Update on North Dakota
Some news to report on North Dakota and our comment letter. Today, the Governor announced that they would not pursue a compact that included exclusive online gaming rights for the state’s tribes. The compact will allow for tribes to participate in mobile wagering (sports and casino) in the future if state and/or federal law permits it.
Our comment letter, which was submitted on Monday, helped provide clear guidance on the legal risks of the proposed approach and encouraged the Governor to support a legislative solution, rather than attempt to legalize online gaming through a negotiated compact. Ultimately, the governor sided with our position and today released the parameters of the new compact. You can read the Gov’s compact announcement here and a here is a news story where the Governor says that a “clear legal path does not exist” for exclusive tribal online gaming via a compact.
To be clear, iDEA will always support iGaming/mobile sports expansion in states. However, based on the proposed approach in North Dakota, we knew it would be mired in legal battles, thereby delaying the opportunity indefinitely. Now, we can work with the legislature, as we have in MI, AZ and CT to find a way for tribes (and others) to offer online gaming in the state.