Maverick Gaming has filed a legal challenge to the tribal exclusivity of sports gaming in Washington state has been moved by a federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to the Western District of Washington.
Maverick Gaming, based in Washington, alleges that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) has been misapplied in giving the state’s gaming tribes exclusivity on some forms of gaming—and not allowing commercial casinos, of which Maverick owns 19 of Washington state’s 44 licensed cardrooms.
The Washington Indian Gaming Association, which represents most of the 29 gaming tribes in the state, issued this statement from Executive Director Rebecca George, applauding the move to a Western District court: “Maverick Gaming’s lawsuit seeks to invalidate all tribal gaming compacts in Washington state and undermine the carefully crafted, limited and successful system of gaming we have developed here over three decades. Their plans would cause irreparable harm locally, not just to historically marginalized Tribal communities but also to the general public.”
Twenty-nine tribes has Class III gaming compacts and 22 tribes operate 29 casinos. Seventeen tribes have been approved to offer sports betting since the legislature approved sports betting in March 2020. The Snoqualmie Tribe opened the state’s first sportsbook last September.
Maverick CEO Eric Persson disagrees. He issued this statement: “While we disagree with today’s decision by a D.C. District Court Judge to relocate our litigation to the Western District of Washington, we have always believed that the final decision on this issue will most likely be settled by the United States Supreme Court. We look forward to continuing our litigation in the Western District of Washington and believe that the defendants’ decision to pursue a different venue instead of confronting the merits of our litigation only underscores the strength of our position.”
Persson said an “inclusive and regulated marketplace” would generate more tax revenue for public services, create jobs and reduce black market sports betting. His 19 small casinos employee about 2,000.
Persson argues that Washington is misinterpreting the intent of IGRA. His attorney, Theodore Olson, added, “Contrary to the act’s own words, the law is being used to insulate tribes in Washington State from competition that exists in many other states with legal gaming marketplaces.”
