Prior to 1988, a number of Indian Tribes began to engage in, regulate, and tax gaming enterprises within their territories in an attempt to generate revenues to provide additional governmental and social services to their people.  After the Supreme Court decided that it was generally lawful for them to do so in 1988, Congress enacted the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act which recognized the authority of Indian Tribal Governments to regulate and conduct gaming on their Indian lands. In the same legislation, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) was created, and given responsibility to monitor and regulate certain forms of gaming conducted on Indian lands. The NIGC has authority to approve management contracts; conduct background investigations; approve tribal gaming ordinances; and review and conduct audits of the books and records of Indian gaming operations. The NIGC also has the authority and responsibility to enforce violations of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, lawful NIGC regulations, and approved gaming ordinances.

    The Indian Gaming Law course will offer an overview of the federal law recognizing and regulating gaming by Indian Tribes, Bands, and Nations on Indian lands. The text for this class is: Rice, Tribal Governmental Gaming Law, Cases and Materials (Carolina Academic Press, 2006).

    Grades: Your grade will be based upon your class attendance, preparation, and participation as well as your performance on graded class work which may be assigned and the final examination. After two absences or days on which you are not prepared to participate meaningfully in the class discussions, I reserve the option of reducing your grade in the class. A final examination will be required.