Indian Gaming Association Chairman David Z. Bean Warns Combat Towards Unlawful Prediction Markets Will Intensify This Fall

The following is a press launch from the Indian Gaming Association 

TULSA, OK. — AUGUST 28, 2026 — Indian Gaming Association Chairman David Z. Bean continued IGA’s nationwide outreach on the rising risk of unlawful prediction-market playing Thursday, delivering a forceful message to Tribal leaders gathered yesterday on the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma Quarterly Meeting: Indian Country should stay united, engaged and relentless in defending Tribal sovereignty and the authorized basis of Indian gaming.

Speaking alongside Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Chairman Matthew Morgan on the University of Tulsa’s Lorton Performing Arts Center, Bean up to date Tribal leaders on the coordinated nationwide effort amongst Tribal Nations, Native organizations, Tribal gaming associations, state officers, authorized specialists, business companions and congressional leaders.

“It takes a team effort to address any threat to Indian Country. It takes a team effort to address any existential threat against Tribal sovereignty,” Bean stated. “And that’s exactly what these prediction markets present: an existential threat to Tribal sovereignty, to Indian gaming.”

Bean stated prediction markets quickly expanded from wagering on elections, climate and popular culture into sports activities betting, making a pathway into the web playing market whereas making an attempt to function below federal commodities legislation reasonably than the established federal, Tribal and state gaming regulatory framework.

For IGA, the problem goes past misplaced gaming income.

It is about jurisdiction, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and whether or not outdoors corporations can enter Tribal and state jurisdictions and supply playing with out the consent of the governments that possess the authorized authority to control it.

“We shouldn’t have to first demonstrate the negative impacts of any illegal activity. Let’s start and acknowledge there is illegal activity to begin with,” Bean informed Tribal leaders. “All we’re asking Congress to do is demand the CFTC enforce their laws.”

Bean counseled the intensive outreach and collaboration going down throughout Indian Country, emphasizing that the progress made on prediction markets has resulted from Tribal Nations and Native organizations working along with a unified goal.

“We don’t do it alone,” Bean stated. “We work alongside all the Tribal organizations and Tribal leaders. We work with state attorneys general and the American Gaming Association. We also work with consumer protection groups.”

Tribal leaders have traveled to Washington, D.C. in important numbers over a number of weeks this summer season to coach members of Congress about prediction markets, the CLARITY Act and the results for Tribal sovereignty and controlled gaming.

“When Tribal leaders show up in D.C., it is noticed. It has great impact,” Bean stated.

Bean stated that direct Tribal participation has helped transfer congressional discussions past primary questions on prediction markets and towards a broader understanding of their affect on Tribal Nations, states and the nationwide gaming regulatory system.

“We are working nationally to protect your right to engage in sports betting,” Bean stated. “For any Tribe with interests, we’re working to protect their right to do so by educating Congress, engaging with the relevant federal agencies, engaging with our relatives from the American Gaming Association, engaging with industry experts and, most importantly, getting input from Tribal leadership across the nation.”

Bean additionally counseled the Indian Gaming Association employees for the sustained work required to coordinate outreach, monitor quickly altering legislative and regulatory developments, talk with member Tribes and Tribal organizations and assist IGA’s authorized, legislative and communications methods.

“Tribal input and participation have a strong impact across Congress and the Courts,” Bean stated. “I can’t overstate the importance of that.”

United Indian Nations of Oklahoma Executive Director Margo Gray stated UINO will proceed to raise the problem for its member Tribal Nations and to work alongside nationwide and regional companions.

“United Indian Nations of Oklahoma continues to elevate the issue of illegal gaming markets that infringe on the sovereignty of our Tribal nations,” Gray stated. “I want to thank David Bean, Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, and Matt Morgan, Chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, for meeting with our members and sharing how they, alongside UINO, are advocating to rein in these illegal gaming markets. Together, we continue to push for action by state and federal lawmakers to exercise the appropriate oversight.”

Particular concern through the UINO dialogue centered on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s lack of significant engagement with Indian Country.

The CFTC has invited representatives from 16 Tribal organizations to take part in a September 14 roundtable on prediction markets. The assembly follows yearlong requests from IGA for Tribal session, together with repeated calls from senators and Tribal advocates for the company to interact Indian Country.

Bean stated IGA’s expertise with the company has raised severe issues about whether or not the newest outreach represents significant session or just an effort to fulfill political strain.

The late Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. had requested engagement and Tribal session with the CFTC because the prediction-market subject emerged in early 2025. After Bean assumed the chairmanship, IGA intensified these efforts and secured a gathering with CFTC management.

