This resulted in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 that recognized the ability of the tribe to run casinos as per a contract negotiated between the state and tribe and approved by the U.S. Today, many Native American tribal lands are venues for casinos in states where casinos are not usually allowed.įollowing a ruling in 1987, the Supreme Court ruled that if gambling was legal in the state then it had no right to regulate gambling activities. The authorities took the tribe to court and in 1979 and the Supreme Court ruled in the defendants’ favor, as the state did not have the right to tax reservation occupants or regulate their activities. Even though the state tried to halt operations as the gaming operation, it became an instant tourist destination. The birth of Native American gambling began when the Seminole tribe ignored local Florida laws and ran a high stakes bingo operation.
The 493 Native American gaming operations operate across 28 states and generate annual revenues nearing $30 billion. The Native American gaming industry began in the 1970s in Florida and today accounts for 43% of all casinos gaming revenue in the United States.