Kevin Costner Convenes Gaming and Tribal Leaders at Dunbar Ranch for Prediction Markets Retreat

Actor Kevin Costner is opening his Dunbar Ranch in Colorado to host a closed retreat for top executives from commercial gaming, leaders in Indian Country, and prediction market participants. The three-night gathering seeks direct talks on whether sports event contracts belong in the gambling landscape and how all sides might benefit, as courts sort out their legal status.

Costner, who owned a casino in Deadwood, South Dakota for 26 years, told InGame he has ties to both the gambling and tribal sectors. He described the current litigation as a “pressure situation” and said he saw a chance to create space for problem-solving ahead of a Supreme Court decision.

Building an Off-Grid Venue for Dialogue

Costner considered a standard urban meeting but opted for the ranch to allow extended discussions without quick exits. His letter, obtained by InGame, invites decision makers to “give you time, share some meals, and see what’s possible.” He emphasized that staying longer can yield “another bite at the apple” once initial positions soften.

The invite list features CEOs from major gaming companies, tribal leaders, former regulators, and deal advisors. Costner positioned the advisors as neutral resources with experience in gaming, regulation, law, and transactions. He has received responses from about 70 percent of those invited, with many committing once they confirmed the offer was genuine.

Kasey Thompson, a high-stakes poker player and former Pala Interactive executive, is Costner’s partner on the retreat. Thompson previously advanced a 2023 online sports betting proposal in California that tribal interests blocked over Class III exclusivity. He has since exited the gambling sector and now co-owns a team in the Big League Wiffle Ball league that Costner also joined in 2025.

Legal Fault Lines Driving the Need for Talks

Prediction platforms have tested regulatory boundaries since Kalshi launched sports event contracts before the 2025 Super Bowl. The core dispute is whether these contracts count as swaps under Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules or instead trigger state gambling laws. Kalshi and the CFTC face suits from more than 25 states and tribal entities.

Courts are also examining if the Commodities Exchange Act preempts state law or the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which grants tribes exclusivity on Class III gaming. A circuit split has emerged, with the Third Circuit ruling for Kalshi and the Ninth Circuit ruling for Nevada and a pair of California tribes. The contracts are banned in Michigan, Nevada, and Washington under state court orders.

Where Neutral Ground May Matter Most

Costner’s letter asks whether an ecosystem can respect tribal sovereignty, meet state duties, give established gaming companies certainty, and open a workable path for prediction platforms. The ranch setting, removed from daily pressures, is meant to encourage exactly that exchange. Whether the retreat produces concrete proposals will turn on participants’ readiness to treat the session as more than positional debate before the Supreme Court rules.

Reporting: InGame

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.