Federal lawsuit challenges ‘tribal monopoly’ on sports betting

Maverick Gaming wants to invalidate compacts allowing tribes, including the Tulalip and Stillaguamish, to offer sports wagering.

TULALIP — The owner of several card rooms in Snohomish County filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday alleging state officials provided tribal casinos an unlawful monopoly on sports betting.

The lawsuit, filed by Maverick Gaming, a national gaming and entertainment company headquartered in Kirkland, seeks to invalidate gaming compact amendments approved last year, which allow the Stillaguamish, Tulalip, Sauk-Suiattle and 14 other Washington tribes to offer sports betting.

The company’s lawyers contend those amendments — signed by Inslee and endorsed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland — violate a federal law intended to bar gaming activity at tribal casinos on Indian lands unless the state permits the same activity by non-tribal entities.

“We support and respect tribal equality and sovereignty,” said Eric Persson, CEO and co-founder of Maverick Gaming. He said the purpose of the lawsuit was to ensure his company’s card rooms enjoy the same opportunities enjoyed by the tribes.

Chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes Teri Gobin said the lawsuit is just “another frivolous attempt” by Maverick to expand gaming throughout Washington. She said though the tribes aren’t a party to the case, they are reviewing it closely.

A 2020 law legalized sports wagering and restricted it to tribal casinos. Maverick pushed unsuccessfully for a different version that would have permitted sports betting in card rooms. The company operates 19 card rooms in the state, including in Everett, Mill Creek and Mountlake Terrace.

Rebecca George, executive director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, said in a statement that the lawsuit has the potential to cause irreparable harm to historically marginalized tribal communities and the broader public.

If successful, she said, the litigation “would severely undermine the well regulated and safe system of limited gaming that has been established in Washington state over three decades of carefully negotiated compacts between the State of Washington and Native American tribes.”

The Stillaguamish Tribe’s Angel of the Winds casino began taking wagers on professional and collegiate sporting events in December — the first tribal casino in the county to offer that mode of legal gaming.

The Tulalip Tribes are gearing up to offer sports betting at both of their casinos through a contract with DraftKings.

For both tribes, gaming revenue supports the sustenance of tribal government operations, as well as social services like health care and education.

“There’s a big difference between the gaming done by the tribes” and non-tribal gaming, Gobin said.

All of the tribes’ net gaming revenue “actually stays in Washington,” she said. And it makes up the “millions and millions of dollars” the Tulalip Tribes give back to local law enforcement, emergency services, hospitals, nonprofits and small businesses.

Sports betting could generate $94 million for tribal casinos across the state, according to a Washington State University study.

The lawsuit centers on the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a landmark measure clearing a path for the operation of casinos on lands of federally recognized tribes across the country.

The act created the framework for governing gaming. It requires states and tribes negotiate compacts that are signed by the governor and sent to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for review and action.

Maverick lawyers argue the act was intended to guarantee parity between tribal and non-tribal gaming. The state’s application creates “tribal monopolies” that insulate tribes from competition that exists in many other states with legal gaming marketplaces, attorney Theodore B. Olson, a partner at Gibson Dunn, said in a company release.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.

Isabella Breda: 425-339-3192; isabella.breda@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @BredaIsabella.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Traffic moves around parts of the roundabout at the new I-5/SR529 interchange on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WSDOT delays opening of Marysville interchange, ramps

Supply chain issues caused the agency to push back opening date. The full interchange and off ramps are expected to open in October.

Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits

A public records request for Flock camera footage has raised questions about what data is exempt under state law.

A Link train passes over a parking lot south of the Lynnwood City Center Station on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Construction to close parking spots at Lynnwood Link station

Fifty-seven parking spots out of the nearly 1,700 on-site will be closed for about two months.

Provided photo 
Michael Olson during his interview with the Stanwood-Camano School District Board of Directors on Sept. 2.
Stanwood-Camano school board fills vacancy left by controversial member

Michael Olson hopes to help bring stability after Betsy Foster resigned in June.

Traffic moves along Bowdoin Way past Yost Park on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A new online tool could aid in local planning to increase tree coverage

The map, created by Washington Department of Natural Resources and conservation nonprofit American Forests, illustrates tree canopy disparities across the state.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish PUD preps for more state home electrification funding

The district’s home electrification rebate program distributed over 14,000 appliances last year with Climate Commitment funds.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Everett in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
One person dead in single-vehicle crash on Wednesday in Everett

One man died in a single-vehicle crash early Wednesday morning… Continue reading

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Everett in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Auditor dismisses challenge against former Everett candidate’s registration

The finding doesn’t affect a judge’s ruling blocking Niko Battle from appearing on the November ballot.

The Seattle Children’s North Clinic at 1815 13th St. in Everett, near Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in 2018. (Seattle Children’s)
Seattle Children’s layoffs include Everett employees amid federal cuts

The company will lay off 154 employees this fall across five locations. It’s unclear how many positions in Everett will be eliminated.

Everett NewsGuild members cheer as a passing car honks in support of their strike on Monday, June 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Unionized Herald staff ratify first contract with company

The ratification brings an end to two years of negotations between the newspaper and the union.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
AG sues owner of bikini barista stands in Snohomish County

Lawsuit alleges Jonathan Tagle subjected workers to sexual harassment, retaliation and wage theft.

The Everett City Council listens as Casino Road residents share their concerns about possible displacement and rent increases on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett presents options to close 2026 budget gap

The city could use one-time COVID relief funds as a significant balancing measure to prevent a $7.9 million general fund deficit.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.