California Sues Tribe Over Online GamblingState Wants Court To Shut Down Operations Of Tribal Group |
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The state of California hasn’t passed a bill authorizing online gaming within its borders and thus is suing a tribe for venturing into the online betting space on its own.
The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel was planning on launching real-money poker in August, but so far it has only debuted bingo on its online betting platform. California believes the tribe is violating state and federal law, as well as the 2003 compact between the two parties. The state has asked a federal judge for a temporary restraining order to shut down the web bingo.
If the tribe doesn’t comply, California is threatening to terminate the gaming compact.
The tribe filed a motion on Tuesday disagreeing completely with the state’s claims. California’s complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California a week prior. The court documents are provided below.
The state has issue with the fact that the bingo is offered to people across California, not just to those physically within the tribal land. “This constitutes an imminent threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of the state’s residents, and a threat to good order,” attorneys for the state allege.
However, the tribe countered: “The state’s claims against the tribe are barred by the tribal sovereign immunity doctrine and are subject to dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.”
It added that California “once again seeks to undermine tribal sovereignty, innovation and economic initiative by seeking injunctive and declaratory relief from the court declaring that the tribe may not conduct its legal [Indian Gaming Regulatory Act] Class II bingo gaming.”
The tribe also thinks the state’s claims that it will be harmed by the online bingo are ridiculous. “It is the tribe who will suffer irreparable injury if it is forced to cease its legal IGRA Class II bingo gaming,” the 24-page response to the complaint said.
California legislators are pursing a poker-only bill that would prevent other casino games from being available to tribes and card rooms and their respective tech partners.
California vs Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
TRO in CA vs Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
Response to Motion in CA vs Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
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