Indian gaming and intergovernmental relations - State-level constraints on tribal political influence over policy outcomes

As a $25 billion industry generated by more than 220 tribes in 30 states, Indian gaming is today's fulcrum for tribal-state intergovernmental relations (IGR). Despite its widespread influence on communities throughout the United States, how Indian gaming shapes tribal state IGR remains inadequately studied and explained. A prominent hypothesis is that tribal governments increasingly engage in interest group behavior to further their interests. This article develops a case study of recent events in Minnesota to explore how tribes use gaming revenue to interact with state political systems and how effective tribes are at influencing political and policy outcomes related to Indian gaming. The article finds that the interest group model of tribal political behavior has considerable explanatory power; however, despite their use of insider tactics, tribes remain political outsiders subject to state authority. The article concludes that Indian gaming's potential to produce win-win outcomes is better served by mutually respectful government-to-government relations.