The Cayuga Nation has filed a federal lawsuit against Caesars Sportsbook, alleging the company illegally accepted mobile sports wagers from people located within the Nation’s reservation without authorization from tribal authorities.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, seeks damages and a court order declaring Caesars’ mobile gaming operations on Nation lands unauthorized. The Nation alleges Caesars offered mobile gaming and sports betting services within reservation boundaries without tribal licensing, authorization or a federally approved gaming compact.
According to the complaint, the Nation maintains exclusive regulatory authority over gaming activities on its lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Nation officials contend Caesars violated both federal law and Cayuga law by allowing betting activity to occur on reservation territory without approval.
Clint Halftown, the Nation’s federally recognized representative and a member of its governing council, said the lawsuit is intended to protect tribal sovereignty and regulatory authority over gaming activities conducted on reservation lands.
The Nation also seeks an accounting of revenue allegedly generated from wagers placed within reservation boundaries. In addition, the lawsuit includes claims under the Lanham Act, alleging Caesars represented that its sportsbook was lawfully available throughout New York without disclosing restrictions that may apply to gaming conducted on Indian lands.
Nation officials said the lawsuit follows previous efforts to address mobile gaming activity within reservation boundaries. According to the release, other mobile sportsbook operators ceased similar operations after challenges from the Nation, which has vowed to continue pursuing legal action against companies it believes are operating in violation of federal and tribal law.
The lawsuit seeks both monetary damages and a declaration from the court regarding the legality of Caesars’ operations within the Cayuga Nation reservation.
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