Tribal Gaming Leaders Declare War on Sweepstakes and DFS

Tribal gaming leaders are stepping up their fight against sweepstakes-style sports betting, casinos, and daily fantasy sports (DFS), seeing them as direct threats to their hard-won exclusive gaming rights.

California Tribes Taking the Lead on DFS

In a podcast hosted by Victor Rocha, chair of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) conference, leaders from the IGA and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) outlined their plan to push for tighter regulation of these industries, which they argue infringe on tribal gaming agreements.

California’s tribes are leading the charge, particularly when it comes to targeting daily fantasy sports. DFS, which brings in about $200 million annually in California alone, is currently under review by Attorney General Rob Bonta to determine whether it’s even legal under state law.

Building Alliances in the Industry

In their fight, tribal leaders are looking to build broader alliances. They are reaching out to commercial gaming operators, industry associations, and the American Gaming Association (AGA) for support in advocating for stronger oversight.

The AGA has shown interest in working with the tribes, particularly in urging regulators to take a closer look at how sweepstakes and DFS operators are running their businesses.

Tribal leaders are calling for stronger state-level enforcement and, if necessary, plan to push for federal oversight through the National Indian Gaming Commission.

The Debate Over Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos, which use a mix of free and paid virtual currency for betting and games, are also a big concern for tribal leaders.

While these operators claim their model reduces financial risk, tribal leaders question why they don’t fully shift to free play, which would avoid stepping into areas covered by tribal gaming agreements.

So far, the Social and Promotional Games Association, which represents sweepstakes operators, has not responded to these concerns.