The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Is Suing Governor Ducey, And Others, Over The State’s New Sports Betting Law

The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe has filed a lawsuit against Governor Doug Ducey and Arizona Department of Gaming Director Tod Vogt, alleging state lawmakers illegally passed the state’s new sports betting, event wagering bill in April. The tribe filed the lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court last week. The tribe’s attorneys claim the passage of the law violates the state’s Voter Protection Act, as it permits non-tribal gaming operators to gamble outside tribal land. They say it also distorts the purpose of the “Indian Gaming Preservation and Self-Reliance Act,” which authorizes tribes in the state to operate limited forms of gambling in tribal-owned casinos. The Department of Gaming awarded licenses on Friday to ten tribes and eight commercial licenses. Those licenses went to Arizona professional sports teams, NASCAR and the PGA. The Yavapai-Prescott Tribe was not one of the tribes that received a license after not signing the new, revised gambling compact. A hearing has been set for Friday in Phoenix.