No, Native American tribes do not own all US casinos. Tribes own the tribal casinos on Indian lands, which the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) counted at 545 gaming establishments run by 246 tribes in 29 states in fiscal year 2025. Commercial casinos, including almost every resort on the Las Vegas Strip and in Atlantic City, are owned by companies such as MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment and licensed by state regulators.
Tribal gaming is still huge. The NIGC reported a record $46.2 billion in tribal gross gaming revenue for fiscal year 2025 (announced 21 July 2026), up 5.3% on the year before. This guide explains how tribal casinos came about, how they are regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, and what actually differs for players.
Tribal vs commercial casinos at a glance
| Tribal casinos | Commercial casinos | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | A federally recognized tribe (a sovereign government) | Private or publicly listed companies |
| Location | Indian lands held in trust or reservation land | Wherever state law allows, e.g. the Las Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, riverboats |
| Main law | Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), 1988, plus tribal-state compacts | State gaming acts |
| Regulators | Tribal gaming commission, the NIGC, and the state under the compact | State gaming commission or control board |
| Where revenue goes | Tribal government, member welfare, economic development (required by IGRA) | Shareholders, after state gaming taxes |
| Latest annual revenue | $46.2 billion (FY 2025, NIGC) | $78.61 billion (2025, American Gaming Association, incl. sports betting and iGaming) |
How tribal casinos began
Modern tribal gaming started with high-stakes bingo. The Seminole Tribe of Florida opened a bingo hall in Hollywood, Florida, in 1979 offering prizes larger than state law allowed, and won the right to do so in federal court. Other tribes followed through the early 1980s. In 1987, the US Supreme Court ruled in California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians that a state which permits a form of gambling cannot use its own regulatory rules to stop tribes offering that gambling on their lands.
Congress responded with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, signed on 17 October 1988. IGRA created the NIGC and the three-class system that still governs every tribal casino today.
The three classes of tribal gaming under IGRA
| Class | What it covers (25 U.S.C. 2703) | Who regulates |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Social games for prizes of minimal value and traditional forms of Indian gaming tied to ceremonies or celebrations | The tribe alone |
| Class II | Bingo (including electronic aids), pull-tabs, lotto, punch boards and similar games, plus non-banked card games such as poker where state law allows them. Banking card games such as blackjack and baccarat, and slot machines, are excluded | The tribe, with NIGC oversight; no state compact needed |
| Class III | Everything else: slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and other house-banked games | The tribe, the NIGC and the state, under a tribal-state compact |
Under 25 U.S.C. 2710, Class III gaming is lawful only if the tribe has an approved gaming ordinance, the casino is in a state that permits such gaming for any purpose by any person, organization or entity, and a tribal-state compact is in effect. That is why the games on offer at a tribal casino depend heavily on the state it sits in.
Class II “slot machines” are really bingo
Because slot machines are Class III, tribes without a compact (or with a limited one) use Class II electronic bingo machines that look like slots. Each spin is actually a play in an electronic bingo game against other players, and a small bingo card is shown somewhere on the screen; the reels simply display the result. If you see that small card, you are playing a Class II game. You will not find these machines in commercial casinos.
Who manages tribal casinos?
Many tribes run their casinos themselves through a tribal gaming enterprise. Others hire a commercial operator under a management contract, which the NIGC must approve. IGRA caps the term at five years (up to seven if the tribe requests it and the NIGC Chair agrees) and the fee at 30% of net revenues (up to 40% where large capital investment justifies it).
The best-known example is Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina: it is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and managed by Caesars Entertainment, which carries the Harrah’s brand but does not own the property. The flow also runs the other way. The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns Hard Rock International, and the Mohegan Tribe’s gaming arm runs casinos outside its own reservation, so some commercial casinos are in fact owned by tribal enterprises.
Do all tribes have casinos?
No. There are 575 federally recognized tribes as of the Bureau of Indian Affairs list published on 30 January 2026, which added the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina after Congress granted it recognition in December 2025. Only 246 tribes reported gaming revenue to the NIGC for FY 2025. Many reservations are too remote to support a casino, some tribes choose not to game, and others are in states that allow little gambling.
Revenue is also highly concentrated: a minority of large casinos near big cities, such as the Connecticut resorts Foxwoods (Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation) and Mohegan Sun (Mohegan Tribe), earn a large share of the total, while many small tribal casinos earn modest sums.
