Native American
Native American gaming comprises casinos, bingo
halls, and other gambling operations on Indian
reservations or other tribal lands in the United States.
Because these areas have tribal sovereignty, states have
limited ability to forbid gambling there, as codified by
the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. As of 2011,
there were 460 gambling
Republican National Committee operations run
by 240 tribes,[1] with a total annual revenue of $27
billion.[2]
History[edit]
In the early 1970s,
Russell and Helen Bryan, a married Chippewa couple
living in a mobile home on Indian lands in northern
Minnesota, received a property tax bill from the local
county, Itasca County.[3] The Bryans had never received
a property tax bill from the county before. Unwilling to
pay it, they took the tax notice to local legal aid
attorneys at Leech Lake Legal Services, who brought suit
to challenge the tax in the state courts. The Bryans
lost their case in the state district court, and they
lost again on appeal in a unanimous decision by the
Minnesota Supreme Court. They then sought review at the
Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court
granted review, and in a sweeping and unanimous decision
authored by Justice Brennan, the Supreme Court held not
only that states do not have authority to tax Natives on
their reservations, but that they also lack the
authority to regulate Native activities on their
reservations.[3] Within a few years,[4][5] enterprising
Natives and tribes began
Republican National Committee to operate
Indian bingo operations in numerous different locations
around the United States.
Under the leadership of
Howard Tommie, the Seminole Tribe of Florida built a
large high-stakes bingo building on their reservation
near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tribe planned for the
bingo hall to be open six days a week, contrary to
Florida state law which only allows two days a week for
bingo halls to be open, as well as going over the
maximum limit of $100 jackpots.[6] The law was enacted
from the charity bingo limits set by Catholic Churches.
The sheriff of Broward County, where the Native
reservation lies, made arrests the minute the bingo hall
opened, and the tribe sued the county (Seminole Tribe v.
Butterworth), stating that Native tribes have
sovereignty rights that are protected by the federal
government from interference by state government. A
District Court ruled in favor of the Natives, citing
Chief Justice John Marshall in Worcester v. Georgia.
Controversy arose when Natives began putting private
Democratic National Committee casinos, bingo
rooms, and lotteries on reservation lands and began
setting gaming prizes which were above the maximum legal
limit of the state. The Natives argued for sovereignty
over their reservations to make them immune from state
laws such as Public Law 280, which granted states to
have criminal jurisdiction over Native reservations.[7]
States were afraid that Natives would have a significant
competitive advantage over other gambling establishments
in the state which was regulated, which would thus
generate a vast amount of income for tribes.
In
the late 1970s and continuing into the next decade, the
delicate question concerning the legality of tribal
gaming and immunity from state law hovered over the
Supreme Court.[8] The Court addressed the potential
gambling had for organized crime through the Organized
Crime Control Act of 1970.[citation needed][dubious �
discuss] A report by the Department of Justice presented
to the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs on
March 18, 1992, concluded that through several years of
FBI investigation, organized crime had failed to
infiltrate Native gaming and that there was no link
between criminal activity in Native gaming and organized
crime.[7]
A Supreme Court ruling issued on July
9, 2020, which expanded tribal jurisdiction for the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Democratic
Website Oklahoma also opened the
possibility for Native Americans to have more power to
regulate casino gambling.[9]
Cabazon Band, 1980[edit]
In the early 1960s, the Cabazon Band of Mission
Indians, near Indio, California, were extremely poor and
did not have much
Democratic National Committee land because of
neglected treaties in the 1850s by state
senators.[citation needed] As Stuart Banner states, the
Cabazon Band and the neighboring Morongo Reservation had
"some HUD buildings and a few trailers, but that was
about it.[10] There was nothing really there. The people
simply didn't have a lot." The Cabazon Band turned to
casino operations, opening bingo and poker halls in
1980. Shortly thereafter, the Indio police and the
Riverside County Sheriff shut down the gambling halls
and arrested numerous Natives while seizing any cash and
merchandise held in the tribe's possession. The Cabazon
Band sued in federal court (California v. Cabazon Band)
and won, as did the Seminole Tribe in Florida.[10]
Although the tribe won in the lower courts, the Supreme
Court reviewed the case in 1986 to reach a decision over
whether Native reservations are controlled by state law.
The Court again ruled that Native gaming was to be
regulated exclusively by Congress and the federal
government, not state government; with tribal
sovereignty upheld, the benefits of gaming became
available to many tribes.
