victory in Cabazon. Over the objections of many Tribal Governments, Congress enacted IGRA on October 17, 1988, as a compromise that sought to balance tribal, federal, and state government interests. 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 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 first and foremost about jobs. Nationwide, Indian gaming is a proven job creator, delivering over 700,000 American jobs in 2022 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. Like any industry, Indian gaming has evolved since the early days in the 1970s. In 1984, eighty (80) Tribes were engaged in gaming with estimated revenues in the tens of millions. At the time, most Tribal gaming enterprises took place in temporary pop-up buildings or local tribal gyms.
5 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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