For Immediate Release ~ January 26, 2006
Contact: Shawn Pensoneau ~ (202) 632-7003

Washington DC, January 26, 2006— This week, the Indian Gaming Working Group hosted a meeting in Portland, Oregon to provide the tribes with further background information on the federal agencies with regulatory and law enforcement roles in Indian gaming, and to continue to build strong relationships and trust between the tribes and federal agencies. 

NIGC Chairman, Philip Hogen, stated "this is the first regional meeting of this kind, which has allowed important networking among tribal, state and federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies that protect tribal assets and revenues.  With 40 attendees from federal and state governments, and 80 attendees from tribal communities, this training will continue to strengthen the integrity of Indian gaming.  We plan to offer similar events in other regions to continue this process."

The Indian Gaming Working Group was established in 2003 and consists of several federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Interior Office of Inspector General, National Indian Gaming Commission, Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Analysis Center, US Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Law Enforcement Services.  This group was created to coordinate roles, pool resources and develop effective strategies to investigate and prosecute Indian-related crimes.

The training was provided January 24-26, 2006 by the federal agencies and attended by tribes from the states of Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

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