The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

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Recommended: Gambling and its effect

The 1987 ruling of the Supreme Court in California v Cabazon Band of Mission Indians stated that tribes could operate facilities without any state regulation, as they were sovereign political entities. No federal laws regarding gaming existed at this time.

Shortly after the Cabazon ruling, profitable gaming, including high stakes bingo began to be offered by various tribes across the country. The states, unable to regulate Indian gaming, began lobbying the federal government to grant them the ability to do so. In 1988 the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed into law. In essence, different types of gaming fall into different categories, and casino-style gaming falls into Class III. Tribes have the authority to regulate Class I and Class II games, but tribal authority to offer Class III gaming is restricted and requires, among other things, a tribal-state compact to be negotiated.

In an effort to provide jobs and reverse the poverty that had long plagued the Coeur d’Alene people, in 1989 tribal member David Matheson started conducting market analyses and feasibility studies for a casino to be built on the reservation. The plan, with approval of the state, was to build a 100,000 square-foot casino and offer both bingo and casino-style gaming.

In April of 1992, per IGRA, the Coeur d’Alene tribe started negotiations with the State of Idaho for a Class III compact. Two other Idaho tribes, during the months of June and July, also applied for Class III gaming compacts. At this point in time, Idaho did not specifically prohibit any form of casino-style gaming.

In the summer of 1992, Governor Andrus called a special legislative session in an apparent attempt to block casino-style gaming on the Indian reservations of Id...

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... Berg Integrated Systems, which was recently awarded a U.S. government contract for military fuel bladders. The tribe has built a wellness center, a tribal school, and the Benewah Medical Center, all of which are open to non-tribal individuals.

Local schools, both tribal and non-tribal, have benefitted greatly from the Coeur d’Alene Casino’s success. More than $14 million has been donated towards education since the casino opened in 1993.

Nearing the end of its seventh transformation, the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort will boast the addition of 100 luxury hotel rooms, a 15,000 square-foot deluxe spa and pool, a pub, gourmet steakhouse, and an outdoor amphitheater.

In this flagging economy, the casino has just hired another 200 people, bring the total number of employees to over 1,100; more than enough to fill the chairs in the original bingo hall to capacity.

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