Where the money goes
IGRA restricts how net gaming revenue can be used: funding tribal government operations or programs, providing for the general welfare of members, promoting economic development, donating to charities and helping fund local government agencies. Tribes may pay part of the revenue directly to members as per capita payments only under a revenue allocation plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and those payments are subject to federal income tax. The older version of this page claimed that only “72 to 74” tribal casinos could make such payments; the NIGC publishes no such figure, and the claim has been removed.
Is there any difference for players?
- Games: a Class III tribal casino can look exactly like a Las Vegas casino. In states with limited compacts, you may find Class II bingo-based machines and poker instead of house-banked table games.
- Rules and payback: table rules and machine standards come from the compact and tribal regulations, not from the state gaming act. Few tribes publish slot payback data, so judge games by their posted rules (for blackjack, 3:2 vs 6:5 payouts) and our explainer on RTP and house edge.
- Disputes: complaints go first to the tribal gaming commission, not the state. Because tribes are sovereign, private lawsuits against them face sovereign-immunity hurdles; our page on service animals in casinos covers one example, the 1999 Miccosukee ruling under the ADA.
- Age: the minimum age at tribal casinos is set by the compact or tribe, and some tribal casinos admit players aged 18, while commercial casinos in most states require 21. Check before you travel.
Tribes and online casinos
IGRA was written for gaming on Indian lands, so online play depends on state law and compacts. In Connecticut, regulated online casinos launched in October 2021 through the two tribes: the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation with DraftKings and the Mohegan Tribe with FanDuel. Nationally, eight states have legalised online casinos; seven markets are live (NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT, DE, RI); Maine legalised a tribal-only market (LD 1164: became law without the governor’s signature in January 2026, effective 29 Jul 2026) that has not launched (Oct 2026). Our guide to live online casinos for US players covers what is legal where.
Visiting a tribal casino
Tribal resorts are some of the largest casinos in the country and are often the closest option for players far from Nevada or New Jersey. If you plan a gambling trip, our road trips for blackjack players and best days to go to the casino help with timing, and casino etiquette applies on any floor. Set a budget before you go; free, confidential help is available 24/7 at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) or ncpgambling.org, and more tools are on our responsible gambling page.
Frequently asked questions
Do Native Americans own all casinos in the US?
No. Tribes own tribal casinos on Indian lands, 545 gaming establishments run by 246 tribes in 29 states in fiscal year 2025 according to the NIGC. Commercial casinos, including nearly all of the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City, are owned by companies and licensed by states.
How much money do tribal casinos make?
The National Indian Gaming Commission reported a record $46.2 billion in tribal gross gaming revenue for fiscal year 2025, announced on 21 July 2026, up 5.3% or $2.3 billion on FY 2024.
Why can Native American tribes have casinos?
Tribes are sovereign governments. After the Supreme Court’s 1987 Cabazon decision, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, which lets tribes offer gaming on Indian lands: Class II with NIGC oversight and Class III (slots and banked table games) under a tribal-state compact in states that permit such gaming.
What is the difference between Class II and Class III gaming?
Class II covers bingo, pull-tabs and non-banked card games such as poker, including electronic bingo machines that look like slots. Class III covers everything else, including slot machines, blackjack, roulette and craps, and requires a tribal-state compact.
Do all tribal members get casino money?
No. Only tribes with gaming revenue can pay it, and IGRA allows per capita payments only under a revenue allocation plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior. The payments are subject to federal income tax. Many tribes put revenue into government services instead.
How many federally recognized tribes are there?
575, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs list published on 30 January 2026, which added the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Only 246 tribes reported gaming revenue to the NIGC for fiscal year 2025.
Sources
- NIGC: NIGC Announces $46.2 Billion in FY 2025 Gross Gaming Revenues (21 Jul 2026)
- NIGC: Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (enacted 17 Oct 1988)
- 25 U.S.C. 2703: definitions of Class I, II and III gaming
- 25 U.S.C. 2710: tribal gaming ordinances, use of net revenues, per capita payments, Class III compacts
- 25 U.S.C. 2711: management contracts (term and fee limits)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: Lumbee Tribe added to official list of federally recognized tribes (30 Jan 2026)
- Casino.org: AGA State of the States 2026, commercial gaming revenue $78.61bn in 2025
Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the page address. Verified corrections are made with a dated note.