Washington tribal sports betting monopoly challenge: Allegations, Court Orders and Status

What this case is about

Maverick Gaming LLC v. United States is a challenge to Washington's tribal sports betting monopoly, filed in January 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (3:22-cv-05325-DGE; Ninth Circuit 23-35136; U.S. Supreme Court 24-1161; case GL-US-0824). Maverick, now RunItOneTime LLC, owns most of the state's commercial cardrooms.

It said the 2020 law and the compact amendments that gave Washington tribes exclusive sports betting violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, equal protection and the Tenth Amendment. The case is listed under Antitrust and Competition Lawsuits in Gambling.

Who is covered

This is not a class action. Maverick is the only plaintiff, and the defendants are the United States, the Department of the Interior and Washington State officials. The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe intervened.

The ruling affects who may offer sports betting in Washington: the tribes keep exclusivity. Other Washington matters appear under Every Gambling Lawsuit in Washington.

Is there a payout?

No payout exists in this case. It is a business-versus-government challenge brought by a cardroom operator, with no class, no fund, no settlement and no damages award.

No claim process exists, and none can arise from the dismissal. GamblingLawsuits.org is not a law firm or a claims administrator.

What the court decided

The district court (Judge David G. Estudillo) dismissed the case because the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, which intervened and then invoked tribal immunity, was a required party under Rule 19. The tribe could not be forced into the case, so the case could not go on without it.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed on 13 December 2024 (No. 23-35136, argued 27 March 2024, opinion by Judge Wardlaw with Judges W. Fletcher and Miller concurring). Maverick, by then RunItOneTime LLC, filed a petition for certiorari on 9 May 2025.

The Supreme Court denied certiorari on 6 October 2025. As of 14 November 2026 the case is over, and no further hearing is listed in the record.

Why it matters

The merits were never reached. No court decided whether the compact amendments are lawful, so tribal exclusivity in Washington stands by procedure rather than by judgment.

The Rule 19 route is the key point: when a tribe with immunity is a required party, a challenge to a tribal gaming compact can fail before any court weighs the claims. More antitrust and exclusivity cases are collected under Antitrust and Competition Lawsuits in Gambling.

Questions people ask

Did Maverick Gaming lose its Washington sports betting lawsuit?

Yes, on procedure. The courts dismissed the case under Rule 19, and the Supreme Court denied review on 6 October 2025. No court ruled on the IGRA, equal protection or Tenth Amendment claims themselves.

Why was the tribe a required party?

The Ninth Circuit held that the Shoalwater Bay Tribe was a required party under Rule 19. The tribe had intervened and then invoked immunity, so it could not be made to take part.

Is sports betting in Washington still limited to tribes?

As of 14 November 2026 this record shows no court order changing the tribal exclusivity that Maverick challenged. The dismissal left the 2020 law and compact amendments in place.