tribal sports betting

October 23, 2024

Tribes, commercial operators aligned against sweepstakes

In a moment that seemed impossible in 2022, on Wednesday (23 October), Indian Country and the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) in the US had a meaningful conversation about how to fight – together – against sweepstakes.

Victor Rocha invited lobbyist Jeremy Kudon, who represents the SBA (comprised of BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel) to share his thoughts on the rise of sweepstakes. That is the latest “unregulated, unlicensed and untaxed” gambling to emerge in the last year.

Sweepstakes offer gaming without initially using real money. In legal sports betting and igaming, consumers stake accounts with cash or cash equivalents. In sweepstakes, the games start off free to play, but then consumers can purchase “coins” or “virtual cash” with which to wager.

Recently, the legal industry has not only taken notice of the rise of sweepstakes, but is starting to educate itself on what they say is already a multi-billion-dollar industry. The goal is to stop it from continuing to prolifer..

October 14, 2024

Tribes acknowledge Oklahoma wagering bill coming but is there a path forward?

At the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) last week Matt Morgan, head of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA), said that while tribes are open to discussing the future of sports betting, they'll stand still until Governor Kevin Stitt moves on or changes his position.
Stitt, who became Oklahoma’s governor in 2018, has had a difficult relationship with Indian country. He has been sued by lawmakers over compact negotiations and has alienated the tribes by trying to dictate what legal wagering will look like without considering sovereignty or exclusivity.

Oklahoma is the second biggest tribal market in the US behind California and has a robust land-based casino industry. The state’s 39 tribes operate more than 125 gaming locations, including some that draw customers from neighbouring Texas. But legal sports betting remains elusive.

The tribes have exclusivity for gaming in Oklahoma. Despite that, Stitt last year outlined a legal wagering framework that included tribal and commerci..

October 12, 2024

G2E: Let’s make a deal! Minnesota stakeholders have “framework” but politics still in play

Buried under the news that California tribes could bring a sports betting initiative as soon as 2026 is this: Minnesota's stakeholders have brokered a deal.
Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) executive director Andy Platto was among the panelists who joined California Nations Indian Chairman James Siva on Tuesday (8 October) on a Global Gaming Expo (G2E) panel entitled ‘Tribal Sovereignty and Sports Betting: A Delicate Balance’.

Minnesota lawmakers have been trying for multiple sessions to legalise retail and digital sports betting. It never got a vote this year, but did get through the house in 2022.

Platto, who heads up the state’s tribal alliance, has been the face and voice of Indian Country. Over time, that has meant managing relationships with charitable gaming folks, horse racetracks and, more recently, professional sports teams. The tribes in Minnesota have exclusivity for gaming in the state and already operate land-based casinos.

But legal wagering, partic..

July 10, 2024

Colorado tribe invokes federal Florida decision in suing state for right to offer statewide digital sports betting

On Monday (8 July) Colorado's Southern Ute tribe revealed during an American Indian Affairs interim study committee meeting that it has sued Colorado's governor, Jared Polis, and the state of Colorado. The tribe claims that the state has blocked its ability to offer digital sports betting.

Tribal chairman Melvin J Baker invoked the recent decision by the US Supreme Court not to hear the West Flagler vs the US Deptartment of the Interior case as clearing the way for the lawsuit. Baker said that because that case “held that the Seminole tribe was entitled to engage in statewide sports betting in Florida any legal objection to the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain from engaging in statewide sports betting is gone.”

The tribe filed suit in the US District Court for the District of Colorado on Monday. The court set a 10 October date for a scheduling and planning conference. From there, if the parties have not reached an agreement, the case would move forward in court.

Statewide d..

June 17, 2024

US Supreme Court declines to hear Florida sports betting case

It's likely the end of the road for WFA's case as the Seminole tribe can continue operating its sportsbook product in Florida, closing the door for commercial operators.

