Maverick Gaming Appeals District Court Decision to Dismiss Sports Betting Lawsuit in Washington

Maverick Gaming will officially continue its legal challenge to Washington’s sports betting law. Maverick filed a lawsuit in the winter when they alleged that the state of Washington had created a monopoly by only granting sports betting rights to the local Tribes. A Federal Judge dismissed that lawsuit and the company has now filed an opening brief with a Circut Court to appeal the ruling. Maverick is a card room operator looking to expand within the state, but the lack of licenses for non-Tribal entities has made that impossible.

In their lawsuit, Maverick Gaming says the state is incorrectly applying the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The Act is a 1988 federal law that gave states a framework to open up Tribal casinos within their borders. The law has come under fire over the last couple of years, with Washington and Florida dealing with lawsuits challenging the Act’s application.

"I know that our perspective on sports betting is at odds with those who prefer a monopoly for Tribal casinos, but I respect their right to advocate for their members," Maverick CEO Eric Persson said. “Maverick Gaming will one day offer sports betting at its properties in our state, either following a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States or an inclusive policy discussion by the state legislature that is founded in facts.”

Next Steps for the Legal Challenge

Maverick Gaming officially requested the Ninth Circut Court to review the case’s dismissal by a US District Court. They filed an opening brief and now will wait for the court to take up their case. The operator will continue to argue that Washington has misused the 1988 act in hopes of opening up the industry.

Unfortunately for Maverick, this argument played out in a Circut Court just last month. Florida faced a similar challenge to their sports betting law, which put the industry on hold for two years. A Circut Court ruled in favor of Florida, allowing the Tribes to operate all sports betting in the state. The ruling will likely head to the Supreme Court, which could issue a ruling that could forever change the US sports betting landscape. 

It seems clear that if Maverick’s appeal of the ruling fails, they will also attempt to get a ruling from the US Supreme Court.