Resolution at the 2018 Tradeshow & Convention. The Resolution outlines policy principles for sports betting legislation. These principles include: • Federal policy must respect the constitutionally affirmed status of Indian tribes as governments with authority to regulate and operate gaming; • Tribal government Sports Betting revenues shall not be subject to taxation; • Customers may access tribal government Sports Betting sites as long as Sports Betting is legal where the customer is located; • Tribal rights under the IGRA and existing tribal-state gaming compacts must be protected; • IGRA should not be opened up for amendments; • Tribal governments must receive a positive economic benefit in any federal or state Sports Betting legalization proposals; • Indian tribes possess the inherent right to opt in to a federal regulatory scheme to ensure broad-based access to markets; • Tribal governments acknowledge the integrity and protection of the game and patron protections for responsible gaming are of the utmost importance; and • Mobile, on-line or internet sports gaming must adhere to these principles The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act NIGA and our Member Tribes again prioritized advancement of legislation to restore respect for the status of Indian tribes as governments for purposes of the National Labor Relations Act. The House of Representatives advanced the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, which would accomplish this goal, early in January of 2018. However, the effort fell five votes short of the 60 vote-threshold needed in the U.S. Senate. The effort to amend the National Labor Relations Act remains solely about respect for tribal sovereignty and the U.S. Constitution’s acknowledgement of Indian tribes as separate forms of governments within our federalist system. Tribal governments nationwide have adopted tribal labor laws to protect workers in Indian Country and have entered into dozens of agreements with unions and labor organization groups that respect tribal sovereignty and comply with tribal government laws. As we have stated several times over, America was built by many members of American Indian Tribes that were also members of Labor Unions. We have a long history supporting labor initiatives and we truly believe that experience has led us to the development of a strong system within our Tribal Governments that protects our employees far more than that of the unions. That is our responsibility as government officials. It is ironic that our Tribal Governments have to stand up against something as basic as this, as we look out for our employment base as much as any other government or business entity. NIGA and our Member Tribes devoted significant effort to passage of the TLSA in the 115th Congress. We will continue to educate all Members of the 116th Congress about the need to respect Indian tribes as governments for all purposes of federal law, continue advocate for the passage of the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, and work on strategy to achieve our goal in the coming year.
6 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2019
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