The National Indian Gaming Association, tribal leaders, and gaming representatives came together to conduct the “Preparing for Sports Betting: Tribal Gaming Consideration after Murphy v. NCAA,” panel at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Mid-Year Conference at the Marriott in Kansas City, Missouri last week. The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down a law that made sports betting illegal in most states. This decision has implications for tribes and states as they consider authorizing sports betting in their jurisdictions.  This session, moderated by Debbie Thundercloud, Chief of Staff at NIGA provided tribal leaders the opportunity to hear about what to…

Mississippi is about to get a taste of sports betting action, thanks to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which hopes to roll out the product in the near future. The Clarion Ledger reported that the Choctaw Tribal Council approved betting at the Silver Star Hotel and Casino, Golden Moon Hotel and Casino, and Bok Homa Casino on May 31. The Choctaws may go down in U.S. history as the first Native American Tribe to offer sports betting should things go as planned, according to the tribe’s officials. Unlike in other states, the Choctaws don’t need the approval of the…

California sports betting is currently illegal, but that all might change within the next two years. Political consultant Russell Lowery has just filed a motion to put sports betting to a public vote, requesting that the state’s attorney general allow Californians the ability to decide whether or not they would like this to be a part of their sporting experience. This initiative would be part of the 2020 ballot, dubbed the Gaming Fairness and Accountability Act. If passed, it would grant gaming firms and sports authorities the right to take bets on different sporting events, with state legislature allowed to…

With Assembly Member Gary Pretlow’s latest sports betting bill referred to the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee in the New York State last week, lawmakers are up against a short clock to make sports betting legal in New York. The legislature adjourns June 20, leaving seven business days to make NY sports betting legal before having to wait until 2019. Pretlow (D-District 89) officially introduced his bill, A11144, last Friday and as yet, no formal action has taken place in the Racing and Wagering Committee, of which he is the chairman. According to Pretlow’s office, the bill does not yet…

Canada sports betting will follow in the footsteps of its neighbor the US and legalize wagering on sporting events within the next two years. That was the bold prediction made in the Toronto Sun by Harley Redlick, who believes that Canada will need to make such a move in order to safeguard casino jobs and the economy and prevent money from leaking over the border to American gaming locations. Emphasizing the possible financial gulf that could open up between the two countries due to the nature of Canada sports betting laws, he commented: “Even though we are the more liberal…

New Jersey sports betting moved one step closer to reality recently. The State Legislature voted to legalize sports betting, paving the way for casinos and racetracks to take wages and providing the state with a new source of revenue. It is likely a matter of days now before cash can start changing hands at casinos in Atlantic City and at Monmouth Park Racetrack near the Jersey Shore and perhaps take advantage of the global interest in the World Cup, which begins next week, or the National Basketball Association finals. The last remaining hurdle is the signature of Gov. Philip D….