On January 11, 2022, Maverick Gaming LLC (Maverick), a non-tribal cardroom and casino operator, initiated a lawsuit in D.C. federal court challenging Washington state’s sports betting framework, which grants federally-recognized Indian tribes the right to offer sports betting (and certain other class III games), but makes it illegal for non-tribal entities to engage in such activity.
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Archives
One of Three Lawsuits Challenging Florida’s Online Sports Betting Compact Dismissed
As the Seminole Tribe’s anticipated November 15 online betting “launch” approaches, there has been a flurry of activity in the three lawsuits challenging the online sports betting provisions in the 2021 Seminole Tribal-State Gaming Compact (the Compact) and the corresponding state law ratifying the Compact (the Implementing Law). On Monday, October 18, a Florida federalcontinue reading
US Department of Interior Approves Connecticut’s Expanded Gaming Compacts
On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior approved Connecticut’s amended state-tribal gaming compacts with the Mohegan and Mashantucket-Pequot Tribes, bringing Connecticut another step closer to an expanded gaming “launch.” As we reported previously, the amended compacts were negotiated alongside the state’s new expanded gaming law and allow the Tribes to offer sports betting and daily fantasy sports contests on tribal land. Although the expanded gaming law was enacted in May 2021, its provisions do not take effect until the Department approves the amended compacts and publishes notice of the decisions in the Federal Register.
US Department of Interior’s Decision on Florida Sports Betting Compact Likely to Inspire Future Gaming Expansion If It Survives Pending Legal Challenge
As we reported previously, the U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) issued a letter on August 6, indicating it had declined to take action regarding Florida’s state-tribal gaming compact (the Compact) within the 45-day window prescribed under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). As a result, the Compact is “considered to have been approved” by operation of law. On August 16, two Florida-based gaming operators filed a lawsuit seeking to vacate the Department’s decision. If the Department can overcome this legal challenge, its August 6 decision will likely inspire tribal-state gaming expansion in other states.