Opinion ID: 3039140
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The IGRA and the Tribes’ Gaming Compact With

Text: Idaho The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA”) provides a comprehensive framework for regulating gaming on Indian land. See 25 U.S.C. §§ 2701-2721. The IGRA divides tribal gaming into three classes: I, II and III. The parties agree that operation of the tribal video gaming machines at issue in this case constitutes class III gaming. Class III gaming may be conducted on Indian lands if it is: (1) authorized by the tribe seeking to conduct the gaming; (2) located in a State which does not bar such gaming; and (3) “conducted in conformance with a Tribal-State compact entered into by the Indian tribe and the State . . . .” 25 U.S.C. § 2710(d)(1). 1 We refer to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes by their plural name, but they constitute a single federally recognized Indian tribe. STATE OF IDAHO v. SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES 17549 In 2000, the Tribes and Idaho entered into a gaming Compact. See 65 Fed. Reg. 54541-03 (Sept. 8, 2000) (approval of the Compact by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs). The parties intended the Compact to “govern the licensing, regulation and operation of Class III gaming conducted by the Tribes on Indian Lands located within [Idaho].” Compact § 3(k). The Compact authorizes the Tribes to conduct any class III gaming activity “that the State of Idaho ‘permits for any purpose by any person, organization, or entity,’ as the phrase is interpreted in the [IGRA].” Compact § 4(a). Remarkably, the Compact did not specify a limit on the numbers of gaming machines, nor did it specify a term of the Compact’s duration. When the Compact was negotiated, the Tribes and State could not agree on what types of class III games Idaho allowed others to conduct. Idaho’s position was that “the electronic gaming currently conducted by the Tribes in Idaho is an imitation of casino games and prohibited under Idaho and federal law.” The Tribes’ position was that Idaho allowed all class III gaming except sports betting. Unable to compromise on the scope of permissible class III gaming, the parties agreed to seek a declaratory judgment to determine which class III games the Compact authorized. The Tribes and State each filed suit in the district court seeking declaratory relief. The court consolidated the cases into the present action.