WA Sports Betting Case Dismissed Again
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Dec. 16 dismissed Maverick Gaming’s lawsuit challenging the state’s tribal exclusivity for sports betting. The suit was first filed in 2022 and dismissed by the Western Washington District Court last year.
Shoalwater Bay Casino intervened in the case, and argued that the case could not move forward because it violated its tribal sovereignty, and the appeals court upheld the lower court’s ruling.
“The panel affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Maverick Gaming LLC’s action — which alleged that the State of Washington’s tribal-state compacts allowing sports betting on tribal land violate the Indian Regulatory Gaming Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and the Tenth Amendment — because the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is a required party that cannot be joined to the litigation,” the decision read per Legal Sports Report.
Ho-Chunk to Add Another Nebraska Casino
Ho-Chunk, Inc. has plans for another Nebraska casino, KTIV reported Dec. 16, this one in South Sioux City at the Atokad racetrack. The tribe, which is also building casinos in Lincoln and Omaha, plans to break ground on its latest project in the spring of 2025.
Ho-Chunk, Inc. plans to build a $50 million casino on two 40-acre parcels. It will move the racetrack from its current location, and the finished project will include the new track and a casino with table games, slot machines and a sportsbook. The tribe plans to add a hotel in the future, but did not announce a timeline.
Ho-Chunk CEO Lance Morgan told KTIV “it’ll be a modest casino by most standards” and that the tribe is still working on final plans.
Michigan Tribe Appeals to SCOTUS for Help
The Sault St. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians in northern Michigan is taking its case to the Supreme Court. The tribe purchased land near Detroit to build a new casino, but the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) denied the tribe’s request to have the land put into a trust so it would be appropriately designated to build a casino, per PlayMichigan.
At issue from the DOI perspective is that the tribe purchased the land using its “Self-Sufficiency Fund.” Money from that fund can only be used for projects around education, health, culture and charitable pursuits. The tribe argues that the land purchase fits the parameters of using the fund because it plans to dedicate some revenue for basic services, including “vital services for cultural activities, elder meal programs, education programs, day care, and food assistance for low income families.”
The tribe already operates five Kewadin Casinos on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Oregon Gov. Requests Extension for Comments on Coquille Proposal
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotel Dec. 13 penned a letter to the Department of the Interior requesting a 30-day extension of the comment period on the final environmental impact study for the Coquille Tribe’s application to put land in trust in Medford for a future casino.
The current deadline is set to expire Dec. 24. Unlike most tribal casino proposals, the Coquilles are proposing an off-reservation casino, which is controversial among fellow tribes. The Coquilles are based in Coos County, which is about 150 miles from Medford.
“This decision carries significant implications for Oregon’s communities, economic landscape, and broader state interests,” Kotek wrote. “It is critical to ensure that all stakeholders—Tribal Nations, local governments, and residents alike—have sufficient time to thoughtfully consider the FEIS and provide meaningful feedback.”
Choctaws Make Texas Push
Oklahoma’s Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Dec. 11 announced a new partnership with the ATP-Dallas Open. Through the partnership, the tribe will get branding rights inside the venue as well as naming rights in areas like VIP boxes and player entrances, according to a press release.
Sports betting and online gambling are not legal in either Oklahoma or Texas. But the Texas state legislature, which meets only in odd-numbered years, is poised to discuss a gambling expansion and Las Vegas Sands owner Miriam Adelson has poured more than $13 million into a lobbying effort. Adeleson is now the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. The Choctaws already have partnerships with the Mavericks, Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers.
“Partnering with the Dallas Open, the region’s premier tennis event, allows us to further showcase the elevated Choctaw experience,” Heidi Grant, senior executive officer of the Choctaw Nation, said via press release. “We are proud to bring our premium hospitality offering to tennis fans and strengthen our presence in North Texas sports and entertainment.”
Choctaw Resorts & Casinos operates multiple land-based casino resorts in Oklahoma and is the third-largest Indian nation in the U.S. The Dallas Open is set for Feb. 1-9 at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco.
Tribal Leaders Offer Support for Burghum as Inauguration Approaches
As the second Donald Trump administration prepares to take office next month, the gaming industry is starting to forecast how Trump’s new appointees will impact the industry. One such example is how North Dakota Gov. Doug Burghum will work with gaming tribes as the new Secretary of Interior. In a PlayUSA report from Dec. 16, two figures offered their support.
“Gov. Doug Burgum is such a good guy and I’m so grateful for the choice President Trump has made,” Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire said. “He really understands the relationship with tribes, meets with us regularly, and we can call on him anytime. He just really has a good friendship and partnership with all the tribes in North Dakota.”
Ernie Stevens, longtime chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, also gave a good word to Burghum.
“We are happy to work with whomever comes down the pipeline,” Stevens told PlayUSA. “But Gov. Burgum appears to be a bright spot in all of this. I don’t know him personally, but I know he works with tribes. He’s fair, cordial and effectively communicates with tribal governments, and that’s all we can ask for in the work we do.”
