Introduction and Evolution of Indian Gaming
In the United States of America, Native American (Indian) reservations are 'sovereign' self-ruling nations.
The residents are theoretically able to govern themselves free from the control of state and local governments. This provision is very important to the casino industry because many Native American tribes have begun to move away from the small-scale bingo halls which were very popular in the southwest to the large-scale ultra modern casinos which are now located in Minnesota and Connecticut.
In 1824, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was created to oversee all affairs of the Native American Indians. Its primary duty was to provide economic assistance to all of the Native Americans living on reservations.
The responsibilities of the BIA have increased tremendously during the past decade as a result of the introduction of legalized gambling on many Indian reservations.
Attempts to develop Indian gaming started in 1976. During that year, a U.S. Supreme court ruling, Bryan vs. Itasca County, declared states did not have regulatory jurisdiction over Indian tribes.
This was a landmark case for Indian Gaming. In 1979, Seminole Tribe vs. Butterworth was a case in Florida in which the court decided the state could not 'prohibit Indian bingo because it does not have the regulatory power over the tribe'.
In California vs. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, 1987, the court further ruled it did not have jurisdiction to prohibit Indians from engaging in gaming.
On October 17, 1987, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). This Act permitted legalized gambling by Native American tribes on their home state. During the years that followed, several suits were entered by Indian tribes against various states.
Eventually, in 1993, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued its final rules which defined the terms for the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
An important question needs to be asked. Why has there been such a push by the Native American Indian Tribes to have gaming?
First, it is important to understand that as a sovereign nation, the tribal leaders and governments have the same responsibilities as other governments to provide a certain quality of life for their people.
Before the introduction of the IGRA, Indians were controlling small bingo operations. This movement changed to high stake games which attracted people for many miles away.
Now, Indians are involved in all types of casinos with electronic bingo, video gaming devices, and regular casinos. Approximately $5.4 billion was wagered on Indian reservations in 1991.
In the same year, Native American Indians earned $720 million in revenues.