Ernie Stevens Jr, chairman of the Indian Gaming Association and a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, died on 26 September aged 66, according to reports. Stevens led the association for almost 25 years and won re-election in April to his 13th term as chairman.
The death leaves the Indian Gaming Association without its long-serving chairman and affects tribal gaming leadership.
The day’s most important stories, free. One email a day.
Former CFTC chair Gary Gensler told tribal gaming leaders that Congress did not intend the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act to establish federal oversight of sports betting. In an amicus brief, he challenged the legal basis for the CFTC’s support of prediction markets, arguing that the legislation addressed financial derivatives rather than sports wagering.
Indian Gaming Association leaders criticised proposed federal rules that would allow nationwide sports event contracts under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight. Chairman David Bean and Executive Director Jason Giles argued that the proposal bypasses state and tribal regulators; Giles called for further review of its economic impact.
The Indian Gaming Association has warned that the proposed US CLARITY Act could enable prediction markets to offer sports and casino wagering beyond state and tribal regulation. Executive director Jason Giles said the association is lobbying 16 Democratic senators to oppose the bill, while tribal gaming attorney Scott Crowell raised concerns about the proposed role of federal agencies.
The Indian Gaming Association is monitoring congressional discussions on prediction markets and tribal priorities, according to its chief executive Jason Giles. Webinar participants discussed proposals affecting Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight, Senate committee consideration of amendments and tribal concerns about sports betting on tribal lands; no legislative outcome was reported.
The American Gaming Association and Indian Gaming Association are pressing US lawmakers to oppose sports prediction markets, arguing that they threaten state regulatory authority and market integrity. AGA representatives appeared with IGA leaders ahead of a closed House Agriculture Committee hearing; the report says 15 states are in litigation and 40 state attorneys general signed an opposing brief.