On Monday (17 June) morning, the US Supreme Court denied the writ of certiorari (court process to seek judicial review of a decision) in the the Florida sports betting case filed by West Flagler and Associates (WFA). The decision means that digital sports betting can remain live in Florida. From here, WFA could again try to pursue its case through the Florida state court system.

In March, the Florida Supreme Court said it would not hear WFA’s quo warranto bid, calling it the wrong “vehicle” for the Florida sports betting case. The decision left the door open for WFA to re-file in a lower Florida court.

The case was first filed in federal court in the second half of 2021. At the federal level, WFA has now exhausted all routes.

“The Seminole tribe of Florida applauds today’s decision by the US Supreme Cour..

May 20, 2024

Minnesota sports betting bill dead at end of chaotic, marathon day

A chaotic marathon legislative session ended on Sunday (19 May) in Minnesota without legal sports betting being considered. Before the calendar turned to 2024, Minnesota was among four US states that stakeholders believed had a real shot to legalise.

Instead, Minnesota’s session has been marred by the arrest of a state senator and mired in partisan politics. Although the house voted to convene on Monday (20 May) at 10am, the senate is adjourned for the session. In the final days, the DFL and Republicans called each other names, had shouting matches on the floor,and filibustered. Both chambers met in extended sessions – some going as late as 5am – beginning last week.

Over the weekend, an omnibus bill was created and included many key issues in an effort to get a vote on some issues. Sports betting is not believed to be in the bill, although lawmakers were unsure.

“Why don’t you go through it?” asked Minority Leader Mark Johnson during end-of-session media availability. “Why don’t ..

May 14, 2024

US DoJ to Supreme Court: Florida sports betting case isn’t in your purview

Late on Monday (13 May) the US Department of Justice (DoJ) filed its response in the Supreme Court in the Florida sports betting case. The filing is the final piece before the court determines whether or not it will hear the case that could change the future of sports betting in Florida.

West Flagler and Associates (WFA) filed a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court in April. In its response to WFA, the DoJ essentially argues that the Florida pari-mutuel’s case has no place before the court.

DoJ attorneys, on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DoI) wrote that the key issue, the validity of the Seminole-Florida 2021 compact, is not a federal issue. They also argued that the compact itself is well within bounds and that the DoI decision to allow it to be “deemed approved” does not violate any laws.

At issue is whether or not the DoI should have approved a compact that gives the Seminoles exclusivity to online sports betting. DoJ lawyers said the Florida sports betting ca..

March 28, 2024

IGA executive director confident of California sports betting with tribal help

Jason Giles, executive director of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), believes there could yet be online sports betting in California, although he also believes the help of tribes is vital to any legalisation.

Another attempt to legalise sports betting in California failed in January after two ballots aiming to grant tribes exclusive rights were scrapped following fierce tribal opposition in the state.

Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp, the group of backers for a proposition to legalise sports betting in California, had made several amendments to its ballot initiative in December in a bid to gain increased tribal support, however the efforts ultimately failed.

In response, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) stated the failure should serve as a warning against future attempts to legalise sports betting in the state without tribal involvement.

Jason Giles, Executive director of the indian gaming association, sees operator engagement with the tribes as a positive

Howev..

March 22, 2024

State of the Union: A look back at the week that was in the US

Welcome to iGB's State of the Union, a look at the biggest sports betting stories we've covered over the week and briefs on others we found interesting.

As the world of sports betting continues move at warp speed, we’re doing our best to keep up and keep you in the know.

Cavaliers coach: Gambler threatened me

Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff told reporters on 20 March that a gambler had tracked down his phone number and sent “crazy messages about where I live, my kids and all that stuff”.

As reported by the Associated Press, Bickerstaff went on to say that he had shared the information with stadium security. The gambler was located and escorted out of Rocket Mortgage Field House. The coach did not press charges.

Last summer Ohio’s regulator was given increased powers to deal with bettors who threaten athletes when Governor Mike DeWine included language in his budget that would allow the Ohio Casino Control Commission to issue a lifetime ban to harassers. It was..

November 2024
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30

Tag: tribal sports betting