Comment Text:
We, the Anishinabeg, the people of Odaawaa-Zaaga’iganiing, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band, will sustain our heritage, preserving our past, strengthening our present, and embracing our future. We will defend our inherent sovereign rights and safeguard Mother Earth. We will provide for the educational, health, social welfare, and economic stability of the present and future generations. In defense of our inherent sovereign rights and in protection of our present and future generations, we vehemently oppose the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) drafting or revising regulations that would purport to authorize the use of futures markets to facilitate wagering on the outcome of sporting events under the auspices of the Commodities Exchange Act (“CEA”), 7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin (“LCO”) is a federally recognized Indian tribe with inherent sovereign authority which predates its Treaties of 1825, 1826, 1837, 1842, 1847, and 1854 with the United States government. LCO engages in a variety of legal class III gaming activities at the Sevenwinds Casino, Lodge & Conference Center located on the Tribe’s reservation, pursuant to a Tribal-State gaming compact with the State of Wisconsin. We rely on gaming revenue to provide our People the most basic of necessities – healthcare, housing, job opportunities, food assistance, and social services protections to name a few. Oftentimes, this revenue is direly needed to offset where the federal government falls short in its federal trust responsibilities established through our Treaties. As such, it is imperative that the federal government take immediate and appropriate actions to prevent illegal gambling that is negatively impacting Tribes who are lawfully partaking in class III gaming activities – which includes sports betting.
Please find attached an official LCO Tribal Resolution opposing the illegal use of futures markets to facilitate wagering on the outcome of sporting events.
