In the United States, off-reservation trust land refers to real estate outside an Indian reservation that is held by the Interior Department for the benefit of a Native American tribe or a member of a tribe. Typical uses of off-reservation trust land include housing, agriculture or forestry, and community services such as health care and education.[1] The US Census has provided data for trust lands since the 1980 Census.
Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes can purchase off-reservation land and have it placed in trust in order to operate casinos on the land.[2] For example, in 2015 the Spokane tribe won Bureau of Indian Affairs approval for an off-reservation casino. In 2008, the BIA issued guidance that such lands would need to be a "reasonable commute" from the reservation.[3]