The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (ITC) has initiated a resolution urging Congress and federal authorities to safeguard tribal sovereignty against prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. The council highlights that these platforms have flourished rapidly, disregarding established gaming compacts.
This resolution is part of several initiatives approved by the council during its general session, which included gaming, agricultural policy, federal contracting, and tribal transportation funding as key priorities.
Sovereignty as a Central Theme
Sovereignty is a focal point in all the resolutions passed by the ITC. The gaming resolution calls for Congress and federal regulators to mandate that prediction markets and event contracts adhere to existing tribal, federal, and state gaming laws, ensuring that platforms operating outside these laws do not compromise tribal-state gaming agreements.
Recently, Kalshi and Polymarket have amassed large user bases and become significant advertisers, and the ITC argues that these platforms have exploited regulatory gaps.
“Predictive markets challenge tribal sovereignty and threaten the longstanding tribal gaming compacts and regulations that have governed tribal gaming for many years,” stated Choctaw Chief Gary Batton.
“These markets are expanding swiftly, and there’s an urgent need for regulators and lawmakers to address the legal loopholes permitting them to operate outside established gaming regulations and to ensure tribes participate in discussions surrounding these issues,” he added.
This principle of self-determination was also evident in the council’s tribute to Chickasaw Nation Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby, who was recognized during the general session for his extensive contributions to the ITC.
Leaders acknowledged his efforts in negotiating gaming compacts and contributing to rule-making for the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, establishing the framework for how sovereignty is practiced today, providing a historical foundation for the council’s current stance on prediction markets.
Sovereignty in Agriculture and Federal Funding
The council applied a similar approach to its farm bill resolution, imploring the US Senate Agriculture Committee to consider tribal concerns in the Agricultural Act of 2026.
The ITC is advocating for provisions related to food sovereignty, enhanced access to USDA programs, and support for tribal self-determination—elements the council connects to the ability of Native producers to establish their own agricultural policies rather than abide by external regulations.
Federal funding and contracting powers were also prominent in the other resolutions. The council expressed support for Mark Cruz’s nomination as director of the Indian Health Service and issued a declaration honoring the National Day of Prayer.
The ITC’s next general session is scheduled for October 7-9, 2026, hosted by the Choctaw Nation.