Published on: December 22, 2025, 09:36h.
Last updated: December 22, 2025, 09:36h.
- Tragic incident at Emerald Queen Casino on Saturday night
- Investigation is currently underway
- Reports indicate an individual fell to their death at the tribal casino
One individual was fatally injured, and another sustained injuries following what appears to be an accident at the Emerald Queen Casino located in downtown Tacoma, WA.
Authorities reported their arrival at the Tacoma Emerald Queen Casino, one of two tribal casinos operated by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, around 9:20 pm on Saturday night, following emergency calls.
On the scene, first responders discovered an individual on the ground floor near the escalators, believed to have fallen from an upper level. The individual was pronounced dead at the site.
A spokesperson from the fire crew indicated that the deceased seemed to have fallen through a glass barrier above the gaming area. Another individual incurred only minor injuries.
Situated approximately 25 miles south of downtown Seattle, the Tacoma Emerald Queen Casino now faces scrutiny.
Casino Update
Tacoma first responders provided limited details regarding the incident at the Emerald Queen Casino, directing inquiries to the Puyallup tribal police, which is leading the investigation as the event occurred on tribal land. An autopsy is being performed by the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Opened in June 2020, the Tacoma EQC is a $400 million casino resort featuring 2,100 slot machines, 60 table games, a 155-room hotel, six dining options, and a 250-seat central bar.
The tribe promotes the Tacoma Emerald Queen as having a “Vegas-style gambling atmosphere.” The modern architecture includes expansive multi-level areas interconnected by escalators. The gambling zone is located on the fourth floor, accessible via escalators from the main lobby on the ground floor.
Currently, there are no indications suggesting foul play in relation to the fall. It remains uncertain whether the individual intentionally jumped.
The Puyallup tribe previously operated a riverboat casino docked at the Port of Tacoma for 25 years, which closed in 2004 through an agreement with the city to facilitate further commercial development of the area.
In exchange, the tribe was permitted to establish a permanent casino in nearby Fife and maintain a gaming hall in Tacoma within a tent-like structure.
Casino Incidents
Earlier this year, in February, a man jumped from the 20th floor of Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino in Stateline, NV. The 31-year-old, identified as a California resident, was reportedly confirmed to have taken his own life.
He fell near the casino’s valet area and was declared dead at the scene. The establishment has since undergone rebranding to Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe.
In January 2021, a woman aged 29 fell to her death from the upper levels of the Ocean Casino Resort’s parking garage in Atlantic City, an incident later classified as suicide.