National lndian Gaming Commission Consults With California Gaming Tribes
Meetings Called Successful
For Immediate Release
Washington D.C., December 5, 2003 -- The National lndian Gaming
Commission (NIGC) and staff held a very successful two day consultation and
training meeting with the California gaming tribes on December 2nd and 3rd at the Pechanga Resort and Casino. Commenting on the sessions Commission
Chairman Philip Hogen said that "California is the fastest growing lndian gaming market and the concerns and needs of the gaming tribes are unique. We were able to meet individually with representatives of 25 gaming tribes in attendance and talk about issues of their choosing." "In addition we provided training to 80Tribal Gaming Regulators and Tribal Officials."
In an opening session Hogen gave an update on activities and challenges facing the industry and the NIGC. Hogen remarked that "budgets are always a concern and both the NIGC and Tribes must work together to be efficient and avoid duplication. NIGC is prudent in its spending but the growth of gaming has required additional field personnel and improvements in information systems and electronic fingerprinting capabilities and will necessitate increased funding in 2004." Continuing Hogen said that "gaming technology will continue to change and the NIGC and Tribal Gaming Authorities through Tribal Advisory Groups must be prepared to revise the MlCS standards to address the changes."
An important part of the two-day meetings were the seminars led by NIGC staff. Vice-Chairman Nelson Westrin said "the seminars were well attended and well received." Topics included Minimum Internal Control Standards with emphasis on statistical tracking of games, internal audits, complimentaries, Class II/ClassIll gaming devices as well as proposed MlCS changes. A timely seminar was an overview of the NIGC Environment, Public Health and Safety Interpretive Rule. Fredda Conce of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians added a real life example when she explained that the well orchestrated evacuation of the Valley View Casino due to the recent California fires was possible because of a detailed Health and Safety program. The final seminar was on the complex issue of Use of lndian Lands for Gaming.
Commissioner Cloyce Choney remarked that "there was a definite theme to the individual sessions. The tribes are interested in doing the best job possible in the regulation area and expressed an interest in further guidance on the MlCS and Class II/Class Ill games interpretations, the need for additional field personnel in the California region, and the potential usefulness of licensing vendors. The tribes seemed to feel that the Regulations now in place are the product of years of effort and a mass re-write at this point is not a useful exercise." Hogen said "this is the 5" consultation in 2003 and the process will improve with the adoption of a formal Consultation Policy. A policy draft has been sent to the tribes for comment and we are looking forward to their input on making consultations an important tool to exchange views on how to best protect the integrity of a very important industry to the lndian people."
The Commission carries out its consultation efforts in a variety of ways such as holding field consultations, working with tribal advisory committees, requesting written comments, hosting direct meetings with the tribal governments and engaging in a process of communicating less formally with representatives of tribal governments.
The National lndian Gaming Commission is an independent regulatory
agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the lndian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. # # #
For more information, please contact: Greg Bergfeld, Region Director,
Sacramento Regional Office at (916) 930-2231.