For Immediate Release

May 24,2003

 

NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION CONSULTATION

WITH GREAT PLAINS AND MIDWEST GAMING TRIBES IS

SUCCESSFUL

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The recently appointed members of the National Indian Gaming

Commission, were in Minneapolis earlier this week hosting their first formal consultative

meeting with gaming tribes, and they received feedback on a broad range of topics

important to the Commission's priorities for the next several years. Participating in the

consultation sessions were tribes fiom Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North

Dakota and South Dakota. Chairman Phil Hogen, pleased by the open and candid twoway

discussions, said the willingness of tribes to ask questions and share thoughts about

the challenges facing the Commission's oversight of Indian gaming operations will play

an important role in developing a written consultation policy and help shape the

Commission7s stance if the 108" Congress considers amending the Indian Gaming

Regulatory Act of 1988.

 

The three-person Commission and staff will continue consulting with tribal leaders and

gaming regulators throughout the year seeking, in particular, input for developing a

written Government-to-Government consultation policy and for addressing the

modification of the Commission's funding methods, clarification of the Commission's

regulatory authority over Class III tribal gaming operations, and greater protection for

tribes in their dealings with vendors, consultants, equipment lessors and other suppliers of

goods and services.

 

Chairman Hogen commented, "The regulatory law as it stands now, has fallen behind the

curve in addressing serious matters that have developed as a result of court opinions and

the speed of technical changes in electronic gaming devices. We see tribal leaders and

regulators as partners in updating the law and clarifying the oversight role of states, tribal

regulators and the National Indian Gaming Commission."

 

During the Minneapolis consultation, Commissioners Nelson Westrin and Cloyce

"Chuck" Choney joined with tribal operators in discussing more technical aspects of

gaming such as minimum internal control standards and the recently adopted regulation

defining the statutory terms for "electronic computer or other technological aid,"

electronic or electro-mechanical facsimile," and other games similar to bingo."