Indian Gaming Association Lobbies Federal Lawmakers to Protect Sovereign Rights

The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) has convened in Washington, DC, where tribal leaders and stakeholders are meeting with lawmakers in the hopes of convincing them to support a federal bill that would strengthen and protect tribes’ inherent sovereign rights related to gaming.

The IGA says it’s meeting with United States senators and their congressional staffers to urge the elected officials to back the CLARITY Act. Formerly the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or House Resolution 3633, the bill led by Rep. J. French Hill (R-Ark.) seeks to establish a federal regulatory framework for innovative digital assets and commodities.

The regulation would be divided between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The IGA has endorsed proposed amendments to the CLARITY Act that would ban federally regulated prediction markets from offering trading on sports and casino-style event contracts.

Indian Coalition Speaks Up

The IGA says sovereign gaming rights afforded to federally recognized tribes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) are being infringed on by prediction markets. Opponents of Polymarket and the like argue that the platforms regulated as swaps and event-based derivatives are engaged in illegal gambling.

“Our responsibility is to continue showing Congress that prediction markets are not simply financial products. They are gambling that directly threatens tribal governments and the future of Indian gaming. We will continue delivering that message until Congress acts.”

Our responsibility is to continue showing Congress that prediction markets are not simply financial products. They are gambling that directly threatens tribal governments and the future of Indian gaming. We will continue delivering that message until Congress acts.”

IGA Chairman David Bean

The IGA is focused on meeting with Senate lawmakers and staffers, as the CLARITY Act passed the US House of Representatives almost a year ago with a 294-134 roll call vote. The US Senate continues to review the bill.

The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a staunch supporter of the CLARITY Act, has put pressure on the Senate to act.

“In honor of Senator Lindsey Graham, a big supporter, the US Senate should pass the CLARITY Act. China, and many other countries, would like to take complete and total control of this major financial ‘happening,’ as well as AI, where we are now leading, but where they are fighting hard. Don’t let China win on either subject!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Tribal Gaming

IGRA allows federally recognized tribes to conduct Class I and II gaming on their sovereign lands. For Class III gaming, which includes Las Vegas-like slot machines and most house-banked table games, tribes must enter into compacts with their host states.

IGRA provides gaming exclusivity to Native Americans on tribal lands. The IGA argues that online prediction markets offering sports violate those privileges.

“Indian Country is united because this is one of the greatest threats tribal government gaming has faced in a generation,” Bean added. “By relying on the fiction that sports bets are ‘swaps,’ the prediction markets undermine tribal sovereignty, violate the government-to-government agreements tribes have built with their states, and threaten the revenues our tribal nations depend on to fund healthcare, education, housing, public safety, language preservation, and essential government services.”