State and Tribes Building New Traditions Series: Indian Gaming in the States

State-Tribal Relations

States and Tribes Building New Traditions Series

This publication is a product of the State-Tribal Relations Project, a partnership between the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Congress of American Indians. The NCSL State-Tribal Relations Project policy series is designed to help legislators and tribal leaders gain a greater understanding of the issues affecting each constituency and to identify methods for cooperative policymaking in an issue-specific context.

Indian Gaming in the States
Dispelling Myths and Highlighting Advantages

By Sia Davis and Jane Feustel
January 2005

During the past decade, nearly 40 percent of Indian tribes have become involved in gaming since their right to do so was confirmed by Congress. Compacts or agreements between tribes, governors and state legislatures are in place, based upon the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988. The huge financial success of a few Indian casinos has created the perception that most Indian tribes across the country are involved in gaming ventures and have achieved significant financial prosperity for their tribes. Such a misconception often brings a negative view that besieges gaming and includes concerns about crowds, traffic congestion, organized crime and potential societal problems such as alcoholism, increased crime and gambling addiction. 2005, 11 pages.

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