The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has announced that it will hold four tribal consultations next month and in May in San Diego, California, Rapid City, South Dakota, Shawnee, Oklahoma and Prior Lake, Minnesota.
Tribes will be consulted about Privacy Act regulations, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) manual, Minimum Internal Control Stands (MICS) for Class III gaming and Buy Indian Act regulations, in which the NIGC would give preference to buying from Indian-owed businesses.
In a statement acting commission chairman Jonedev Chaudhuri said, “Timely, meaningful and substantive consultations with tribes are simply the most efficient and practical way for the NIGC to fulfill our regulatory responsibilities.”
Associate Commissioner Daniel Little added, “The commission has benefitted greatly from positive tribal input during previous consultations. I am looking forward to a productive discussion with tribal leaders on these important topics.”
NIGC regulates the $28 billion Indian gaming industry, which has more than 450 casinos operated by 242 tribes in 28 states.
In a related development NIGC announced it would form a new Technology Division.
Chaudhuri announced in a statement, “Adding the voice of a Technology Director to our senior leadership team will highlight the agency’s commitment to keep pace with the gaming industry technology across the agency.” He added, “Indian gaming is a technologically driven industry and this division will enhance our capacity and enable us to better meet the needs of Tribes and tribal regulators.”
The division will also provide the agency with “information technology, telecommunications products, services and solutions,” according to Chaudhuri.
Meanwhile, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing this week to determine if Chaudhuri will serve as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Chaudhuri currently serves as vice chair of the NIGC and is acting as chairman.
