While IGRA does require Tribes to negotiate agreements or “compacts” with state governments to conduct Class III gaming, the Act is grounded in respect for Tribal sovereignty and the status of Indian tribes as separate governments. IGRA’s primary purpose is “promoting tribal economic development, tribal self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.” The Act is far from perfect, but in spite of it’s limitations, Tribal governments have made it work. Indian gaming today remains the most successful economic development tool employed by Tribal governments, providing them a consistent and stable source of revenue that Tribes have used to rebuild their communities. Indian gaming is a proven job creator, delivering almost 700,000 American jobs in 2023 alone. Jobs generated by Indian gaming provide many Native Americans with their first opportunity to work at home on the reservation. Over the years, Native citizens have returned to reservations, drawn by increased employment opportunities and the many improvements that have resulted from resources provided by Indian gaming. Our industry has begun to revitalize reservations nationwide. Tribal governments have used gaming revenues to improve housing, health care, education, infrastructure, and so much more. Because of Indian gaming, Indian lands are again becoming livable homelands, as promised in hundreds of treaties. Indian gaming operations and the types of games offered, have also undergone continuous change since 1988. Far from its attempt at restricting Indian gaming, Tribal leaders and Indian gaming professionals have fostered a gaming technological evolution for the entire industry. The Class II Indian gaming industry stood at the vanguard of these changes early on. Using IGRA’s text and its legislative history, Tribes used advancing technology to broaden the types of Class II games employed in their operations. Tribes began to use electronic Class II machines that increased both the speed of the games and the participation levels.
5 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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