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Gaming Land Decisions
Indian tribes may only game on Indian lands that are eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Such lands must meet the definition of “Indian lands” at 25 U.S.C. § 2703, which requires that the land be within the limits of a tribe’s reservation, be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the tribe or its member(s), or that the land be subject to restrictions against alienation by the United States for the benefit of the tribe or its member(s). Additionally, the tribe must have jurisdiction and exercise governmental powers over the gaming site.
The IGRA, 25 U.S.C. § 2719, contains a general prohibition against gaming on lands acquired into trust after October 17, 1988 (the date the IGRA was enacted into law). Tribes may game on such after-acquired trust land if the land meets one of the exceptions laid out in § 2719. Below are the fee-to-trust decisions and two-part secretarial determinations issued by the Department for after-acquired land for gaming.
This is not an exhaustive list of all Gaming Land Decisions in process. It is being continuously being updated as office information is received.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 139
| US State(s) | Tribe(s) | Title | Legal Theory | Decision Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona | Pascua Yaqui Decision
|
Initial Reservation | Approved | |
| Arizona | Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, & Utah | Navajo Nation Decision |
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| Arizona | Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona | Tohono O'odham Nation DecisionRemanded by Gila River Indian Cmty. v. United States, 729 F.3d 1139 (9th Cir. 2013), see July 23, 2014 Final Decision. |
Settlement of a Land Claim | Approved | |
| Arizona | Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona | Tohono O'odham Nation Decision
|
Settlement of a Land Claim | Approved | |
| Arizona | Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona | Tohono O'odham Nation DecisionJuly 23, 2014, Final decision on remand from Gila River Indian Cmty. v. United States, 729 F.3d 1139 (9th Cir. 2013). |
Settlement of a Land Claim | Approved | |
| California | Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California | Scotts Valley Reconsideration Decision 2026Decision on Reconsideration of January 10, 2025 Trust Acquisition Decision's determination on the applicability of IGRA's Restored Lands exception to the Vallejo Site |
Restored Lands | Disapproved | |
| California | Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of California | Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California | North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| California | Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California | Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California Decision |
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| California | Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California | Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria DecisionOn remand from Butte Cty. v. Hogen, 392 U.S. App. D.C. 25 (2010). |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Redding Rancheria, California | Redding Rancheria DecisionOn remand following Rancheria v. Jewell, 776 F.3d 706 (9th Cir. 2015). |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California | Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria DecisionRemanded by Butte Cty. v. Hogen, 392 U.S. App. D.C. 25 (2010). See Final Decision issued January 24, 2014. |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California | Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians DecisionRestored lands trust acquisition approved January 10, 2025, on remand from Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians v. US. Dep't of the Interior, 633 F. Supp. 3d 132, 171 (D.D.C. 2022). Gaming eligibility decision temporarily rescinded for reconsideration on March 27, 2025. A reconsideration of the gaming eligibility determination was issued on July 30, 2026. |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Lytton Rancheria of California | Lytton Band of Pomo Indians Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians, California | Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| California | Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, California | Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Decision |
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| California | Koi Nation of Northern California | Koi Nation of Northern California Decision
On remand from Koi Nation v. United States Dep't of the Interior, 361 F. Supp. 3d. 14 (D.D.C. 2019). |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Tejon Indian Tribe | Tejon Indian Tribe 180-Day Extension Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| California | Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, California | Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Timbisha Shoshone Tribe | Timbisha Shoshone Tribe Decision |
Initial Reservation | Approved | |
| California | Wilton Rancheria, California | Wilton Rancheria Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California | United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| California | Tejon Indian Tribe | Tejon Indian Tribe Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| California | Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California | Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| California | Big Lagoon Rancheria, California | Big Lagoon Rancheria Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved |
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An official website of the U.S. Department of the Interior