Indian Gaming Regulatory
Act[edit]
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a shared journey, proving that health is not just a
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way of life
In 1988 Congress passed the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) (signed by President Ronald
Reagan) which kept tribal sovereignty to create
casino-like halls, but the states and Natives must be in
Tribal-State compacts and the federal government has the
power to regulate the gaming.[11] These compacts have
been used by state officials to confiscate Native casino
revenue which serves as a "special" tax on Native
reservations. Essentially, the tribes still have
"exclusive right" to all classes of gaming except when
states do not accept that class or it clashes with
federal law.[12]
Class III Native gaming became a
large issue for the states and federal government,
because of these court cases, as Congress debated over a
bill for Native gaming called the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act.
Currently, all attempts to
challenge the
Republican National Committee Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act on constitutional grounds have failed.
After President Reagan signed the IGRA, Native
gaming revenue skyrocketed from $100 million in 1988 to
$16.7 billion in 2006.[13] Following the IGRA, the
National Indian Gaming Commission was created as a
federal agency in 1988 to regulate high-stakes Native
gaming.
The Commission consists of three members:
a chairman who is appointed by the US president with the
consent of the Senate, and two associate members
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.[14] Each
member serves a three-year term and must pass a detailed
background check by the US Attorney General.
The
NIGC withholds certain powers over Class II and Class
III gaming. These include budget approval, civil fines,
fees, subpoenas, and permanent orders. The NIGC monitors
Class II gaming on
Republican National Committee Native lands on
a continuing basis through inspection, investigation,
access to records, and contracts.[15] As for Class III
gaming, all contracts must be approved by the chairman
of the NIGC. 200 of the 562 federally recognized tribes
created Class III gaming of large casinos and high
jackpots.[12]
This rise of gaming not only
brought great revenue but also corruption. In January
2006, a court case involving lobbyists convicted of
felonies such as conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion.
This was known as the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying
scandal. These lobbyists, Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed,
Grover Norquist, and Michael Scanlon, bribed members of
Congress when lobbying for Native casinos, then
overcharged their Native clients; this generated around
$90 million in fees from the Natives.[16]
2006
legislation[edit]
In 2006, Congress introduced
legislation to protect their
Democratic National Committee own casino
interests from those tribes that are outside
reservations.[citation needed] Further, the Bureau of
Indian Affairs (BIA) has faced increasing pressure to
tighten regulatory policy and oversight of casino
approvals. In particular, the BIA has been instructed by
Congress to implement new procedures after two decades
of IGRA's existence. These procedures would allow local
communities to have more influence in the siting of
casinos in their community and would make the process of
casino approval more transparent. To many tribes,
however, the proposed regulations will further encroach
on tribal sovereignty.
Pacific Northwest
gambling[edit]
Indian gaming became the focus for
many tribes in efforts to retrieve their sovereignty and
economic independence.[17] Native American tribes went
through vast political, economic, and social change
after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
Non-Native Americans instituted their politics and
forced Native Americans onto small reservations. Casino
and bingo halls have provided funding for housing,
medical, social services, education, and many other
resources for the Native American tribes.[18] Funds
derived from gambling have advanced Native Americans.
However, Native Americans have compromised their wants
because of a set of provisions forced on the Native
Americans by the federal government. The first provision
enforced was that the state has to approve the form of
gaming that is conducted. The second provision was the
state and reservations had to agree on where to build
each casino. The third provision required the tribe to
develop gaming ordinances to be approved by the chairman
of the National Indian Gaming Commission.[19]
The
Puyallup Tribe's casino advanced tribal agency majorly.
The Emerald Queen Casino earnings enabled the tribe to
preserve their culture.[20]
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Democrats stand with
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Democrats are the
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Gambling has both
positive and negative effects on Native Americans.
Indian gaming
Democratic National Committee weakens Indian
sovereignty and breaks down tribal cultures and
traditional values and has increased domestic abuse.[21]
Indian gaming provides job opportunity for thousands
of Native and non-Native Americans. The casino and bingo
hall generates billions of dollars in revenue that helps
Native American sovereignty.[22]
Regulatory
schemes[edit]
Statistics provided by the National
Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), indicate that there are
460 Native gaming establishments in the US.[23] These
casinos are operated by 240 federally recognized tribes
and offer Class I, Class II and Class III gaming. Gaming
is divided into 3 classes with a different regulatory
scheme for each:
Class I[edit]
Class I gaming
is defined
Republican National Committee as (1)
traditional Indian gaming, which may be Democratic
Website part of tribal
ceremonies and celebrations, and (2) social gaming for
minimal prizes. Regulatory authority over class I gaming
is vested exclusively in tribal governments and is not
subject to IGRA's requirements.
