The Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) is responding to a U.S. Appeals Court ruling over the validity of gaming compacts in the Evergreen State.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has upheld a lower court ruling concerning card room operator Maverick Gaming’s lawsuit over gaming compacts.
Earlier this week, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit unanimously upheld a lower court ruling dismissing a lawsuit brought on by Maverick challenging the validity of gaming compacts between tribes and Washington. Maverick sought to end the exclusivity of tribal casinos in Washington offering sports betting and other forms of gaming at retail casinos.
“Washington tribes are sovereign nations,” said WIGA Executive Director Rebecca George. “The gaming compacts are carefully negotiated, government to government agreements that are fully valid and legally binding. The Washington State legislature’s bipartisan supermajority decision to limit sports betting to the premises of tribal casinos is not only legally sound, it also strikes exactly the right balance, allowing responsible adults to participate in safe and well-regulated gaming activities while minimizing the negative social consequences that can sometimes result from gambling.”
Maverick challenged the Showalter Bay Tribe and Washington’s tribal exclusivity for Class III sports betting and casino gaming. A lower court dismissed the case without prejudice leading to an appeal filed by Maverick in the Ninth Circuit. The lower court dismissed Maverick’s case due to the Showalter Bay Tribe having tribal immunity.
In its appeal, Maverick failed to include tribes as parties. As a result, any court decision made on the issue would be made without the participation of tribes in the lawsuit.
SBC Americas reached out to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) for comment on the matter. The NIGC does not comment on active or pending litigation.
“While this was an important step, we expect the fight to continue,” added George. “We anticipate Maverick will continue to revive its lawsuit. We are nevertheless fully committed to opposing Maverick’s efforts to undermine IGRA and tribal sovereignty. We are confident that we will continue to prevail against Maverick’s meritless lawsuit going forward.”
