American Indian Gaming & Compact Negotiation

American Indian gaming has strengthened tribal governments and vastly improved the quality of reservation life for many gaming tribes.

We have significant experience with tribal gaming issues, both as representatives of tribal entities and as former federal officials involved in such issues.

Our lawyers previously worked in senior positions at the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the Department of the Interior, in Congress and at key federal agencies relevant to American Indian gaming matters. We have developed strong relationships with these entities, which advantageously positions Akin to represent and advocate for our tribal clients before them. Our lawyers are well versed in the intricacies of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Our gaming practice focuses on the finance, development, construction, operation and regulation of resorts and gaming projects of American Indian nations. Our lawyers have specific experience with:

Land acquisitions
Approval of land-into-trust applications
Gaming eligibility determinations
Negotiation of tribal-state gaming compacts and obtainment of approval of such compacts
Assistance in establishing tribal corporations
Obtainment of financing for tribal economic development projects
Assistance with matters related to the construction of gaming facilities and the management of such facilities
Representation of tribes in legal and political matters that arise after the completion and operation of gaming facilities.

In addressing the unique and complex issues associated with our American Indian gaming practice, our corporate lawyers work closely with the firm’s American Indian law & policy practice, recognized by Chambers USA as one of the leading practices in the nation. We also work closely with the firm’s real estate, litigation, labor & employment, lobbying & public policy and tax practices.

Representative Matters

Advised a tribe in New York on the establishment of two metropolitan Class III gaming facilities. We negotiated its tribal-state compact, facilitated the expeditious federal approval of the compact and obtained favorable determinations on applications for restricted fee status for the lands on which the gaming facilities have been placed. We also advised on all other issues relating to the financing and construction of the tribe’s casinos, which opened approximately two years after the beginning of the project.
Represented a Midwestern tribe in the first successful appeal of a gaming ordinance disapproval to the full NIGC, which involved the gaming eligibility of the tribe’s trust lands.
Assisted tribal clients in their efforts to obtain trust or restricted land and develop gaming facilities in various regions of the country, such as California and a number of Midwestern states, including Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Our gaming practice focuses on the finance, development, construction, operation and regulation of resorts and gaming projects of American Indian nations. Our lawyers have specific experience with:

Land acquisitions
Approval of land-into-trust applications
Gaming eligibility determinations
Negotiation of tribal-state gaming compacts and obtainment of approval of such compacts
Assistance in establishing tribal corporations
Obtainment of financing for tribal economic development projects
Assistance with matters related to the construction of gaming facilities and the management of such facilities
Representation of tribes in legal and political matters that arise after the completion and operation of gaming facilities.

Representative Matters

Advised a tribe in New York on the establishment of two metropolitan Class III gaming facilities. We negotiated its tribal-state compact, facilitated the expeditious federal approval of the compact and obtained favorable determinations on applications for restricted fee status for the lands on which the gaming facilities have been placed. We also advised on all other issues relating to the financing and construction of the tribe’s casinos, which opened approximately two years after the beginning of the project.
Represented a Midwestern tribe in the first successful appeal of a gaming ordinance disapproval to the full NIGC, which involved the gaming eligibility of the tribe’s trust lands.
Assisted tribal clients in their efforts to obtain trust or restricted land and develop gaming facilities in various regions of the country, such as California and a number of Midwestern states, including Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma.