NIGC continues work on Class II gaming proposal

Friday, January 26, 2007  

The National Indian Gaming Commission continues to work on a controversial proposal that tribes say would change the face of the $23 billion tribal casino industry.

Last year, NIGC proposed technical regulations and standards for Class II games, such as bingo and pull-tabs. The agency said the changes are needed to draw a "bright line" between those games and Class III games like slot machines.

Tribes, however, say it would destroy an important sector of their industry by making certain electronic machines illegal without a tribal-state compact. Class II games can be operated without an agreement with a state.

The proposal has been delayed several times to allow for more input. On Thursday, the NIGC heard from more tribes about the regulations and standards at a meeting in the Washington, D.C., area.

"The commission is extremely appreciative of the great interest which tribes and gaming equipment manufacturers have taken in the effort to craft regulations for the equipment used by tribes to play bingo and other Class II games," said NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen.

At the meeting, the NIGC's Game Classification Standards Advisory Committee drafted a new set of technical standards. Hogen said the proposal will be reviewed by the agency in advance of a January 31 deadline for public comments.

"While the commission has not yet had the opportunity to fully review the recommendations which were received, we think the fresh approach reflected in this package -- which focuses on the game system, not just "player boxes" -- has the potential of addressing many of the commission's concerns relating to insuring the integrity of Class II gaming played with technological aids," he said.

Hogen didn't give a timetable but said NIGC hopes to complete its work "in the near future."