Connecticut conglomerate Executone Information Systems Inc continues to be held up in its efforts to get its internet gambling efforts off the ground, but sees some encouragement with the news of a lawsuit filed by AT&T Corp against the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho regarding the tribe’s establishment of a national Indian lottery, and AT&T’s proposed provision of long-distance services to it. Indian reservation are not subject to the same federal gaming laws as the rest of the US. The Tribal Court had ruled in the first half of last year that the proposed lottery was lawful and complied with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Executone’s UniStar entertainment subsidiary won the exclusive contract to set up and manage the National Indian Lottery and the internet version, which is at http://www.uslottery.com. The point is that as it is situated on the Indian land, it should not be subject to the same federal laws as it would if it was housed in Atlantic City, say. Executone, which is based in Milford, Connecticut, bought UniStar for the specific purpose of getting the Indian lottery contract. Once the contract was won UniStar approached AT&T to provide long-distance services necessary in the 35 states in which lotteries are legal. However, Attorney Generals in 18 states sent notices to AT&T and other carriers claiming the Indian court ruling were invalid and that AT&T should not provide service. The Attorney General’s point is the internet makes state boundaries irrelevant and people can gamble from wherever they are, thus risking infringement of state gambling laws. The Tribal Appellate Court then confirmed its earlier ruling that the lotteries were valid on July 2 this year. So, AT&T is attempting to get a federal ruling on the matter to see whether or not the service can go ahead or not. It has filed what is known as ‘a complaint for declaratory judgement’ in the US District Court for the District of Idaho against the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho.
