For Immediate Release                    

Contact: Shawn Pensoneau

(202) 632-7003

NIGC Announces 2007 Preliminary Fee Rate

Washington DC, February 26, 2007 — On February 22, 2007, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) approved a preliminary annual fee rate of 0.00 percent for tier 1 and (continuation of NIGC policy) and .059 percent of tier 2 for calendar year 2007.  The fee rate information will be published in the federal register and can be viewed by visiting our website at www.nigc.gov.       

Chairman Hogen said “With the enactment of public law 109-221 last year, the NIGC budget may fluctuate in proportion to the Indian gaming industry.  Previously, the NIGC was capped at $12 million a year, which we were approaching.  Hogen continued “While the industry continued to grow and the needs of the NIGC for resources to provide comprehensive oversight have similarly grown, passage of this legislation has made available adequate funding to the NIGC.”

If an Indian tribe has a certificate of self-regulation under 25 CFR part 518, the preliminary fee rate on Class II gaming revenues for calendar year 2007 shall be one-half of the annual fee rate which is .0295 percent.

The National Indian Gaming Commission is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.  The NIGC is funded through fees collected from gaming operations under its jurisdiction.

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