NEWS & NOTES

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced a final rule to update the federal regulations regarding Class III Indian gaming compacts. According to the DOI, the updated regulations provide clearer guidance for tribes and states to negotiate gaming compacts required by the Indian Gaming and Regulatory Act, and more “transparent and orderly” processes for tribes seeking the Department’s approval of their compacts. They added the changes to 25 C.F.R. Part 293, which governs the review and approval of tribal-state gaming compacts, provide clarity on the criteria the Department would consider when deciding whether to approve these compacts by clarifying boundaries as to allowable topics of negotiation, better defining key terms, and clearly outlining when the Department must review a gaming compact.   •   On February 19, the Cambodian Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CCGM) issued a directive to gaming operators, advising them to expect more routine inspections and to keep their licenses on full display “at all times.”It’s part of an ongoing effort, launched last year by Prime Minister Hun Manet, to root out and eliminate illicit gambling, including lotteries. According to Asia Gaming Brief, Manet called for stricter controls on illegal wagers and demanded that operators comply fully with the terms of their licenses. The directive states, “Keno, lottery, and other forms of illegal gambling significantly disrupt public order, social security and the livelihoods of residents in village communities.”