Escobar and Luttrell Push Tribal Gaming Equality Bill
Representatives Veronica Escobar and Morgan Luttrell introduced the Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act to ensure all eligible tribes fall under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
A Step Toward Tribal Equity
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congressman Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) unveiled the bipartisan Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act.
The bill aims to place all federally recognized tribes eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), streamlining regulations. “Equality for all tribes is long overdue,” Escobar said, citing the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas that affirmed tribal gaming rights.
The legislation targets the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes, ensuring they face the same rules as other tribes.
Building on Past Efforts
The bill follows Escobar’s 2021 Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Act, which passed the House but stalled.
A 2022 Supreme Court decision clarified that these tribes could offer electronic bingo and other games not banned by Texas law. Escobar and Luttrell, joined by 32 colleagues, reintroduced an updated version in 2023. “
This will allow the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe to invest in their community,” Luttrell said. The new act cuts redundant rules from the 1987 Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Restoration Act, aligning them with IGRA.
What’s Next?
The Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act seeks to boost economic growth and job creation for tribes like the Alabama-Coushatta by clarifying their gaming status.
Escobar’s advocacy for tribal sovereignty drives the bill, which amends the Restoration Act to enforce IGRA’s full applicability.
The legislation, referred to a House committee, faces a path through Congress. If passed, it would end overlapping regulations, letting tribes focus on community services and development.
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