National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman Phil Hogen said he will implement new Class II regulations before he leaves office.
Hogen told the
Senate Indian Affairs
Committee at a hearing yesterday that he has to "get this done" before he
returns home to South Dakota. He has served on the commission since December 2002.
Tribes oppose the regulations, saying they will wreck the Class II industry. A study commissioned by the NIGC showed tribes would lose $1 billion in revenues if the changes go forward.
Hogen said the rules are needed to draw a "bright line" between Class II games like bingo and Class III games like slot machines. He estimates that more than half of the Class II machines currently in play are really Class III machines.
Get the Story:
Gaming changes may be near
(The Oklahoman 4/18)
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Indian-gaming regulator fights tribe consultation bill (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 4/18)
