October Term 2021 · Docket 20-493
Does Texas regulate tribal gaming?
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo argues Texas cannot restrict its gaming. Texas claims state laws apply to the tribe.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Martin argued the Restoration Act bars Texas restrictions.
Mr. Yang said Congress mirrored the Cabazon distinction.
Ms. Pettit noted both sides ceded some sovereignty in the 1980s.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo seeks to operate gaming free from Texas rules. Texas wants to enforce its state gaming restrictions on the tribe.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-15
What each side wants
The Pueblo wants to operate gaming without Texas restrictions.
Texas wants to enforce its state gaming rules on the tribe.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
What each side says
The Pueblo argues the Restoration Act bars Texas regulation.
Texas argues state laws apply to the tribe's gaming.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked what the statute does alone.
Justice Kagan asked if the term prohibited is normal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
Why it matters
This case defines state power over tribal gaming. It shapes how tribes operate in Texas. It affects tribal sovereignty and state regulation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 31-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.