Native American gaming, before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, was rooted in the broader history of tribal sovereignty and economic resilience. By the 1970s and early 1980s, many tribes began using gaming, particularly high-stakes bingo, as a means of asserting sovereignty and generating revenue to support their communities.

Historical Context 

• Economic and Sovereignty Struggles: Native tribes, facing federal policies like Termination and Relocation, turned to gaming as a way to preserve economic and cultural autonomy.
• Legal Milestones: The 1976 case Bryan v. Itasca County helped solidify tribal sovereignty over economic activities. This paved the way for tribes like the Seminole to launch high-stakes bingo operations in defiance of state restrictions, symbolizing resistance and self-determination.
• Legal Challenges: Early gaming operations sparked conflicts between tribes and states, leading to key legal victories for tribes affirming their right to operate gaming establishments without state interference.

Cultural Significance

• Economic Empowerment: Early gaming profits supported vital social services, cultural preservation initiatives (language revitalization, protection of sacred lands), and community programs, bolstering tribal identity and resilience.
• Extension of Sovereignty: Gaming became a crucial symbol of tribal sovereignty, demonstrating tribes’ ability to self-govern and maintain economic independence.
• Community Impact: Profits were reinvested into cultural and social programs that helped revitalize and preserve Native traditions.

Using Indigenous Peoples of North America

To explore this history, the Indigenous Peoples of North America database offers a range of primary and secondary sources:

• Primary Documents: Treaties, legal cases, and government reports that discuss tribal sovereignty and early economic ventures
• Tribal Context: Testimonies from tribal leaders about the cultural significance of gaming and its role in maintaining sovereignty.
• Historical Articles: Studies on tribal efforts to resist state intervention and the impact of early gaming on Native communities.

The Indigenous Peoples of North America database can be used to gather these materials, allowing students to research how gaming emerged as a tool for both economic survival and cultural resilience

*Reference Meyer, Stephen. "Native American Tribal Casinos." Gambling in America, 2018 ed., Gale, 2018, pp. 45-56. Information Plus Reference Series. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3658100011