Caesars Sportsbook filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Cayuga Nation alleging unauthorized mobile sports wagers from the tribe’s reservation. The motion argues that federal tribal gaming law does not give the Nation a claim against a private sportsbook.

In the motion filed on August 17, Caesars claims that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act does not allow the type of claim made by the Cayuga Nation. The company argues that since the Nation lacks a Class III gaming compact with New York, there was no agreement for Caesars to violate.

Caesars also asserts that New York regulators instructed mobile sportsbook operators to treat online wagers as occurring where the servers are located. The servers handling Caesars’ wagers were not on Cayuga Nation land.

Based on this, the company argues that any conflict between New York’s mobile sports betting system and federal tribal gaming law would be a matter involving the state and its regulators.

The Cayuga Nation filed the lawsuit in June, alleging that Caesars accepted wagers from bettors physically located on tribal land between January 2022 and July 2025 without authorization from the Nation or a gaming compact.

The Nation contends that sports betting falls under Class III gaming according to federal law and generally cannot be conducted on tribal land without an agreement between the tribe and the state. While the Cayuga Nation runs Class II gaming through Lakeside Entertainment facilities, it has no Class III gaming compact with New York.

According to the lawsuit, the absence of such a compact means a sportsbook cannot legally accept mobile wagers originating from within the reservation unless authorized by the Cayuga Nation. The Nation is seeking the return of revenue Caesars allegedly made from the wagers, as well as lost profits and other damages.

The motion to dismiss by Caesars is pending Cayuga Nation’s response by September 22. Caesars will need to reply by September 29.