NIGC Will Hold Regulatory Review Consultation in Valley Center, California

For Immediate Release    
Contact: NIGC
(202) 632-7003

NIGC Will Hold Regulatory Review Consultation in Valley Center, California

Washington, DC May 18, 2011 — The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC/Commission) will hold a consultation on June 21-22, 2011 at the Harrah’s Rincon Hotel and Casino in Valley Center, California. This consultation session is an opportunity for Tribal leaders to provide the Commission with substantive input during the regulatory review process.

The Commission organized its review into five regulation groups. Each will proceed separately through three phases: 1) an initial phase when a preliminary draft regulation may be prepared; 2) thereafter the Commission may decide to move forward with publication of a proposed rule, if any, with an approximately sixty-day comment period; and 3) a final phase during which the Commission may decide to promulgate a final rule. Where necessary, a regulation may proceed through the regulatory review process independently from the other regulations in a particular group.

Consistent with its commitment to transparency, the Commission will continue to consult with tribal governments throughout the regulatory review process. All information related to this review process can be found on our website at www.nigc.gov then click on the Tribal Consultation on the left side of the website.

The consultation scheduled for June 21-22, 2011 in Valley Center, California will cover Groups One, Two, Three and Four regulations.

Group One includes:

·    A Buy Indian Act regulation;
·    Part 523 – Review and Approval of Existing Ordinances or Regulations;
·    Part 514 – Fees;
·    Part 559 – Facility License Notifications, Renewals, and Submissions; and
·    Part 542 – Minimum Internal Control Standards for Class III Gaming. Group Two includes:
·    Part 573 – Enforcement; and regulations concerning proceedings before the Commission, including:
·    Parts 519 – Service;
·    Part 524 – Appeals;
·    Part 539 – Appeals; and
·    Part 577 – Appeals Before the Commission. Group Three includes:
·    Part 543 – Minimum Internal Controls Standards for Class II Gaming; and
·    Part 547 – Minimum Technical Standards for Gaming Equipment Used with the Play of Class II Games.

Group Four includes:

·    Part 556 – Background Investigations for Primary Management Officials and Key Employees (including “Pilot Program”);
·    Part 558 – Gaming Licenses for Key Employees and Primary Management Officials;
·    Part 571 – Monitoring and Investigations;
·    Part 531 – Collateral Agreements;
·    Part 537 – Background Investigations for Persons or Entities with a Financial Interest in, or Having Management Responsibility for a Management Contract; and
·    Part 502 – Definitions.

The Commission invites all Tribal leaders and their designees to share their views with the Commission on Groups One, Two, Three and Four regulations during the following scheduled consultation:

Date:    Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22
Time:        9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location:    Harrah’s Rincon Hotel and Casino 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center, CA Pavilion Room

For planning purposes and to accommodate all who want to attend the consultation, please RSVP to Rita Homa, Executive Secretary, at (202) 418-9807 or by e-mail at consultation.rsvp@nigc.gov.

For those Tribal leaders or designees unable to attend this consultation, we invite you to submit written comments by e-mail to reg.review@nigc.gov, or by US Mail to the National Indian Gaming Commission, Attn: Regulatory Review, 1441 L Street, NW, Suite 9100, Washington, DC 20005.

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The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

Download the PDF here.