Indian Law & Gaming

In recent years, there has been rapid growth in gaming activities throughout the country, fueled significantly by the rapid expansion of Indian gaming. This has been facilitated by a federal law (the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act or "IGRA"), which gives special treatment to gaming activities located on Indian lands.

State and local governments have recognized the opportunity to take advantage of the economic growth and revenues associated with gaming and have cautiously explored ways to obtain revenue and other benefits arising from gaming, while avoiding undesirable impacts and costs. This combination of factors has led to the rapid growth of the legal and political issues related to gaming, in general, and Indian gaming, in particular. These issues are often intertwined, and present complex and unusual legal issues for states and localities.

Our practice is constructed to provide specialized services on such issues. We have a national practice that supports state and local governments, communities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments and others in addressing gaming law, Indian gaming and related resource and development issues. We offer experience in gaming law, Indian law, tribal acknowledgment, land acquisition, land claims, sovereign immunity issues, environmental and natural resource disputes, casino siting, local impacts, and related issues.

Our services include:

• Strategic counseling;
• Administrative law and regulatory representation;
• Legislative counsel and advocacy;
• Negotiation and litigation.

We focus on developing successful arrangements among states, local communities, businesses, and tribes regarding issues associated with gaming and Indian gaming. We seek collaborative approaches to the legal and political issues involves but are equipped to take legal action when necessary to protect client interests. We have helped clients respond effectively to some of the largest and most complex gaming-related disputes in the United States involving virtually all aspects of gaming law, including federal Indian policy, and the state and local issues related to general gaming law and policy.