NIGC says it supports DOJ's gaming law proposal

Monday, September 19, 2005  

The National Indian Gaming Commission supports the Department of Justice's proposal to change the definition of electronic gaming devices, a spokesperson said.

NIGC was previously at odds with DOJ over efforts to clarify the difference between Class II and Class III games. NIGC was drafting regulations to address the use of technology while DOJ was arguing that the such machines were outright illegal.

At the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas last week, U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger outlined the proposed legislation. He called it a "criminal" initiative that DOJ, not the NIGC, would promote in Congress.

Lawyers in Oklahoma said the proposal would have a dramatic and potentially negative impact in their state. Besides Florida, Oklahoma is the primary market for Class II electronic gaming devices, some of which have been deemed illegal to operate without a tribal-state compact.

As reported by Indianz.Com on Friday, the legislation would lay out four tests that would determine whether a gaming device can be operated without a compact. The factors include whether the device resembles a slot machine in look or play.

Get the Story:
State tribes could lose big with proposal (The Oklahoman 9/17)
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Bill would limit definition of gaming devices (The San Diego Union Tribune 9/17)