Notice: The uscode.house.gov website is currently operating in a temporary format. While the United States Code remains available from its authoritative source, some website features and functionality are temporarily unavailable.
The United States Code Online is current through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
Search & Browse Currency and Updating Classification Tables Popular Name Tool Positive Law Codification Editorial Reclassification Downloads
25 U.S.C. 2701: FindingsText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 25-INDIANSCHAPTER 29-INDIAN GAMING REGULATION

§2701. Findings

The Congress finds that⁠—

(1)  numerous Indian tribes have become engaged in or have licensed gaming activities on Indian lands as a means of generating tribal governmental revenue;

(2)  Federal courts have held that section 81 of this title requires Secretarial review of management contracts dealing with Indian gaming, but does not provide standards for approval of such contracts;

(3)  existing Federal law does not provide clear standards or regulations for the conduct of gaming on Indian lands;

(4)  a principal goal of Federal Indian policy is to promote tribal economic development, tribal self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government; and

(5)  Indian tribes have the exclusive right to regulate gaming activity on Indian lands if the gaming activity is not specifically prohibited by Federal law and is conducted within a State which does not, as a matter of criminal law and public policy, prohibit such gaming activity.

( Pub. L. 100–497, § 2 , Oct. 17, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2467 .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 100–497, § 1, Oct. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 2467, provided:

“That this Act [enacting this chapter and sections 1166 to 1168 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’.”