<P> The state of Indiana's first tribal casino was opened on the 16th of January 2017 . The 175,000 - square - foot Four Winds Casino is located in South Bend and is operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians . </P> <P> Native American gaming has, in some instances, changed the face of tribal economies, but it has also proven to be very ineffective in other situations . Although tribal victories over the governmental and cultural oppression in the 1950s yielded a dynamic transformation, economic success fell short in comparison . Unemployment was down and personal income had increased, but only a handful of tribes had made economic changes . Their strides were spotty and fluctuated greatly from each Native reservation . This was happening because, for most tribes, their lands were not economically productive, infrastructure was poor, and they were far away from prospering markets of large populations . In order to address the issue of poverty, Native tribes were required to fuel some type of economic development . Natives sold some of their tribal land to prospecting non-Natives in order to stimulate economic growth, but tribal gaming has proved to be the single largest amount of income in the Native community . However, the United States government intervened in tribal affairs throughout the rise of Native gaming . </P> <P> Many tribal governments have seen substantial improvements in their ability to provide public services to their members, such as building schools, improving infrastructure, and shoring up the loss of native traditions . Tribal gaming operations have not been without controversy, however . A small number of tribes have been able to distribute large per - capita payments, generating considerable public attention . Additionally, the national expansion of Native Gaming has led to a practice critics call reservation shopping . This term describes tribes that, with the backing of casino investors, attempt to locate a casino off their reservation, usually near a large urban center . However, although authorized by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, only three "off - reservation" casinos have been built to date . </P> <P> In June 2004, in an effort to identify and direct resources to Native gaming matters, the FBI and NIGC created the Indian Gaming Working Group (IGWG). The IGWG's purpose is to identify resources to address the most pressing criminal violations in the area of Native gaming . This group consists of representatives from a variety of FBI subprograms (i.e. Economic Crimes Unit, Money Laundering Unit, LCN / Organized Crime Unit, Asian Organized Crime Unit, Public Corruption / Government Fraud Unit, Cryptographic Racketeering Analysis Unit, and Indian Country Special Jurisdiction Unit) and other federal agencies, which include Department of Interior Office of Inspector General (DOI - OIG), NIGC, Internal Revenue Service Tribal Government Section (IRS - TGS), Department of Treasure Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement Services (BIA - OLES). The IGWG meets monthly to review Native gaming cases deemed to have a significant impact on the Native gaming industry . As a result of these meetings, several investigations have been initiated and the IGWG, through its member agencies, has provided financial resources, travel funds, liaison assistance, personnel resources, coordination assistance and consultation . </P>

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