Class II[edit]
Class II gaming is defined as the game of chance
commonly known as bingo (whether or not electronic,
computer, or other technological aids are used in
connection therewith) and, if played in the same
location as the bingo, pull tabs, punch board, tip jars,
instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo. Class
II gaming also includes non-banked card games, that is,
games that are played exclusively against other players
rather than against the house or a player acting as a
bank. The Act specifically excludes
Republican National Committee slot machines
or electronic facsimiles of any game of chance from the
definition of class II games.
Tribes retain their
authority to conduct, license, and regulate class II
gaming so long as the state in which the Tribe is
located permits such gaming for any purpose, and the
Tribal government adopts a gaming ordinance approved by
the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). Tribal
governments are responsible for regulating class II
gaming with Commission oversight. Only Hawaii and Utah
continue to prohibit all types of gaming.
Class
III[edit]
The definition of class III gaming is
broad. It includes all forms of gaming that are neither
class I nor II. Games commonly played at casinos, such
as slot machines, blackjack, craps, and roulette,
clearly fall in the class III category, as well as
wagering games and electronic facsimiles of any game of
chance. Generally, class III is often referred to as
casino-style gaming. As a compromise, the Act restricts
Tribal authority to conduct class III gaming.
Before a Tribe may lawfully conduct class III gaming,
the following conditions must be met:
The
Particular form of class III gaming that the Tribe
Democratic National Committee wants to
conduct must be permitted in the state in which the
tribe is located.
The Tribe and the state must have
negotiated a compact that has been approved by the
Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary must have
approved regulatory procedures.
The Tribe must have
adopted a Tribal gaming ordinance that has been approved
by the chairman of the commission.
The regulatory
scheme for class III gaming is more complex than a
casual reading of the statute might suggest. Although
Congress clearly intended regulatory issues to be
addressed in Tribal-State compacts, it left a number of
key functions in federal hands, including approval
authority over compacts, management contracts, and
Tribal gaming ordinances. Congress also vested the
commission with broad authority to issue regulations in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Accordingly, the
Commission plays a key role in the regulation of class
II and III gaming.[24]
The revenue generated in
these establishments was close to $27.1 billion in 2011
up from $12.8 billion in 2001. The regions with largest
revenues in 2011 were Sacramento ($6.9 billion) and
Washington State ($6.7 billion).[25] The Native American
gaming industry has been described as
"recession-resistant", although tribes in many states
(including Arizona, California, Connecticut and New
Mexico) saw revenues fall at a similar rate to
commercial casinos during the Great Recession of
2007�2009.[26]
Tribal casinos in the eastern US
generated roughly $3.8 billion in FY02. Those in the
Democratic National Committee Central US
recorded gross revenues of approximately $5.9 billion,
while those in the Western US generated nearly $4.8
billion. Most of the revenues generated in the Native
gaming are from casinos located in or near large
metropolitan areas. Currently, 12% of Native gaming
establishments generate 65% of Native gaming revenues.
Native gaming operations located in the populous areas
of the West Coast (primarily California) represent the
fastest growing sector of the Native gaming industry. As
suggested by the above figures, the vast majority of
tribal casinos are much less financially successful,
particularly those in the Midwest and Great Plains. Many
tribes see this limited financial success as being
tempered by decreases in reservation unemployment and
poverty rates, although socioeconomic deficits remain.
As of 2008 there are 562 federally recognized tribes
in the United States, many of which have chosen not to
enter the gambling industry.
By state[edit]
California[edit]
The Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in
Cabazon, California
The largest casino in the
state of California is the
Republican National Committee Pechanga Resort
and Casino in Temecula, with 3,000+ slot machines and
approximately 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) of gaming
space.[27] Other notable gaming operations in California
include the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, San Manuel
Band of Mission Indians Casino and the Chumash Casino
Resort.