“My predecessor, Chairman Stevens, requested a meeting with the CFTC, requested a consultation, Tribal consultation,” Bean stated. “He wrote them a letter. He verbally requested it. The CFTC agreed to it in April 2025, then abruptly cancelled it without explanation. When I took over early in 2026, we requested a meeting with the acting-chair of the CFTC, then the nominated candidates to the CFTC, and finally to the Senate-confirmed CFTC Commissioner.”

Bean described the eventual assembly as dismissive and missing significant engagement.

“That was a check-the-box type meeting,” Bean stated.

IGA particularly raised the federal authorities’s Tribal session tasks and the significance of government-to-government session when federal actions have important penalties for Tribal Nations.

Bean stated significant follow-up didn’t happen till members of the U.S. Senate pressed the company to interact with Tribes.

For IGA, inviting Tribal organizations to a roundtable can’t substitute for formal session with sovereign Tribal governments.

Consultation isn’t a courtesy and it isn’t a procedural field to verify after important coverage choices are already transferring ahead.

Bean reminded Tribal leaders that IGA’s work on prediction markets started below the management of the late Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., who acknowledged early that the problem represented a risk not solely to gaming revenues, however to Tribal sovereignty, jurisdiction and the federal authorities’s tasks to Tribal Nations.

Bean has continued and expanded that work whereas strengthening partnerships throughout Indian Country and past.

He additionally credited Stevens with constructing the connection between Indian gaming and the American Gaming Association that at present permits Tribal and industrial gaming pursuits to work collectively the place their pursuits align.

“My predecessor, Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr., he bridged a relationship,” Bean stated. “He was persistent in going back time and time again. He finally forged and developed a relationship with the American Gaming Association. So we can work side by side.”

That legacy of coalition-building stays central to IGA’s present technique.

During the UINO dialogue, OIGA Chairman Morgan additionally counseled Bean’s management since assuming the IGA chairmanship, recognizing his intensive journey and direct outreach to Tribal leaders throughout Indian Country.

Bean made clear that the nationwide effort will proceed and intensify this fall.

Bean repeatedly returned to 1 central level: Indian Country mustn’t must display devastating financial hurt earlier than unlawful playing exercise is addressed.

The federal authorities mustn’t enable gaming to happen first after which ask Tribal Nations to calculate the harm later.

IGA has nonetheless commissioned an financial affect research to deal with studies of declining regulated sportsbook exercise and under-21 participation linked to prediction-market growth. IGA can be educating lawmakers about employment, authorities income, accountable gaming protections and the governmental nature of Indian gaming.

“Our revenues from our Tribal casinos are 100 percent taxed by the Tribes to provide essential government services,” Bean stated.

But the financial argument stays secondary to sovereignty.

The first query is whether or not federal legislation and Tribal jurisdiction will likely be revered.

Bean warned that if corporations are permitted to bypass Tribal and state gaming legal guidelines by labeling playing as a monetary product, the results may prolong far past sports activities betting.

“If you look at the CLARITY Act in depth, you see it opens up the door for casino-style gambling on decentralized finance platforms,” Bean stated.

IGA continues advancing legislative, regulatory and authorized methods, together with preparation for litigation that would finally attain the United States Supreme Court.

The IGA-NCAI Taskforce, working at the side of the Washington Indian Gaming Association and different companions, is making ready a Supreme Court amicus temporary supposed to provide Tribal Nations throughout Indian Country a possibility to face collectively.

“I encourage you to be on the lookout for that brief,” Bean informed the UINO gathering.

The message from Tulsa was clear: Indian Country’s rising unity is having an affect, however this isn’t the time to decelerate.

Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations should proceed urgent Congress, demanding significant session, taking part in litigation and standing collectively towards efforts to bypass IGRA, Tribal-state compacts and the inherent sovereign authority of Tribal governments.

“Every step of the way, we’ve been challenged on this issue, from a captured federal agency to prediction markets advertising on Indian land,” Bean stated.

IGA will proceed touring all through Indian Country, working alongside Tribal leaders and Native organizations, supporting its member Tribes, participating Congress, difficult federal businesses and making ready the authorized methods essential to guard Tribal gaming.

The groundwork established by Chairman Stevens continues below Chairman Bean with a transparent message for the months forward:

Indian Country can’t enable federal businesses or non-public corporations to outline Tribal sovereignty for Tribal Nations.

Consultation can’t merely be a field to be checked.

And the push by Indian Country should not cease.