Maverick Gaming Continues Legal Challenge Against Tribal Sports Betting Monopoly in Washington

Maverick Gaming, a cardroom operator, has submitted an opening brief in the United States Court of Appeals in response to what it sees as a tribal sports betting monopoly in the state of Washington. The appeal comes after a federal judge dismissed Maverick Gaming’s petition earlier this year, signaling an important step forward in the operator’s willingness to challenge Washington’s tribal sports betting compacts and the exclusive rights accorded to tribes. The complaint claims that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) has been improperly enforced in the state, preventing commercial cardrooms from offering sports betting.

Maverick Gaming filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia in January 2022, claiming that the IGRA was being misapplied in Washington. According to the lawsuit, the state’s tribal compacts, which allow tribes exclusive rights to offer sports betting on their properties, created an unfair monopoly. While tribes were granted the authority to provide sports betting in March 2020 under House Bill 2638, commercial cardrooms were excluded, prompting Maverick Gaming to file a legal challenge.

Maverick Gaming has filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal court dismissed the case in February 2023. Theodore B. Olsen, the lead attorney representing Maverick Gaming, expressed dissatisfaction with the district court’s judgement and stated that the case would be forcefully litigated. The appeal seeks to overturn the court’s decision and preserve the right to judicial review of Tribal-State compacts approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

Maverick Gaming CEO Eric Persson remains dedicated to enabling sports betting at the company’s sites, whether through a Supreme Court ruling or a policy debate in the state government. He acknowledges the many opinions on sports betting, but emphasizes the significance of an inclusive approach based on facts. Persson acknowledges tribal casinos’ right to advocate for their members while stressing Maverick Gaming’s determination to provide sports betting services in the future.

Maverick Gaming’s legal action, according to Rebecca George, executive director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, is a direct attack on tribal compacts and tribal sovereignty. She emphasized the importance of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act-authorized Tribal-State Gaming Compacts in promoting tribal self-reliance and community development. George praised the lower court’s decision to dismiss the complaint, calling it a reaffirmation of long-standing tribal sovereignty values. The tribes of Washington State are unified in their opposition to Maverick Gaming’s efforts to undermine their sovereignty and the longstanding compacts.