| Casinos are nothing new and they can be | | | | that states do not have any regulatory |
| found just about anywhere your travels | | | | authority when it comes to Indian |
| take you in the United States. The | | | | reservation casinos. |
| state of Arizona is no different. If | | | | The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 |
| you live in Arizona or have traveled | | | | permitted states and Indian Tribes to |
| there, you have likely passed by one or | | | | be able to regulate Class III Tribal |
| more of the ever popular casinos in the | | | | gaming, which is inclusive of games such |
| desert southwest. | | | | as blackjack, slot machines, keno and |
| A study done by NAU (Northern Arizona | | | | other such related casino style games. |
| University) confirmed the popularity | | | | During the early 1990s, there were |
| through an extensive research project. | | | | several Arizona Tribes that had |
| NAU researched gaming and when the study | | | | installed slot machines in their casinos |
| was completed, the results were very | | | | even though none of them had |
| clear. The report indicated that | | | | Tribal-State Gaming Compacts with the |
| one-third of all Arizonans responded | | | | state. The then Arizona governor, Fife |
| that they too, had gambled in a casino | | | | Symington, believed that Indian |
| in Arizona. | | | | reservations should not have casinos |
| In 1988, the U.S. It was Congress who | | | | because at that time, Arizona didn't |
| passed an act which later became known | | | | permit any gambling that was considered |
| as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, | | | | off-reservation. |
| also referred to as IGRA. IGRA has | | | | Tribes contended that Arizona was |
| long recognized the popular | | | | already permitting gambling by allowing |
| entertainment form of gaming and has | | | | gambling acts such as horse and dog |
| used it as a means to promote economic | | | | racing, charity bingo games, as well as |
| development of many Indian Tribes. | | | | the state lotteries that were readily |
| Many people feel that casinos have been | | | | available. |
| the answer to the Native Americans | | | | The National Indian Gaming Commission |
| becoming self sufficient and promoting | | | | issued rules that clarified these rules |
| each of the Tribes government through | | | | in 1992, which said that a Tribe must |
| their profited monies from these Arizona | | | | have a gaming Compact with a state |
| casinos. | | | | before it is allowed to operate slot |
| The AIGA organization represents the | | | | machines on its land. |
| membership of some 19 Tribes and | | | | Following this ruling, the Arizona |
| represent 90 percent of the Native | | | | Governor called on the United States |
| American Indians who live on the | | | | Attorney in Phoenix, Arizona, to proceed |
| reservations within the sate of Arizona. | | | | to shut down any and all casinos that |
| This organization was created to help | | | | had slot machines. It was like |
| both protect and promote the welfare of | | | | something that you would see in a movie. |
| Native American Indian Tribes. Their | | | | FBI agents raided several Indian gaming |
| focus has been, and still is, is to help | | | | casinos and seized their gaming slot |
| their members strive to be self reliant. | | | | machines. |
| The organization stands by their belief | | | | At the Fort McDowell Casino located near |
| that they are most definitely committed | | | | Scottsdale, Arizona, many of the Native |
| to both maintaining and protecting the | | | | American Tribal members tried to prevent |
| Indian sovereign government authority. | | | | these agents from removing their slot |
| The Regulatory Act permits any state to | | | | machines by forming a blockade which |
| be able to operate Native American | | | | resulted in a three week long standoff. |
| Indian gaming on the reservations as | | | | One year later in 1993, the governor |
| long as the state permits such gaming | | | | signed off on an agreement with the |
| activities off-reservation. | | | | Native American Indian tribes which |
| The IGRA Act was a result of a Supreme | | | | allowed Tribes to have these gaming slot |
| Court ruling that basically said that | | | | machines on each of their reservations. |
| states do not have any leverage over | | | | Not included in this Compact agreement |
| gaming on any United States Tribe | | | | were any table games. In 2003, however, |
| reservation. | | | | the popular game of blackjack was added |
| Prior to this Act, the 1987 U.S. Supreme | | | | to the list of table games that were |
| Court ruling in California v. Cabazon | | | | allowed. |
| Band of Mission Indians, really meant | | | | |