Gaming compact signed; tribes ‘hopeful,’ but wary of the future

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Last week, North Dakota’s American Indian tribes signed new gambling compacts with the state.

The agreements are largely aimed at expanding gaming on the reservations.

After many months worth of discussions between Governor Doug Burgum and leadership with the tribes that share land with the state, there are new rules surrounding gambling on the reservation. As a result of the new gaming compacts, the legal gambling age is now 19 at tribal-owned casinos, gamblers can now make online sports bets on reservations, and they can use credit or debit cards to place bets.

MHA-Nation Chairman Mark Fox says he has mixed feelings about the new gaming compacts.

“We’ve got some hope because the compact is renewed, but right now we’ve got a lot of difficult days ahead of us,” said Fox.

That’s because Fox says it doesn’t address the main gaming issues facing the…