Case: Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians v. National Indian Gaming Commission
1:26-cv-02037 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia
Filed Date: June 9, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This is a case challenging the National Indian Gaming Commission’s (NIGC) efforts to shut down a tribal gaming operation through regulatory action.
The NIGC had based its regulatory action on the Department of the Interior’s “one-bite rule,” which provides that land is not eligible for gaming under the restored lands exception if the tribe already operates a gaming facility elsewhere. The restored lands exception arises under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which generally prohibits tribal gaming on lands acquired after 1988 but carves out an exception for lands “taken into trust as part of the restoration of lands for an Indian tribe that is restored to Federal recognition.”
On June 9, 2026, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (“Band”) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Band sued the NIGC for violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and IGRA. The Band alleged that NIGC’s regulatory actions and reliance on the “one-bite rule” contravened federal law, exceeded the NIGC’s authority, and were arbitrary and capricious. The Band sought declaratory relief, injunctive relief barring the NIGC from taking any further action against gaming on the Benzie Parcel, where the tribal gaming operation at issue is located, along with attorney’s fees, vacatur of NIGC’s notice of violation, and disapproval of the Band’s amendment to its gaming ordinance – an amendment that would authorize gaming on the Benzie Parcel. The case was assigned to District Judge Jia M. Cobb.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Alexis Gil (7/18/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73458112/parties/grand-traverse-band-of-ottawa-and-chippewa-indians-v-national-indian/
Handelsman, Josh (District of Columbia)
Kanji, Riyaz A. (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73458112/grand-traverse-band-of-ottawa-and-chippewa-indians-v-national-indian/
Last updated Aug. 30, 2026, 3:14 a.m.
Docket for: GRAND TRAVERSE BAND OF OTTAWA AND CHIPPEWA INDIANS v. NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 9, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The plaintiffs are the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
National Indian Gaming Commission
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-02037
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians v. National Indian Gaming Commission, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48216/ (last updated 7/18/2026).