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