The lawsuit, filed in April, claims that the tribal casinos are violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) by offering Class III card games such as blackjack and poker, which are prohibited under Minnesota state law unless conducted at a licensed parimutuel racetrack. The commercial operator, Running Aces Casino, alleges that the tribal casinos, which generate hundreds of millions of dollars in gambling revenue, are offering unauthorized gaming activities, depriving Running Aces of substantial revenue.
Running Aces claims that the tribal casinos’ gambling activities, particularly their non-blackjack card games, violate federal and state laws. It also argues that the alleged violations give the tribal casinos an unfair competitive advantage and deprive the commercial casino of revenue from gambling, food, lodging, and entertainment.
The tribal casino executives assert that the case should be dismissed because the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s sovereign immunity prevents it from being joined as a defendant, similar to the Shoalwater Bay Tribe in the Ninth Circuit ruling. They argue that the Mille Lacs Band’s ability to operate Class III gaming is central to the dispute, and the relief sought by Running Aces could impair the tribe’s interests.
