Maverick CEO Fighting for Washington State Sports Betting

• Maverick Gaming has an active lawsuit protesting the monopoly of tribal sportsbooks in Washington State.
• Maverick owns some of the most successful cardrooms in Washington, but misses the ability to offer sports betting.
• CEO Eric Persson explains how adding the ability to accept sports bets is “important” moving forward.

RENO, Nevada – Maverick CEO Eric Persson has been a main character in the Washington State sports betting scene.

In the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions, he fought hard to have commercial cardrooms added as a potential sportsbook.

Owner of 19 cardrooms in Washington, his company, Maverick Gaming also filed a lawsuit.

This lawsuit expressed how Washington handed tribal casinos a monopoly on Washington State sports betting.

Due to specific terms, the lawsuit has changed in terms of its target. First going after the state and tribes, it is now a federal matter.

There’s No Parity

After hiring Gibson Dunn to represent them, the firm focused on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Gibson Dunn attorney Ted Olson said the act “was intended to guarantee parity between tribal and non-tribal gaming.”

“Washington State is misusing IGRA to instead create tribal monopolies on certain types of gaming, such as sports betting.”

Maverick explains that tribal casinos earn “exclusive opportunities” while non-tribal see restrictions on gaming. With this, they believe Washington “violate[d] IGRA and the United States Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.”

Being called a “mockery” by the Washington Indian Gaming Association, the lawsuit remains active.

Maverick’s cardrooms in Washington have great success. In fact, Maverick reported three of the top four cardrooms with a net positive income during COVID.

“Sports betting is a service where there is a lot of consumer demand,” said Persson. “We think it’s one more reason to be in a cardroom playing blackjack or poker and watching sports on the weekend. It’s important to us and our existing businesses.”

News tags: Eric Persson | IGRA | Indian Gaming Regulatory Act | Maverick Gaming | Ted Olson | Washington | Washington Indian Gaming Association