The Squaxin Island Tribe’s Little Creek Casino and the Suquamish Tribe’s Clearwater Casino have launched sportsbooks, becoming the latest of 16 tribes who have received approval to add sports betting.
The Squaxin partnered with International Game Technology (IGT) for its sportsbook, while the Suquamish Tribe partnered with FanDuel.
“We are excited to have formed a partnership with FanDuel, America’s #1 sportsbook, and be their exclusive partner in Washington State,” said Rion Ramirez, CEO of Port Madison Enterprises, the business arm of the Suquamish Tribe.
“The joint effort between the Suquamish Tribal Gaming Commission, the Washington State Gambling Commission, FanDuel and a number of our casino employees made this all possible and we are thrilled that our sportsbook is now open.”
However, despite the growth of sports betting in the Evergreen State, tribal operators now face a new threat to their operations. A Las Vegas-based gambling company has filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to overturn tribal gaming compacts.
Rebecca George, Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA), commented: “One private gambling company incorporated in Las Vegas is seeking to destroy the safe and proven system of tribal gaming that we have put in place over the last three decades.
“Their federal lawsuit, which seeks to overturn the tribal gaming compacts carefully negotiated over three decades between tribes and state leaders, would cause irreparable harm, not just to historically marginalised tribal communities but to the general public as well.”
George claims this company wishes to expand gaming “far beyond sports betting” in Washington.
She added: “This is an attempt to force a huge expansion of gambling in Washington State against the will of the public and the bipartisan decisions of the legislators who represent them.”
