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National Indian Gaming Commission

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Overview:
Established in conformance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), which legalized gambling on Native American land, NIGC is responsible for overseeing Indian gaming enterprises, to aim to assure there’s no corruption, and that the funds generated are used only as the act mandates. However, in the mid-1990s, Republican lobbyist and businessman Jack Abramoff began representing some of the tribes with gambling interests. He received more than $85 million for those services, for helping get lawmakers’ minds changed, bills passed, and defeated, and competition eliminated. But it was eventually revealed he was often using this money for his own self-interest as well, and in 2006 he pleaded guilty to felony counts of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion, involving charges stemming primarily from his work for the tribes. He was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison, and ordered to make restitution to the tribes of at least $25 million.  
 
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History:

NIGC was created at a time when there were a growing number of Indian tribes engaged in gaming activities on Native American lands, but when there were no federal laws to provide clear standards or regulations for the conduct of gaming on those lands. Since 1988, NIGC has administered numerous investigations and audits, in an attempt to ensure the gaming establishments are complying with the standards outlined in the IGRA, as well as with the new policies they created as times and situations changed. However, there have been many complaints, from people directly involved, as well as outside observers, about the job NIGC has done. Among the issues: That there’s been a glaring lack of enforcement; confusion about jurisdiction; a continuing potential for large-scale criminal activity and influence; way too small a staff to handle the huge scope of areas to cover; and questions about how the net revenue from the gaming is actually used.

 

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What it Does:

NIGC is an independent federal regulatory agency that monitors the work of Native American tribe’s gaming regulators, aiming to insure that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is adhered to, and to promote economic development and self-sufficiency within the tribes. Solely funded through fees collected from gaming operations under its jurisdiction, NIGC conducts investigations, background checks and audits; undertakes enforcement activities; approves ordinances before gaming can occur; and issues notices of violation and closure orders. It also works to stay on top of new innovations, ideas, and changes in technology, and provides training to the Indian gaming industry and regulators. Headquartered in Washington D.C. and overseeing around 400 casinos, NGIC also has five regional offices, which are located in Phoenix, Arizona; Sacramento, California; St. Paul, Minnesota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Portland, Oregon.

From the NIGC Web Site
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Controversies:
 
Jack Abramoff Lobbying Scandal
Abramoff, who is currently serving time after pleading guilty to three felonies related to defrauding Native American tribes, and corruption of political officials, first got involved in politics as a student at Brandeis University, working on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. After holding various positions in other Republican organizations, and after a decade as a film producer (he produced Red Scorpion and Red Scorpion 2), he turned to lobbying when the Republicans took over Congress in 1994. A year later he began representing some Indian tribes involved in gambling operations, utilizing his political contacts to secure results favorable to the tribes’ varying interests. He was also giving illegal gifts and campaign contributions in the process, and often overbilling the tribes, as well as engaging in well-planned-out business deals with associates, using the tribes’ money for their own interests. In time, his activities began raising red flags in the government, particularly when it became apparent that he was working both sides of some gaming issues, including helping get a Texas Indian casino shut down, then persuading the tribe running it to pay to get Congress to re-open it. Currently, Abramoff is cooperating with the government - from prison - as it continues its investigation of members of Congress with whom he allegedly did business.
Jack Abramoff (SourceWatch)
Ex-Lobbyist Is Focus of Widening Investigations (by Susan Schmidt, Washington Post)
Wheel Of Misfortune (by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, Time)
 
Other Controversies
Tribal Leaders Spend, But Federal Oversight Is Lacking (by Sally Kestin, Peter Franceschina and John Maines, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

(Amador County, California) (pdf)

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Comments

Stephanie Steinberg 2 years ago
When will Indian gaming value the health of all people and ban smoking inside casinos so that people can breathe clean air? Of particular concern is when a state goes smoke free, Indian gaming refuses to go smoke free even though it is going to benefit the health of the employees and patrons. This is a health issue that needs your attention. Please consider the health impacts of secondhand smoke to all. Thank you.
Nancy Olsen 3 years ago
If the orginal document/person representing the Native American's in tribal gambling, I believe the rule/law should be throw out. As AMERICA is the home of the brave, with an equality, Yet we still harbor a sovergern nation of Native American's. My family comes from a long line of old west COWBOYS that gambled, drank and all the other thing the old west did, ONE which was gambling. Why do we not have equal opturinty for Whites or any one else to own, or at least have state gaming ma...
Denise 3 years ago
Hi Searching for government aency in California that handles indian tribes that also do gaming.

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Founded: 1988
Annual Budget: $18 million
Employees: 100
Official Website: http://www.nigc.gov/
National Indian Gaming Commission
Stevens, Tracie
Chair

Confirmed on June 22, 2010, as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, Tracie Stevens became the first woman to lead the oversight body for the $27 billion Indian gaming industry.

 
A member of the Tulalip Tribes in Washington State, Stevens was born in Los Angeles, but returned to Tulalip as a child. In 1985, she became the first member of her immediate family to graduate high school, which she did in Yakima, Washington, in 1985. She began her professional career in the gaming industry in 1995 at her tribe’s casino (Quil Ceda Creek Casino), located north of Seattle. There, she worked in human resource management, employee recruitment and training, and operations planning and analysis, before becoming the Tulalip Casino’s executive director for strategic planning in 2001.
 
In 2003, she became a legislative policy analyst in the tribe’s government affairs office. She represented the Tulalips in negotiations to update gambling compacts between the state of Washington and all federally-recognized tribes in the state. She also lobbied state lawmakers on tribe-related bills, including a controversial measure in 2005 to allow the Tulalips to retain millions in sales tax revenue collected at Quil Ceda Village. The bill did not pass.
 
In 2006, Stevens was elevated to senior policy analyst, a position she held until 2009. Also in 2006, Stevens received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences from the University of Washington-Seattle, an accomplishment that took many years, as she had to attend night school while working.
 
During her time working for the tribe, Stevens also served as the chair of the gaming committee for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (2003-2009), as secretary of the board of directors for the Washington Indian Gaming Association (2002-2009) and as the northwest delegate for the National Indian Gaming Association (2003-2009).
 
In July 2009, Stevens accepted her first position in the Obama administration, becoming senior advisor to Larry EchoHawk, assistant secretary for Indian affairs in the U.S. Department of Interior. In this role, she provided policy guidance on tribal issues such as gaming, law enforcement, energy, tribal consultation, economic development, land-into-trust, tribal government disputes, budget priorities, and treaty and natural resource rights.
 
Stevens and her husband, Kyle, have one daughter, Cierra.
 
Tulalip Picked for Gambling Commission (by Jerry Cornfield, Everett Daily Herald)
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Hogan, Philip
Previous Chairman
 Philip N. Hogen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, earned his undergraduate degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1967 and a law degree from the University of South Dakota in 1970. Since then, he has served as the Jackson County, South Dakota, States Attorney and as the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. In private law practice, he has focused on Indian and gaming law and public affairs. Hogen was also the Interior Department’s first Director for the Office of American Indian Trust; and Vice Chairman of the NIGC commission. In October 2001 he began serving as the Interior Department’s Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs. A year later he was chosen by President Bush to become Chairman of NIGC. Hogen has been a consistent contributor to the Republican Party and, in particular, to the campaigns of South Dakota’s Republican Senator John Thune.
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