On Wednesday June 15, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision allowing Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, located near El Paso, Texas, to offer electronic bingo at its gaming facility.
“In this case, Texas contends that Congress expressly ordained that all of its gaming laws should be treated as surrogate federal law enforceable on the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Reservation,” wrote Justice Gorsuch in today’s opinion. “In the end, however, we find no evidence Congress endowed state law with anything like the power Texas claims.”
“Under that law’s terms, if a gaming activity is prohibited by Texas law it is also prohibited on tribal land as a matter of federal law. Other gaming activities are subject to tribal regulation and must conform with the terms and conditions set forth in federal law, including IGRA to the extent it is applicable,” the opinion reads.
John Tashuda, Kiowa, described the decision as a big win for Indian Country and a solid case to have on the books.
Sources:
KickingWoman, K. (2022, June 16). Supreme Court hands down another tribal sovereignty win. Indian Country Today. https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/supreme-court-hands-down-another-tribal-sovereignty-win
Thompson, D. (2022, June 15). Texas Supreme Court Rules State Can’t Regulate E-Bingo on Reservations, Win for Tribes. Currents. https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/texas-supreme-court-rules-state-can-t-regulate-e-bingo-on-reservations-win-for-tribes
