- H.R. 5502 would remove federal barriers for tribal casino owners to provide online sports betting within their state.
- Tribal casinos in several states such as New York and Mississippi now offer land-based sportsbooks, but not online sports betting apps.
- The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) is not interpreted to allow tribal casino owners to offer online or mobile sports wagering apps.
WASHINGTON – Native American tribes have played a huge role in expanding the number of legal land-based sportsbooks in the U.S. With H.R. 5502 having been introduced in the United States Congress last week, they may soon play a role in expanding the number of online sportsbooks as well.
The bill’s title, as introduced, reads “To remove Federal barriers regarding the offering of mobile sports wagers on Indian Lands when the applicable State and Indian Tribe have reached an agreement, and for other purposes.”
New York Rep. Anthony Brindisi is the chief sponsor of the bill. His district includes areas in which the Oneida Nation operates tribal-owned casino sportsbooks, which may explain why the bill was introduced.
The Oneida Nation, along with many other tribes in the U.S., currently operates land-based sportsbooks and not online sports betting apps. This is due to how the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) is written.
If H.R. 5502 is passed in Congress, those tribes may be able to offer mobile sportsbooks on the premise that their servers are located inside their casinos, which sit on sovereign lands.
Tribal Owned Sportsbooks Across The U.S.
Tribes in New York, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oregon have begun to reap the benefits of opening a legal brick-and-mortar sportsbook at their gambling venues.
North Carolina previously passed a bill that will allow the state’s Cherokee owned casinos to offer sports wagering inside their facilities. However, none of these states allow those casinos to partner with an online sports betting operator.
Last week, Michigan became the first state to expressly legalize online sportsbooks to be operated by its tribal casinos.
Other states such as California, Florida, and Oklahoma all have casino industries that are dominated by the tribal compacts set in their state. H.R. 5502 could help bolster their casino offerings and in turn generate more tax revenue for those states.
Advertising Disclosure
In order to provide you with the best independent sports betting news and content LegalSportsBetting.com may receive a commission from partners when you make a purchase through a link on our site.
News tags: Brian Higgins | California | H.R. 5502 | John Katko | Mississippi | New York | North Carolina | Oneida Nation | Paul Gosar
– In his career, Hasan has worked both local and state government positions—including the Attorney General’s Office in Florida. On top of being familiar with the legislative process, he has also been researching and writing on the legality of sports betting across the US. Outside of work you’ll most likely find him producing or playing music, playing sports, or working on creative writing projects. You’ll also catch him at Doak Campbell Stadium cheering on the Noles.
College Football Betting
Best Online Sports Betting
Best Legal NFL Betting
States With Legal Sports Betting
Sports Betting Events
