This is not an exhaustive list of all Gaming Decisions in process. It is being continuously being updated as office information is received.
Overview of Gaming Land Eligibility
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.
Displaying 51 - 75 of 139
| US State(s) | Tribe(s) | Title | Legal Theory | Decision Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan |
Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians Decision |
Initial Reservation | Approved | |
| Michigan | Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (previously listed as Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan) |
Match-E-Be-Nash-E-Wish Band (Gun Lake Tribe) of Pottawatomi Indians Decision |
Initial Reservation | Approved | |
| Michigan | Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan |
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Governor's Six-Month Extension Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| Michigan | Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan |
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| Michigan | Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan |
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| Michigan | Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan |
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community DecisionDepartmental approval May 9, 2000; Governor's Concurrence November 7, 2000. |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| Michigan | Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan |
Hannahville Indian Community DecisionDenied January 4, 2008; withdrawn January 25, 2012. |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - Mille Lacs Band |
White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Decision |
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - Mille Lacs Band |
White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Decision |
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| Minnesota | Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota |
Prairie Island Indian Community DecisionPositive Two-Part Secretarial Determination issued Nov. 8, 2024 (Enclosure 2); Governor's Concurrence issued Nov. 18, 2024 (Enclosure 3).
|
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| Missouri | The Osage Nation |
The Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino Resort ProjectThe Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Department of the Interior, has released a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) dated July 2025 for the Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino Resort Project (Proposed Project). The Proposed Project involves the acquisition into federal trust of approximately 27.6 acres of fee land owned by the Osage Nation (Nation) within the City of Lake Ozark in Miller County, Missouri (Project Site). The Project Site comprises one parcel (Assessor Parcel No. 129032000000012000) and is bounded by Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway. The Project Site will be used for the development of a Class II gaming facility and hotel. The Proposed Action includes the federal approvals requested by the Nation to implement its project, including the transfer of the Project Site into federal trust status for the benefit of the Nation under Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. § 5108, and issuance of a Two-Part Determination by the Secretary of the Interior under Section 20 of Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. § 2719. The EA has been completed in accordance with requirements set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq., and assesses potential environmental impacts that could result from the BIA’s approval of the Proposed Action. The BIA serves as the Lead Agency for NEPA compliance. Based on the analysis and impacts discussed in the EA and comments received during the public review period, the BIA will decide whether to reach a Finding of No Significant Impact or require additional analysis. 25 CFR 2.203 requires a 30-day appeal period, after the decision to proceed with the action is made, before the action may be implemented. The Draft EA is available for public review beginning July 31, 2025. Written comments should be received on or before September 2, 2025. Written comments for the EA should be addressed to: Regional Director, BIA, EORO, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402-8002 or submitted via email to admin@osagelakeozarkea.com. |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Pending | |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians |
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| Montana | Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana |
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| North Dakota | Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota |
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation Decision |
Within Last Recognized Reservation | Approved | |
| Nebraska | Ponca Tribe of Nebraska |
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Decision |
Restored Lands | Approved | |
| Nebraska | Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska |
Santee Sioux Tribe Decision
|
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| New Mexico | Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico |
Pueblo of Jemez Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| New Mexico | Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico |
Pueblo of Jemez Decision
|
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| New York | Seneca Nation of Indians |
Seneca Nation of Indians of New York Decision |
Settlement of a Land Claim | Approved | |
| New York | Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe |
St. Regis Mohawk DecisionTwo-Part Secretarial Determination approval issued April 6, 2000; Governor's Concurrence received Feb. 18, 2007; Departmental Part 151 Trust Acquisition denied Jan. 4, 2003. |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Approved | |
| New York | Rappahannock Tribe, Inc. |
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Decision |
Two-Part Secretarial Determination | Disapproved | |
| New York | Oneida Indian Nation |
Oneida Indian Nation Decision
|
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| New York | Oneida Indian Nation |
Oneida Indian Nation Decision |
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved | |
| New York | Cayuga Nation |
Cayuga Indian Nation of New York DecisionThis decision was reconsidered and reversed by the March 29, 2023 approval.
|
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Disapproved | |
| New York | Cayuga Nation |
Cayuga Indian Nation of New York Decision
|
Within or Contiguous to Reservation Boundaries | Approved |
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