Last Friday, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed new gambling agreements, otherwise known as compacts, with the five American Indian tribes in the state. They will go into effect at the beginning of 2023 and will last for 10 years.
There were some significant changes in the compacts, including lowering the legal gambling age from 21 to 19. There is also a provision that allows gamblers to use credit and debit cards to place bets.
One item that the tribes lobbied for, that the governor rejected, was the tribes desire to host internet gambling and sports betting off the reservation. Burgum said it wasn’t allowed under state law, adding, “a clear legal path does not exist for the governor to grant such a broad expansion of gaming.”
The compacts now go to the US Department of the Interior (DOI) for final approval. The DOI has 45 days to approve or reject the deals. If they take no action in that time frame they automatically go into effect.
Bergum put out a statement praising the results from the months of negotiating between the two sides.
“We are deeply grateful to the tribal chairs and their representatives for their collaboration throughout these many months of negotiations, and we look forward to continuing the mutually beneficial gaming partnership between the state and the sovereign tribal nations with whom we share geography,” Burgum’s statement said.
The one issue that is likely to not go away is the tribe’s insistence to exclusive gambling rights. They contend that lottery style pull tabs have hurt their revenue. In fiscal 2022, North Dakota residents spent approximately $1.75 billion on 4,400 machines.
The machines can be found at several sites, such as gas stations, convenience stores, and super markets.
Lawmakers have hinted that the issue will be discussed when they convene in January.
