California Tribes Just Want Their Day in Court
California’s tribes say a bill they are backing in the state legislature would give them a right that is already legally theirs. But the state’s cardrooms are arguing that if SB 549 passes, they’ll have to lay employees off and leave some California cities in financial peril, reports iGB.
SB 549 would allow California tribes a one-time opportunity to bring one lawsuit against the cardrooms. The bill, backed by tribes in areas with cardroom competition, passed second reading in the state House Aug. 20. A prior version passed the Senate in May 2023, but has since been amended. A House-passed version would have to go back to the Senate. The general assembly is set to adjourn Saturday, leaving four days for the bill to pass both chambers.
Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians attorney general Tuari Bigknife said the bill would serve to solidify rights granted to tribes by the state. Indian Country has tried to secure those rights for more than a decade through the attorney general’s office and the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC), but the issue has consistently been dropped.
There have been, Bigknife said on the “New Normal” webinar Aug. 28, meetings, recommendations, and hearings, but no action.
“We have been kicked out of court with the crazy idea that tribes have these rights, but do not have the ability to go to court to defend these rights,” he said.
Koi Nation to Newsom: You Don’t Get It
The Koi Nation in Sonoma County in Northern California late last week told Gov. Gavin Newsom that he has a “fundamental misunderstanding” of federal law after he wrote to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in opposition to the tribe’s plan to build a casino, according to CBS News.
Newsom encouraged the DOI to reject proposals from the Koi Nation and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians in Solano County to build casinos outside of their reservations.
The Koi Nation does not have a reservation, but is arguing it should be able to build a casino on “restored lands.” The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria oppose both casinos. The tribe owns the Graton Resort & Casino in Sonoma County.
DraftKings Sportsbook Now Open in Wisconsin
DraftKings secured market access in Wisconsin through a deal with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, and opened a retail casino Aug. 28. Through compacts with the state, Wisconsin tribes can offer in-person betting at their tribal casinos. The Lac du Flambeau are the third tribe to compact for wagering. There are 11 tribes in the state, and all are expected to add sports betting to their compacts as they come up for renegotiation.
The Oneida Nation was the first to compact for wagering, and opened its casino sportsbook in November 2021. DraftKings now offers some sort of legal wagering in 28 states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario, Canada.
FanDuel Has a New Partnership in Indian Country
The biggest U.S. sports betting operator by market share last week partnered with Advancing Indigenous People in STEM (AISES). Through the partnership, FanDuel will help to “promote Indian Country development” in the STEM fields, particularly as they relate to gaming. The partnership targets the Resources for Indigenous STEM Education (RISE) program, which provides travel and financial support for students and professionals to go to industry events. The program will also offer mentorship opportunities to those interested in pursuing careers in gaming.
FanDuel over the last year has made a directed effort to bridge the gap between commercial gaming and Indian Country. Company president Christian Genetski last spring spoke at the Western Indian Gaming Conference and essentially apologized to California’s tribes for a disconnect during the 2022 election cycle. The company has also built a department aimed at liaising with tribal nations.
In other news …
The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) Aug. 28 announced plans for a multi-million dollar renovation of its Northern Lights Casino. The expansion will include increasing space on the casino floor and other changes both inside and outside of the casino.
Arkansas’ Cherokee Nation is asking the state supreme court to pull back a ballot initiative that would revoke a casino license in Pope County. The Cherokee Nation in June was awarded that license, but the rival Choctaw Nation oppose a casino there. The Choctaws own casinos in nearby eastern Oklahoma.
