American Indian Casinos and Native American Self-Identification.

This article examines the relationship between Native American racial self-identification and the expansion of tribal gaming, specifically the opening of Class III American Indian casinos across U.S. states. Using data from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey, the study finds that state policies permitting tribal casinos are causally linked to increased likelihood of individuals with documented American Indian ancestry identifying as Native American, while simultaneously decreasing such identification among individuals without American Indian ancestry. The magnitude of these effects grows with the strength of ancestral ties, and evidence suggests stronger impacts in states where tribes distribute casino profits as per capita dividend payments. These findings support a conceptual framework in which economic incentives and social stigma influence racial self-identification, highlighting the role of tribal gaming in shaping demographic shifts in Native American identity.