Compacts | Litigation | Openings & Closings

Iowa Tribe aims to be first in Indian Country with poker website

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

A screenshot of PokerTribe.Com promises free play on May 17, 2016, real money play on August 17, 2016, and in-flight play on January 9, 2017.

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is preparing to launch PokerTribe.Com after winning a lawsuit in federal court.

A countdown on the site promises free money play on May 17 and real money play on August 17. It even boasts of in-flight play coming in January 2017.

"The Iowa Tribe is launching the first government-launched poker site ever and that's a big deal," Fred Khalilian of Universal Entertainment Group, the firm that's operating the website, told The Oklahoman.

The tribe is moving forward after a federal judge issued a final judgment in the lawsuit on Friday. The decision confirms an arbitration award that said PokerTribe.Com would be permissible under the Class III gaming compact.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 outlaws Internet gaming unless it is conducted pursuant to a Class III gaming compact or under state law. PokerTribe.Com would be the first of its kind in Indian Country if the tribe succeeds.

Get the Story:
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma moves ahead with plans for online gaming venture (The Oklahoman 4/20)

Relevant Documents:
Iowa Tribe Arbitration Decision | Complaint: Iowa Tribe v. State of Oklahoma | Iowa Tribe Letter to State of Oklahoma | State of Oklahoma Letter to Iowa Tribe