Two other tribes in Washington have debuted sportsbooks in their casinos, but a lawsuit threatens the state’s tribal gambling status.
Squaxin Tribe’s Little Creek Casino and Suquamish Tribe’s Clearwater Casino now have sportsbooks, becoming the last of 16 tribes that have received approval to add sports betting to their facilities.
Squaxin has partnered with International Game Technology (IGT) for their bookmaker, while Tribe Suquamish has partnered with FanDuel.
“We are thrilled to have partnered with FanDuel, the #1 sportsbook in the United States, and to be their exclusive partner in Washington State,” said Rion Ramirez, CEO of Port Madison Enterprises, the commercial arm of the Suquamish Tribe. .
“The joint effort between the Suquamish Tribal Gaming Commission, the Washington State Gambling Commission, FanDuel and some of our casino employees has made this all possible and we are excited that our sportsbook is now open.”
tribal operators
However, despite the growth of sports betting in the State of Evergreen, tribal operators now face a new threat to their operations. A Las Vegas-based gambling company has filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to overturn tribal gambling pacts.
Rebecca George, Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA), commented, “A privately held gambling company incorporated in Las Vegas is seeking to destroy the safe and proven system of tribal gaming that we have put in place for the past three decades.”
“His federal lawsuit, which seeks to overturn carefully negotiated tribal gambling agreements over three decades between tribes and state leaders, would cause irreparable harm not only to historically marginalized tribal communities but also to the general public.
George claims that this company wants to expand the game “far beyond sports betting” in Washington.
She added, “This is an attempt to force a massive expansion of gambling in Washington State against the will of the public and the bipartisan decisions of lawmakers representing them.”
