Gaming Regulation

Federally recognized tribes are the frontline regulators of tribal government gaming. They have placed the highest priority on the security of the industry. No one has a greater interest in protecting the integrity of Indian gaming than tribes. It is the most precious economic resource they've ever had. Tribes have agreed to allow the federal government to play a role in overseeing Indian gaming, but they will never rely on the federal government to be the primary protector against crime.

Tribal government gaming is already subject to more stringent regulation and security controls than any other type of gaming in the United States. Tribal gaming operations are regulated at four distinct levels - tribal government, state government, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and federal government agencies such as the U.S. Justice Department, the FBI, the IRS and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Tribal regulators are experienced law enforcement officers and professionals, such as former FBI agents, state SWAT team members, tribal police, and state regulators. Overall, there are some 3,350 tribal gaming regulators in force today.

Compacts between states and tribes give states some regulatory power over tribal government gaming, though IGRA recognizes that the federal government has primary responsibility for government-to-government relations with sovereign Indian nations.

In 2006, Tribal governments nationwide spent nearly $340 million to regulate Indian gaming, including more than $255 million on tribal regulation and $70 million to state gaming regulatory agencies..