room taxes (TRTs) which climbed from 9.5  to 13.5 percent in 2023. In 2024, the amount paid to the city was $662,123; in 2025, $723,644. Thousands of tourists fill rooms not just at the casino hotel but throughout town for the extensive gaming, MMA fights, concerts, card tournaments, car shows, conventions and other signature events at Chinook Winds. There is no doubt it is a prime driver of the city’s TRT revenue.

The surprise disclosure came at a recent joint meeting of the tribe and the city council where Siletz chairman Delores Pigsley stated the charitable payments would be reduced by 25 percent, or about $181,000 based on 2025 figures.

“The taxes we pay are entirely voluntary because we are exempt from them,” remarked Chairman Pigsley, in her 47^th year as a member of the tribal council. “We continued to pay them anyway because we hoped some good would come from it, but the truth is Chinook Winds never gets any actual advertising for the money we pay.”

In a state-mandated formula, 40 percent of the $5 million in TRT revenues collected from the lodging industry is used for tourism marketing, with 60 percent used for parks, streets and other city services. Lincoln City will spend $1.1 million in 2026 to advertise its tourist attractions.

Chinook Winds had to buck local officials, including an intractable mayor who predicted crime, gambling addictions and other misfortunes, to open in 1995. In a similar affront to other tribal casinos in Oregon, state tourism officials also disregarded Native gaming operations.

“We’re better at marketing ourselves because we have to,” Pigsley said. “They won’t help us. We go to the meetings of Travel Oregon and talk about the amazing contributions of Chinook Winds and the eight tribal casinos in Oregon and we don’t get one single mention in all their advertising.”

City officials deny they have ignored the tribe. City Manager Pro Tem David Robinson cited efforts to promote the casino’s 30th anniversary, articles in city publications and the squirreling of glass floats near the casino.

Despite the tribe’s frustration over advertising, Pigsley asserted the tribe and city work well in other areas. While they are not exactly in a warm embrace, “We have a very good relationship,” she said.

“We’ve come a long way since they picketed our casino when we opened,” concluded Pigsley, recently reelected as tribal chairman for the 37th year. “I can pick up the phone and call the mayor, and likewise. I think it’s a great relationship.”