What is the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act?

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) is a law passed by the United States Congress in 1988 in order to provide a legal framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands in the United States. The law was designed to help build tribal economies and promote tribal self-determination. The law created three distinct classes of games that are allowed to be conducted on Indian lands. The first class is social gaming, which includes traditional games such as bingo and poker. The second class is casino-style gaming, which includes slot machines, craps, and blackjack. The third class is the most restrictive and only allows for the conduct of “Class I” gaming, which includes traditional tribal games such as stick-game or the dice game. When IGRA was passed, it also created the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the governing body that oversees Indian gaming across the United States. The NIGC enforces the law and regulations as outlined in IGRA and works with tribes to ensure fair and consistent regulation of gaming on Indian lands. Through this agency, tribes have the ability to negotiate “compacts” with states for the regulation of Class III gaming operations. In Oklahoma, IGRA is applied to the state’s gaming operations by two separate laws: the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (OKIGRA) and the Oklahoma Tribal State Gaming Compact (OTSGC). The OKIGRA requires that all gaming conducted on Indian lands be conducted in accordance with IGRA. The OTSGC allows Indian tribes to enter into agreements with the state to operate Class III gaming operations, such as electronic gaming devices, lotteries, sports betting, and more. These two laws govern gaming operations in Oklahoma and provide a framework for tribes and the state to work together.

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