Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against WA Tribal Sports Betting Compacts

A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit initiated by Maverick in January 2022, which aimed to contest the tribal sports betting compacts in Washington. This outcome effectively halts Maverick’s efforts to introduce sports betting in local cardrooms, leaving the proposal inactive for the time being. The lawsuit challenged tribes' exclusive rights to provide certain gaming types, particularly sports betting, within non-tribal commercial gaming settings. Tribal interests in Washington have framed the lawsuit as a direct challenge to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), the federal law enacted in 1988 that underpins tribal gaming rights. This legal battle traces back to March 2020, when Governor Jay Inslee enacted House Bill 2638, which legalized in-person sports betting at Class III gaming facilities throughout the state.