The Court’s ruling on Wednesday determined that two Native American tribes of the Lone Star State, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta, may continue to self-regulate non-prohibited games on their tribal lands.
Essentially, Texas cannot impose regulations on either tribe regarding certain games, including electronic bingo.
The Lone Star State is among the strictest when it comes to gambling, though bingo is permitted. Consequently, the tribes argued they were in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), though Texas disagreed.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court favoured the tribes’ position, a decision that was welcomed by AGS, whose CEO, David Lopez, heralded the ruling as a victory for tribal sovereignty.
“After an extremely long process in the judicial system, I would like to congratulate our Native American business partners and friends on their well-deserved win,” remarked Lopez.
“This ruling makes it possible for these sovereign tribes to gain economic freedom and confirms their rights as federally recognised tribes.”
AGS manufactures and develops various products, primarily for land-based operators. This includes tribal operators.
Lopez continued: “AGS stands by our tribal operator partners as they look to exercise their rights and wish them success in current and future ventures as sovereign tribes in the State of Texas.
“We are proud to support all our Native American partners throughout the country, and, in particular, these tribes that have fought so hard and so long in pursuit of their economic freedom.”
