Global_Gaming_Business,_February_2019

“If the state law is such that tribes are not going to be able to take wagers

from off tribal lands, what’s the point of having any expanded gaming at all,

sports or otherwise?” Gemignani asks.

Roadblocks to Tribal Sports Betting

Legislatures in Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Mississippi, Penn-

sylvania and Rhode Island already have legalized sports betting. Other states—

including Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia—will consider

sports betting bills early this year.

Sports betting legislation in several states with significant tribal markets is

expected to be approved through legislation or ballot initiatives, including New

York, New Mexico, Connecticut, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota and

Arizona.

But much of the tribal casino industry will not be participants in sports bet-

ting, at least not for a few years.

In California, 63 licensed casinos generate more than $9 billion a year,

roughly 30 percent of the tribal revenues nationwide. But politically powerful

tribal casinos, card rooms and racetracks have struggled for a decade over com-

petition issues in efforts to legalize online poker.

Sports betting in the Golden State would require a voter-approved consti-

tutional amendment. A draft ballot initiative would grant licenses to tribal

casinos, card rooms and racetracks. It would also allow banked table games in

the card rooms, encroaching on tribal exclusivity.

“California voters have, on numerous occasions, confirmed the exclusive

right of California tribal governments to operate casino-style games,” says

Steve Stallings, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Associa-

tion. “Legalization of sports betting should not become a back-door way to in-

fringe upon that exclusivity.”

Eleven Minnesota casinos tribes oppose any expansion of legal gambling

in the state, including sports betting. The largest of 11 Wisconsin tribes oper-

ating about 25 casinos have also expressed an unwillingness to renegotiate

tribal-state compacts.

A dozen Michigan Indian tribes agreed to carefully craft online wagering

legislation for commercial and Indian casinos in the state. But the bill was ve-

toed by the governor.

Several of the 14 pueblos and tribes in New Mexico have stated they de-

fine compacts as including sports betting, a decision not opposed by the state

attorney general. Santa Ana has launched a sports betting operation.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

NETWORK. ENGAGE. COLLABORATE.

Please join us for two full days of interactive, high-level discussions

centered on the challenges North American Regulators face in the

wake of an ever-changing gaming industry.

March 6-7, 2019 • Luxor Las Vegas

Secure your early-bird discounted room rate by Feb. 11, 2019

You may also look forward to:

• Cutting-edge innovation room
  
  
  • Networking opportunities
  
  
  
  


• Intimate breakout sessions

gaminglabs.com/roundtable2019

“Each tribe has a different take on

sports betting, or at least a slightly

different spin.”

—Nevada gaming attorney Greg Gemignani

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