The Nooksack River Casino may soon be forced to close their doors after a debt of $15 million has yet to be paid. The Nooksack Tribe has claimed sovereign immunity on the debt collection but a judge has ruled against immunity and the tribe may now have to pay up.

Outsource Services Management tried to collect the $15 million owed by the tribe but the Nooksack claimed sovereign immunity. Just last summer, the Supreme Court of Washington ruled that with the agreement of the loan, the immunity of the tribe was waived, giving way to state court jurisdiction authorization.

Since that ruling, the tribe has argued that they are not required to repay the loan due to the fact that their casino has not generated enough profit to do so. The casino has reported an operating loss and $2 million in additional debt.

On Friday, Deborra Garrett, a Whatcom County Superior Court Judge, listened to arguments in the case and is expected to rule on the matter no later than June.