Maverick Gaming has initiated a legal challenge in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that Washington state misuses the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) to grant tribes exclusive rights to gaming, including sports betting. This claim comes in light of a 2020 law, signed by Governor Jay Inslee, which legalized in-person sports betting at Class III gaming facilities. Following this, nine tribal casinos began offering sports betting in September 2022 after updating their gaming compacts with the state. However, non-tribal venues, including commercial cardrooms, have not been permitted to offer sports betting, a bill to allow this has yet to make it into law. Currently, Washington's cardrooms can operate up to 15 tables for house-banked card games but are barred from sports betting altogether. Of the 44 licensed cardrooms in Washington State, 19 are operated by Maverick.
Maverick is challenging the state's approach with a legal team that includes Theodore Olson, known for successfully arguing the case that repealed the Wire Act in 2018, allowing states to establish regulated sports betting markets. Olson stated, "The IGRA was intended to guarantee parity between tribal and non-tribal gaming, but unfortunately Washington state is misusing IGRA to instead create tribal monopolies on certain types of gaming, such as sports betting." He added that the application of IGRA is preventing competition that exists in other states with legal gambling.
Eric Persson, co-founder and CEO of Maverick, emphasized the company's commitment to tribal equality and sovereign rights, explaining that their litigation stems from a desire for fair application of laws like IGRA. Persson highlighted Maverick's workforce in Washington, which provides economically beneficial jobs, stating, "That access to economic opportunity relies on a fair application of laws such as the IGRA, and I am hopeful that this lawsuit will resolve successfully so that tribal casinos and smaller commercial cardrooms like those owned by Maverick Gaming may offer the same types of legal gaming, such as sports betting."
In response to Maverick's lawsuit, Rebecca George, executive director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA), criticized the move as a "desperate attempt" that could be "dangerous and destructive" for the state. She stated, "Maverick Gaming’s newly announced federal lawsuit is a desperate attempt to overturn federal law, the will of the Washington state legislature, state and federal agency decisions, and the clearly expressed sentiments of the general public in Washington state." George emphasized that the existing compacts have been established over decades and are in compliance with both federal and state laws. She argued that the lawsuit could irreparably harm marginalized tribal communities and the wider public, which generally opposes extensive gambling expansion in their areas. WIGA and Washington state’s tribes intend to review the complaint closely while remaining united against any challenge to IGRA and tribal compacts.
