Indian Gaming in the U.S.

Abstract

Legalized gaming on Indian reservations grew over 125 percent in the period from 1993 to 1996. Indian bingo and tribal casinos developed rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, accounting for $28.96 billion or 7.4 percent of the total money wagered in 1993. By 1996, this figure had increased to $65.18 billion or 11.1 percent. This growth has proved controversial in some states as it is only approved for Indian lands, provoking complaints from numerous non-Indian public and private interests. The expansion of gaming in the United States, the growth of Indian gaming, and the political, legal, economic, and social questions this development raises are discussed.