"A failure by the top federal regulator for American Indian casinos to take a leadership role on Internet wagering annoys tribal leaders who fear proposed congressional legislation to legalize cyberspace gambling will slight indigenous governments.

The criticism reached its peak last month, when Tracie Stevens, President Obama’s appointee as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), refused to respond to questions from the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs about the agency’s possible role in a federal scheme to legalize Internet poker.

In dodging persistent questioning from Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and others, Stevens kept repeating she could not comment on NIGC’s role “in the abstract,” without legislation being introduced."

Get the Story:
Dave Palermo: No leadership from tribal federal regulatory on Internet gambling (Pechanga.Net 8/30)

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