California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians |
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| Argued December 9, 1986 Decided February 25, 1987 |
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| Full case name | California, et al. v. Cabazon band of Mission Indians, et al. |
| Citations | 480 U.S. 202 (more)
107 S. Ct. 1083; 94 L. Ed. 2d 244; 55 U.S.L.W. 4225
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| Prior history | 783 F.2d 900 (9th Cir. 1986) (affirmed and remanded) |
| Holding | |
| Indian reservations may not engage in a form of gaming when that form is illegal in the state; conversely, Indian reservations may engage in a form of gaming when that form is legal in the state. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | White, joined by Rehnquist, Brennan, Marshall, Blackmun, Powell |
| Dissent | Stevens, joined by O'Connor, Scalia |
| Laws applied | |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1151; 28 U.S.C.S. § 1162 | |
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Superseded by
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| Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (1988) | |
California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians was an important case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1987. This decision changed the rules for Native American gaming (gambling) on tribal lands in the U.S. It helped shape how Native American tribes could operate games like bingo and poker on their reservations.
Contents
Understanding Tribal Gaming Rights
This Supreme Court case was a big step for Native American tribes. It helped them gain more control over activities on their own lands. The case focused on whether states could stop tribes from running certain games.
Why the Case Happened
The case involved two Native American tribes: the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Both tribes are located near Palm Springs in Riverside County, California. In the mid-1980s, these tribes ran small bingo halls on their reservations. The Cabazon Band also had a card club for games like poker.
These gaming places were open to everyone, including people who were not Native American. Many visitors came to play. California state officials wanted to close these games. They argued that the games, especially those with bigger prizes, broke state laws. The disagreement eventually went all the way to the Supreme Court.
What the Supreme Court Decided
On February 25, 1987, the Supreme Court made its decision. The Court ruled that Native American tribes could offer games on their reservations if those types of games were generally allowed in the state. For example, if a state allowed bingo, tribes could run bingo games, even if the state had stricter rules about how those games were run.
The Court said that if a state completely banned a type of gambling, then tribes could not offer it. But if the state only regulated it (meaning it had rules about it), then tribes could operate it. This was a big win for tribal sovereignty, which means the right of tribes to govern themselves.
How This Changed Native American Gaming
The Cabazon decision came at a time when tribal gaming was already starting to grow. After the Supreme Court's ruling, the industry grew much faster. More tribes began to open gaming facilities.
Because of this growth, the U.S. Congress passed a new law in 1988 called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). This law created clear rules for tribal gaming. It expanded the kinds of games tribes could offer, including casinos with slot machines and table games. IGRA also set up a system to regulate the industry, making sure it was fair and well-managed. The Cabazon case was a key moment that led to the creation of this important law.
