Emerald Queen Casino riverboat sold by Puyallup Tribe

Puyallup Tribe sells historic Emerald Queen Casino riverboat after 20 years

The Puyallup Tribe has sold the historic Emerald Queen Casino riverboat after holding onto it for nearly two decades. The vessel, once a cornerstone of the tribe's economic growth, was purchased by Spectra Crane and Marina. Its sale marks the end of an era for a floating casino that helped shape the tribe's financial independence.

The riverboat was originally built in 1995, offering 70,000 square feet of space and room for up to 2,000 guests. The Puyallup Tribe bought it in 1997 and moved it to Tacoma, Washington, where it became a key part of their casino operations. The tribe had already opened a land-based Emerald Queen Casino in 2001, but the riverboat remained in use until 2004.

That same year, the tribe launched a second land-based casino in Fife, Washington, and shut down the riverboat. Since then, the vessel had been kept in storage. Meanwhile, the Puyallup Tribe continued expanding its gambling business, culminating in a $400 million integrated resort that opened in May 2020. The new casino now features over 2,100 slot machines, 60 table games, and a 250-seat sportsbook. Spectra Crane and Marina's owner, Boyer Halverson, has confirmed the purchase but has not yet revealed plans for the riverboat. The tribe's earlier casinos, including the riverboat, played a crucial role in reducing poverty among its members. With fewer than 10,000 enrolled citizens, the Puyallup Tribe has generated higher per-capita returns from its casinos than many larger tribes.

The sale of the riverboat closes a chapter for the Puyallup Tribe, which first used it to build economic strength. Spectra now holds the vessel, though its future remains undecided. The tribe's modern casinos continue to generate hundreds of millions in revenue and provide thousands of jobs in the region.