Indian gaming has exploded in the more than twenty-five years since Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). According to the 2014 Casino City’s Indian Gaming Industry Report, Indian tribes received $28.1 billion in gaming revenue in 2012.1 Less well documented is the growth and development of non-gaming enterprises supported by casino customers. These enterprises, located on tribal lands, include quick-service restaurants, entertainment, and recreation.

The historical stigma associated with gaming has disappeared,2 and customers view Indian casinos as a destination retreat where they can gamble, shop, eat, and relax. This presents an opportunity for both a franchisor, which can expand its geographic footprint and expose its brand to new customers who may not otherwise visit their local franchisee, and a tribal franchisee, which may value partnering with a franchisor with a strong brand that is widely known to non-Indian customers.

Originally published in the Franchise Law Journal • Vol. 34, No. 1 • Summer 2014.