Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)

What happened

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), Public Law 100-497, was signed October 17, 1988. Its findings give Congress's reasons. They say "numerous Indian tribes have become engaged in or have licensed gaming activities on Indian lands as a means of generating tribal governmental revenue," that "existing Federal law does not provide clear standards or regulations for the conduct of gaming on Indian lands," and that "a principal goal of Federal Indian policy is to promote tribal economic development, tribal self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government."

The purposes section says the Act provides a statutory basis for tribal gaming, for regulation "adequate to shield it from organized crime and other corrupting influences," and for a National Indian Gaming Commission.

Land is central, because the Act applies only on "Indian lands." The definition covers all lands within the limits of any Indian reservation, and lands held in trust by the United States, or held by a tribe or individual subject to a federal restriction against alienation, "over which an Indian tribe exercises governmental power."

For the biggest casino-style games, Class III, Section 2710(d) says they are lawful on Indian lands only if the tribe's ordinance is approved by the Chairman of the Commission, the State permits such gaming for any purpose by any person, and the games are run under a Tribal-State compact in effect.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error