High Stakes Legal Showdown with Tribal Gaming Authorities
Since 2022, Maverick has been embroiled in litigation against the U.S. Department of the Interior and Washington state officials, challenging exclusive Class III gaming and sports betting rights granted to 29 Native American tribes.
In its July 2023 amended complaint, Maverick lashed out at what it called a “discriminatory tribal gaming monopoly” — a compact system it alleges bars non-tribal operators like itself from offering competitive services.
But so far, the courts have sided with the tribes. A federal district judge dismissed Maverick’s claims in February 2023 after the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe argued that victory for Maverick would “cripple the tribe’s economy.” The Ninth Circuit upheld that dismissal in December 2024, prompting Maverick to file a petition for review with the U.S. Supreme Court in May.
Terms of Bankruptcy Strategy Remain Murky
Though Maverick cited a “transaction support agreement” in one of its initial motions, details of that plan were not revealed in Monday’s filings. Still, the company’s direction appears focused on executing a sale, potentially positioning the business for a strategic reboot amid its larger legal ambitions.
Representatives for Maverick have yet to comment on the filing.
