(PRESS RELEASE) -- The California Nations Indian Gaming Association and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations issued the following statement in response to a report published yesterday, which suggested that tribes and commercial entities had reached an agreement on a California sports betting plan:
“Tribal leaders are offended that the Sports Betting Alliance invited a reporter into what was intended to be a private roundtable discussion among tribal leaders regarding this controversial issue. This breach of trust highlights why such discussions must be led by tribal governments and organizations, rather than operator-funded groups. While the meeting was productive in some ways, the suggestion that an agreement had been reached between tribes and commercial operators is simply false. Further discussions among tribal governments are expected to take place in the coming weeks and months. Let there be no false illusion: establishing an acceptable framework and governance model will take time. This is a complex matter that involves navigating federal, state, and tribal laws, which requires thorough debate and careful resolution.”