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For Tribes, Online Gambling May Soon Be A Safe Bet - Attorney Blair for Law360
August 2023
By: Blair W. Will
Law360
For Tribes, Online Gambling May Soon Be A Safe Bet
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has proposed changes to Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 293 — regulations that govern the scope of tribal-state compacts and BIA review of such compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The proposed changes to the Part 293 rules would allow tribes to expand gambling operations to include remote wagering, internet gaming and online sports betting.
The BIA states that the rule changes were prompted by the significant growth of tribal gaming in the years since IGRA was enacted, noting that tribal gaming revenue has increased from $121 million in 1988 to $53 billion in 2021. Future revenue growth in the industry will be derived from expansion into internet gaming, and the tribes want the ability to participate in that space.
On the other side of the debate, operators of commercial casinos oppose the rule changes, as do some state and local officials who are concerned about having less input on tribal gaming operations. Public comment has now closed, and both sides are waiting to see if the BIA goes ahead with the proposed rule changes. READ MORE
