In a groundbreaking legal battle, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado over the rights to operate sports betting within its borders. The lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of Colorado, alleges that the state violated the tribe’s sovereign rights by excluding them from participating in the lucrative sports betting market.
The dispute centers around Amendment 77, a ballot measure that was passed in November 2020, which allowed voters in three Colorado towns – Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek – to decide whether to increase betting limits and expand gaming options. The towns each have their own casinos and are known as the “mountain towns” in Colorado.
However, the Southern Ute Tribe argues that the amendment unfairly excludes them from participating in the sports betting market, despite the fact that they operate two successful casinos – the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio and the Ute Mountain Casino Resort in Towaoc.
In a statement released by the tribe, Chairman Christine Sage expressed frustration over the state’s exclusionary policies, stating that “the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has a long history of responsible gaming operations and should be allowed to participate in the sports betting market on an equal footing with other gaming operators in Colorado.”
The lawsuit seeks to overturn Amendment 77 and allow the tribe to offer sports betting at their casinos, citing the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which requires states to negotiate gaming compacts with tribes in good faith. The tribe argues that the state’s failure to include them in the negotiations over Amendment 77 is a violation of their sovereign rights.
The outcome of the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry in Colorado and beyond. If the Southern Ute Tribe is successful in their legal challenge, it could open the door for other tribes in the state to seek similar rights to operate sports betting.
The Colorado Department of Revenue, which oversees gaming regulations in the state, has not yet commented on the lawsuit. However, legal experts say that the case will likely be closely watched by the gaming industry and could set a precedent for future disputes between tribes and states over gaming rights.
As the legal battle unfolds, the Southern Ute Tribe remains determined to fight for their rights to participate in the lucrative sports betting market. Chairman Sage stated that “the tribe will not stand idly by while our sovereign rights are trampled upon” and that they are prepared to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Overall, the lawsuit highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between tribes and states over gaming rights, and could have significant implications for the future of the gaming industry in Colorado and beyond.
