Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. § 2710) is the federal law governing gaming activities within Indian country. Passed in 1988, the IGRA outlines the requirements and expectations of the federal agency charged with overseeing Indian gaming activities, the National Indian Gaming Commission, as well as for tribes engaged in gaming.

Statutes

Gaming activities in the Cherokee Nation are governed by numerous state, federal, and tribal laws that provide the framework under which all Cherokee gaming facilities operate. These statutes are designed to work together to safeguard the integrity of the gaming experience, the environmental, public health, and safety for the employee and public, and financial accountability and work to ensure the Cherokee people are the beneficiary of all gaming activities.

Updated January 29, 2026