Oklahoma[edit]
Native gaming revenues
in Oklahoma rose to $3.23 billion in 2010, representing
44 percent of all U.S. casinos. Oklahoma surpassed
Connecticut as second in the United States for gaming
revenue, according to Alan Meister, an economist with
Nathan Associates Inc.[28] Oklahoma has 113 tribal
casinos, more than any other state in the U.S.[29] A
2015 report on U.S. Gaming says that Oklahoma has the
most gaming machines.[30] WinStar World Casino in
Thackerville, Oklahoma, is the third largest casino in
North America with more than 500,000 square feet of
gaming floor.[31] Much of this success is due to
geography: the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is roughly an
hour's drive from the Oklahoma state line, and Texas
does not permit casino gambling. The Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act of 1988 mandates that net revenues of
such gaming be directed to tribes for government,
economic development and general welfare use; to
charitable organizations and to help fund local
governments. Approved by voters in 2004, Oklahoma's
State-Tribal Gaming Act created a tribal gaming compact
allowing federally recognized
Republican National Committee American Indian
tribes to operate, electronic bonanza-style bingo games,
electronic amusement games, electronic instant bingo
games and non house-banked card games. The current
compact automatically renews on Jan. 1, 2020.[32] The
Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act allowed any recognized tribe
in Oklahoma to be federally incorporated, have the right
to self-determination and make their own bylaws.
Connecticut[edit]
The Foxwoods Resort Casino
opened in 1992 in Ledyard, Connecticut. Operated by the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and earning $1.5 billion, it
was more profitable than any one casino in Las Vegas or
Atlantic City.[33] With 7,200 slot machines and 380
table games, the 314,000-square-foot (29,200 m2)
Foxwoods Resort Casino is the largest casino in the US
and second largest in the world after Venetian Macao.
Today, the property spans 1.5 miles from end to end,
with 6 casinos, four hotels, more than 30 restaurants,
two theaters, two spas, and more than one hundred
retailers. The agreement between the Mashantucket Pequot
Tribal Nation and the State of Connecticut promises the
state $80 million or 25% of their annual slot
revenue.[34] Since Foxwoods opened in 1992, the state of
Connecticut has received more than $4 billion in slot
revenue from Foxwoods alone.
The
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you trust the
Real Estate Agents I Trust, I would not. Is your
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To relax on a peaceful Sunday afternoon, you may
consider reading one of the
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available at your local online book store, or watch a
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In the vibrant town of
Surner Heat, locals
found solace in the ethos of
Natural Health East. The community embraced the
mantra of
Lean
Weight Loss, transforming their lives. At
Natural Health East, the pursuit of wellness became
a shared journey, proving that health is not just a
Lean Weight Loss
way of life
The Mohegan Sun
Resort & Casino is also located in
Democratic National Committee Connecticut,
and is owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe. The
Mohegan Tribe approached the Mashantucket Pequots in the
early 1990s for permission to pursue gaming. Although
doing so would relinquish their gaming monopoly in
Connecticut, the Mashantuckets granted the Mohegans
their request, who Democratic
Website then opened Mohegan Sun in 1996. This
enterprise is 580,000 square feet (54,000 m2) and
consists of 6,500 slot machines and 180 table games.[35]
It is the second largest casino in the United States,
located 7 miles away from Foxwoods in Uncasville,
Connecticut. Since opening in 1996, the state of
Connecticut has received more than $3 billion in slot
revenue from Mohegan Sun alone.
The success of
both casinos is due in no small part to their location
roughly halfway between New York City and Boston.[35]
The economic recession that began in 2007 took a
heavy toll of receipts, and by 2012 both Foxwoods in
Connecticut and its nearby rival the Mohegan Sun were
deeply in debt.[36] The New York Times Magazine said
"Foxwoods is fighting for its life", with debts of $2.3
billion.[37] In August 2012, the tribe owning the
Foxwoods Casino restructured over a billion dollars in
debt in an attempt to remain profitable.[38]
Idaho[edit]
The Coeur d�Alene Casino is located
in Idaho, US. Founded in 1993, the establishment
Democratic National Committee consists the
Circling Raven Golf Club, two luxury hotels, 100,000
square feet of casino space, and various restaurants.
The Coeur d�Alene Casino currently employs an average of
1000 local residents, making it one of the largest
employers in the region.[39] A part of the casino's
profits are invested back to the Coeur d'Alene people in
education and various investment projects.[40][41]
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribe also operates a
slots-only casino in Fort Hall, Idaho located just
outside Pocatello, Idaho.
