At this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, regulators and tribal gaming leaders discussed how federal oversight should evolve as more tribes explore online gaming opportunities.
The panel, featuring current and former officials from the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), highlighted the growing complexity of digital wagering operations that extend beyond tribal lands. Speakers agreed that clearer rules and stronger coordination between tribes, states, and federal agencies will be essential to ensure fairness, compliance, and economic opportunity in the expanding iGaming market.
Panel members included the following:
Below is a breakdown of the issues that were discussed:
Hoenig, former NIGC general counsel, emphasized that under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), the NIGC maintains full authority over gaming operations conducted on tribal lands. However, he noted that when any part of an operation, such as servers or payment systems, extends beyond those boundaries, the Commission’s authority becomes less clear and more complex to enforce.
This highlights a need to clarify federal oversight and jurisdictional boundaries as iGaming expands across state and tribal lines.
Panelists agreed that even for Class II gaming, all management agreements must be approved by the NIGC. Class II gaming is a legal category of gambling defined under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which includes bingo or card games.
Operators are also required to adhere to strict internal control systems and technical standards to ensure the integrity and security of online play. This includes responsible gaming tools and SSL encryption for security.
Murray, a former attorney with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, pointed out ongoing uncertainty surrounding statewide mobile gaming agreements, particularly those that may not qualify as formal management contracts.
She raised a key question: if gaming servers are located off tribal lands but service players on tribal territory, which jurisdiction’s laws apply? Murray called for clearer guidance to avoid conflicting interpretations regarding player location.
Panelists also discussed recent updates from the U.S. Department of the Interior that modernize compacting regulations. These revisions are designed to help tribes and states navigate jurisdictional challenges when gaming operations extend beyond tribal lands, potentially offering greater flexibility in structuring cooperative agreements.
Overall, the main talking point of the discussion revolved around the need for updated federal frameworks that reflect the realities of online gaming while preserving tribal sovereignty and economic opportunity.
As sweepstakes casinos lose ground in the U.S. due to mounting legal and regulatory pressure, momentum may be shifting toward an expansion of regulated iGaming to meet growing consumer demand. In this changing landscape, establishing clear rules for how tribal nations can participate in online gaming has become increasingly important.
