Gaming Law

We are pleased to announce our new slate of subcommittees and subcommittee leaders: * Commercial Gaming, * Indian Gaming, * International & Internet Gaming, and * Programs & Publications.

Federal statutes prohibit, among other things, the mailing or transportation in interstate or foreign commerce of promotions for lotteries or the sending of lottery tickets themselves. The text of the several statutes is set forth below.

This Website is an effort to make available a wide range of information on gambling laws at both the State and Federal levels governing the legality of various forms of gambling and gaming.

In making a prosecutorial determination whether a particular ship is a gambling ship within the meaning of this definition, it will be presumed that a ship which operates one or more gambling establishments on board is a "gambling ship," unless it cruises for a minimum of 24 hours with meals and lodging provided for all passengers, or unless it docks at a foreign port.

Gaming law can be described as the set of rules and regulations that apply to the gaming or gambling industry. Gaming law is not exactly a branch of law in the traditional sense but rather a transversal gathering of a range of legal topics related to gaming which encompasses matters normally included in various branches of law, including constitutional law, administrative law, tax law, company law, contract law and criminal law.

The Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970 was enacted as part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. The statute (18 U.S.C. §1955) was aimed at syndicated gambling,[1] that is, large-scale, illegal gambling operations that were thought to be financing organized crime.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) requires that tribes engaged in class II or class III gaming adopt a tribal gaming ordinance and that that ordinance must be approved by the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. To assist you in complying with the ordinance requirements of the IGRA and the Commission's regulations, the Commission has drafted a model ordinance which is enclosed for your use. You may wish to consider adopting the model ordinance and submitting it to the Commission.

This section of the Internet Law Library contains court decisions that address the legality of operating online casinos, lotteries, bookmaking or other gambling operations that accept bets or wagers online or via telephone from individuals located in the United States.

The Office of Indian Gaming Management, under the supervision of the Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Economic Development and Policy, is responsible for implementing those gaming-related activities assigned to the Bureau of Indian Affairs by the Indian Gaming regulatory Act and other Federal laws. The office develops policies and procedures for review and approval of: tribal/state compacts; per capita distributions of gaming revenues; and requests to take land into trust for purpose of conducting gaming. Work is coordinated with the National Indian Gaming Commission and with state, local and tribal governments that may be impacted by gaming proposals.

The IGRA requires that each Tribe enact a Tribal Gaming Ordinance that is approved by the NIGC Chairman before opening a gaming operation. The IGRA, 25 U.S.C. § 2710, and NIGC regulations, 25 C.F.R. Part 522, require certain provisions to appear in the ordinance. Additional guidance is provided in NIGC Bulletins 1993-1 and 2005-5.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) opened its office in Washington, D.C., in June 1995 with the fundamental goal of creating a better understanding of the gaming entertainment industry by bringing facts about the industry to the general public, elected officials, other decision makers and the media through education and advocacy.

The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) is a nonprofit professional corporation dedicated to the study and development of gaming law. Formed in 1980, it has grown to more than 500 members worldwide. The high point of IAGA’s year is the annual joint conference with its sister organization the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) is an organization of gaming regulators from around the world who communicate on a continuing basis about matters of common interest and convene annually at a formal meeting.

The International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) is an invitation-only, non-profit association dedicated to education and the advancement of the gaming law profession, and to establishing an exchange of professional information about the local and global practice and development of gaming law.

The National Center for Responsible Gaming is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder.

Nonprofit organization with information on tribal gaming casinos, newsletters, and Indian Gaming Myths from around the country.

As an independent federal regulatory agency of the United States, the National Indian Gaming Commission (Commission) was established pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (Act). The Commission comprises a Chairman and two Commissioners, each of whom serves on a full-time basis for a three-year term. The Chairman is appointed by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate. The Secretary of the Interior appoints the other two Commissioners. Under the Act, at least two of the three Commissioners must be enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe, and no more than two members may be of the same political party.

NAGRA is a nonprofit professional association of gaming regulators throughout North America. The organization brings together agencies that regulate gaming activities and provides them a forum for the mutual exchange of regulatory information and techniques.

Gaming Law Review and Economics is the only authoritative Journal covering traditional land-based, Internet, and wireless gaming law in one of the fastest growing economic leisure industries. The Journal provides the latest developments in legislative, regulatory and judicial decisions affecting gaming at both the state and federal level in the U.S. and in more than 75 countries.

Indian Gaming Magazine was launched in 1990 by Steve Burke (now President of ArrowPoint Media) and his father, Duane Burke of PGR Institute, Inc. Steve and Duane believed a monthly magazine with relevant gaming information was needed for the newly emerging Indian gaming marketplace.

Industry job openings, news headlines and industry associations.