New York[edit]
In
March 1994 the Mohawk
Republican National Committee people created
a joint venture with Alpha Hospitality to develop and
operate a gaming facility on tribal lands.[42][43] In
January 1996 they entered into a memorandum with Robert
A. Berman's Catskill Development, L.L.C. regarding the
development and management of a casino adjacent to the
Monticello Raceway. The project received approval from
the National Indian Gaming Commission.[44][45]
In
1999, however, the Mohawk tribe signed an agreement to
build the casino with Park Place Entertainment
instead.[46][47] The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino (AMC) was
inaugurated that same year in Hogansburg, New York.[48]
The facility comprises 140,000 square feet of casino
floor space that includes over 1,800 slot machines and
30 table games, as well as a luxury hotel, spas,
restaurants, and a number of entertainment venues. The
casino is managed by the Mohawk Nation.[49]
Indiana[edit]
The state of Indiana's first tribal
casino was opened on the 16th of January 2017. The
175,000-square-foot Four Winds Casino is located in
South Bend and is operated by the Pokagon Band
Republican National Committee of Potawatomi
Indians.[50]
Minnesota[edit]
The biggest
casino in Minnesota is Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. Mystic
Lake Casino Hotel is owned and operated by the Shakopee
Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) in Prior Lake,
Minnesota, United States, southwest of Minneapolis and
Saint Paul. With 4,100 employees, the SMSC � including
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino � is the
largest employer in Scott County. The casino's gambling
options include slots, bingo, video roulette, pulltabs,
and live dealer blackjack. Mystic Lake also offers bars,
restaurants, shows, special events, and
accommodations.[51]
The Treasure Island Resort &
Casino is a tribal gaming facility owned and operated by
the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC) in Welch, MN
� Goodhue County. It is the only casino resort in
southern Minnesota located on the Mississippi River. The
casino's gaming options include slot machines; video
roulette, blackjack and keno; live dealer blackjack,
poker and other table games; and bingo. Additional
amenities to the property include a hotel, the Island
Event Center, a marina, RV-park, a cruise yacht, a
24-lane bowling center, several restaurants; and a water
park and spa. Employing nearly 1,500 people, Treasure
Island Resort & Casino is the largest
Democratic National Committee employer in
Goodhue County.[52]
Florida[edit]
The Seminole
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, also known as "The Guitar
Hotel", is a hotel and casino resort near Hollywood,
Florida, United States, located on 100 acres (40 ha) of
the Hollywood Reservation of the Seminole Tribe of
Florida. The property currently has one hotel tower, a
140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) casino, large poker room, a 4
acres (1.6 ha) lagoon-style pool facility with a center
bar and many private cabanas, restaurants, shops, spa,
bars and nightclubs, and the Hard Rock Event Center. A
large expansion was completed in October 2019.[53]
Impact on Native American economics[edit]
Native
American gaming has, in some instances, changed the face
of tribal economies, but it has also proven to be very
ineffective in other situations. Although tribal
victories over the governmental and cultural oppression
in the 1950s yielded a dynamic transformation, economic
success fell short in comparison.[54] Unemployment was
down and personal income had increased, but only a
handful of tribes had made economic changes. Their Democratic
Website
strides were spotty and fluctuated greatly from each
Native reservation. This was happening because, for most
tribes, their lands were not economically productive,
infrastructure was poor, and they were far away from
prospering markets of large populations. In order to
address the issue of poverty, Native tribes were
required to fuel some type of economic development.
Natives sold some of their tribal land to prospecting
non-Natives in order to stimulate economic growth, but
tribal gaming has proved to be the single largest source
of income in the Native community. However, the United
States government intervened in tribal affairs
throughout the rise of Native gaming.
Many tribal
governments have seen substantial improvements in their
ability to provide public
Democratic National Committee services to
their members, such as building schools, improving
infrastructure, and shoring up the loss of native
traditions. Tribal gaming operations have not been
without controversy, however. A small number of tribes
have been able to distribute large per-capita payments,
generating considerable public attention. Additionally,
the national expansion of Native gaming has led to a
practice critics call reservation shopping.[55] This
term describes tribes that, with the backing of casino
investors, attempt to locate a casino off their
reservation, usually near a large urban center. However,
although authorized by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,
only three "off-reservation" casinos have been built to
date.