For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Mark Gaston
(202) 632-7003
NIGC Statement on the Supreme Court ruling on –
Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association
As questions arise from the Supreme Court ruling on - Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association the NIGC is issuing the following statement.
Gaming by tribal nations as a means of generating governmental revenue initially began as an exercise of the inherent authority tribal nations have over their lands and predated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. While IGRA set forth a statutory framework for the regulation of Indian gaming, it explicitly recognized that a principal goal of federal policy is to promote tribal economic development, tribal self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government.
In the nearly 30 years since IGRA was passed, the Indian gaming industry has grown, matured, and evolved in ways that almost no one could have predicted at the time. And while that growth is due primarily to the ingenuity and hard work of the tribal communities that built the industry, it has occurred in the context of a piece of legislation that was enacted with core tribal self-determination goals in mind. The NIGC takes seriously its role to regulate the Indian gaming industry to ensure these goals are achieved.
The NIGC understands the unique and often complex nature of tribal gaming and the difficult questions it sometimes poses related to issues such as jurisdiction and permissible gaming. Moreover, we have worked with gaming tribes on a daily basis and have developed a deep knowledge of the industry. Should new opportunities be made available through legislative changes, we are prepared to continue to fulfill our statutory responsibilities to regulate gaming on Indian lands.
As Federal regulators, we have learned first-hand that there is tangible benefit to having tribes, as primary regulators, driving decisions as to how gaming will operate on their own lands. As Federal and State Governments consider how to address sports betting in light of yesterday’s decision, we anticipate that Tribes will be given a seat at the table to voice their positions, bring their perspectives and collective expertise, and maintain regulatory and operational control over all the gaming that occurs on their lands.
Download the PDF here.
