The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (ITC) has passed a resolution urging Congress and federal regulators to uphold tribal sovereignty against the rise of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. The council argues that these platforms have grown quickly without consideration for existing gaming agreements.
This resolution was one of several approved during the council's general session, where gaming was highlighted alongside agricultural policy, federal contracting, and tribal transportation funding as key priorities.
Central to the ITC's resolutions is the principle of tribal sovereignty. The gaming resolution specifically requests that Congress and federal regulators mandate compliance from prediction markets and event contracts with existing tribal, federal, and state gaming laws. This is to ensure that platforms operating outside these laws do not jeopardize tribal-state gaming agreements.
Kalshi and Polymarket have developed substantial user bases and gained visibility as advertisers in recent years. The ITC claims these platforms have exploited regulatory gaps to expand their operations.
Choctaw Chief Gary Batton stated, “Predictive markets undermine tribal sovereignty and the longstanding tribal gaming compacts and laws that have governed tribal gaming for decades.” He emphasized the need for regulators and lawmakers to address the legal loopholes that permit these markets to function outside established gaming laws, ensuring tribes are involved in discussions and resolutions regarding these issues.
The council also honored Chickasaw Nation Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby during the session for his contributions to the ITC, particularly in negotiating gaming compacts and his role in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act. His work has been pivotal in shaping the current understanding of sovereignty, providing a historical context for the council's stance on prediction markets.
Additionally, the council addressed agricultural concerns, urging the US Senate Agriculture Committee to incorporate tribal interests into the Agricultural Act of 2026. The ITC is advocating for provisions related to food sovereignty, increased access to USDA programs, and support for tribal self-governance, emphasizing the importance of allowing Native producers to dictate their agricultural policies.
Federal funding and contracting authority were also significant topics in the remaining resolutions. The council endorsed Mark Cruz's nomination as director of the Indian Health Service and proclaimed a National Day of Prayer.
The next general session of the ITC is scheduled for October 7-9, 2026, and will be hosted by the Choctaw Nation.