
The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe‘s prosecutors sued Gov. Ted Vogt, director of the Arizona Department of Gaming, and Doug Ducey.
The community alleged that lawmakers had unlawfully passed legislation in April that permitted state-regulated bet and filed the lawsuit on Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court.
A movement for a temporary restraining order and an initial order of the new rules are included in the case documents. Additionally, a verified issue for asserting and injunctive relief was submitted by attorneys. The lawsuit was put a stop to the state’s legalization of sports gambling if it is approved by the judge.
Yavapai – Prescott claims that elected leaders broke the state’s law.
As first reported by KOLD News 13, the tribe’s attorneys argue the passage of the law violates the state’s Voter Protection Act, as it permits non-tribal gaming operators to offer gaming off tribal land.
Furthermore, the tribe claims the new law distorts the purpose of the Indian Gaming Preservation and Self-Reliance Act. That measure, passed in 2002, authorizes tribes to operate Class III gambling in Arizona tribal casinos.
Voters also rejected the Fair Gaming Act, a measure that would have allowed non-tribal game users to input the state, in 2002.
The tribe feels that the new legislation violates the state’s ban on specific laws by giving particular groups or people unique benefits. In addition to all of this, the lawsuit claims that the law & rsquo’s passage as an emergency measure, which permitted it to take effect right away and nbsp, was also unconstitutional.
Plaintiffs request a temporary restraining order as well as an initial( and ultimately final ) lawsuit against game that is permitted by the new rules. All efforts to make sports betting legal in Arizona may be undone if the lawsuit is effective.
What activities betting might entail for tribes in Arizona
Arizona’s sports betting legislation carved out 10 licenses for professional sports teams and venues as well as another 10 for tribes, allowing each licensee to open retail sportsbooks and AZ mobile betting apps.
The problem, however, is the state features more tribes than licenses carved out for that sect. And most were apparently interested in legal betting. The Arizona Department of Gaming received more applications than available licenses. As a result, some tribes will not offer online wagering. However, the ADG confirmed to PlayInAZ that all tribal casinos can have retail sports betting.
There are 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona, but just 16 run games. Yavapai Casino and Bucky & rsquo, s Casino are the two casinos operated in Prescott.