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."