The new gambling deal has been announced by Gov. Doug Burgum, who is a Republican and also serves as the chairperson of the five tribal nations of North Dakota.
Tribal gambling is regulated by the federal government, whereas commercial casino gambling is under the control of states.
The tribal gambling contracts in North Dakota are scheduled to end in the beginning of next year, which means that new agreements need to be negotiated. After the negotiation process, the Department of the Interior has a 45-day period to either approve or disregard these new contracts. If the department chooses to ignore them, the contracts automatically come into effect.
Burgum expressed his profound gratitude to the tribal chairs and their representatives for their unwavering collaboration during the extensive negotiations. He eagerly anticipates the continuation of the mutually advantageous gaming partnership between the state and the sovereign tribal nations that share the same geographical area.
Up to now, the revisions have involved the removal of duplicated regulations, addressing definition concerns, and notably, permitting online Class III casino-style gaming and online sports betting, including mobile gaming, exclusively within the reservations’ physical limits.
According to the American Gaming Association, around $100 billion is expected to be legally wagered by Americans this year, as sports betting is legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
The AGA reports that approximately $63.8 billion is bet by Americans annually on sports through unregulated avenues, such as local bookmakers.
According to the AGA, North Dakota houses more than 11 tribal casinos, which collectively generate approximately $250 million in annual gambling winnings. Notably, the state does not have any commercial casinos.
