The Cayuga Nation, an alliance of New York Native American tribes, has said mobile sportsbooks, including FanDuel, have ceased operations on its reservation after it was informed that such activity violates federal and tribal gaming laws.
Class III games, including mobile sports betting, are allowed on tribal lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, with both a federally approved gaming ordinance and a tribal-state compact.
While the Cayuga Nation has an approved ordinance, it lacks a compact with New York, making outside operators, such as FanDuel, unauthorized. Following the Nation’s outreach, several sportsbooks geofenced their services, though some continue to operate, prompting threats of legal action.
The Nation argues that unapproved betting undermines its sovereignty and gaming rules, and state officials say they’re aware of the situation. This highlights ongoing jurisdictional tension between tribal authorities and commercial operators.