Tribal casinos in Minnesota operate under a combination of federal, state, and tribal laws. In 1988, the United States Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, to regulate gambling on Indian land while promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.
In 1989, Minnesota Statute 3.9221 was passed authorizing the Governor to enter into gambling compacts with the eleven sovereign tribal nations. These eleven compacts detail operational aspects such as game types, regulatory oversight, and enforcement provisions. However, the state does not receive a share of casino revenues. Minnesota Statute 3.9221 also mandates a Report to the Legislature on the Status of Indian Gaming containing “information on compacts negotiated, and an outline of prospective negotiations.”
Minnesota has also expanded this cooperative model beyond gaming to include medical and recreational cannabis commerce on tribal lands. Minnesota Statute 3.9224 authorizes medical cannabis compacts, while Minnesota Statute 3.9228 addresses adult-use recreational cannabis. So far, two tribes, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the White Earth Nation have negotiated cannabis tribal-state compacts.
These compacts reflect a trend of acknowledging tribal sovereignty while building collaborative regulatory frameworks between the state and tribal nations.
Please contact us with questions, for research assistance, or to borrow any books and reports: library@lrl.mn.gov or 651-296-8338.