What is the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act?
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988 is a federal law that governs the regulation of gaming activities on Indian lands in the United States. Under IGRA, federally recognized Indian tribes are allowed to operate gaming activities on their reservation lands as a means of generating revenue to cover the costs of tribal government and programs, and to provide job opportunities for tribal members. The law establishes a three-part framework for regulating Indian gaming activity, namely, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), which is charged with the development and enforcement of regulations, the Indian tribes, which are allowed to conduct such gaming activities in accordance with applicable laws, and state governments, which are responsible for negotiating agreements with tribes for the regulation of such activities. In Oklahoma, there are over 30 federally recognized Native American tribes with two thirds of them having some form of gaming activity. The tribes in Oklahoma have concluded compacts with the state government that regulate and tax their gaming activities. These compacts provide the tribes with a regulatory framework for both Class II and Class III gaming activities. Class II gaming activities include, among other things, bingo, pull-tabs, and other similar games. Class III gaming activities, such as slot machines, blackjack, and roulette, require a state-tribal compact to be in place in order for them to be conducted legally. In conclusion, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is an important federal law that regulates and oversees gaming activities on Indian lands. It establishes a three-part framework for regulating these activities and promotes the development of federal-state-tribal compacts in order to ensure responsible gaming practices and the stabilization of revenue generated by such activities.
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