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Oklahoma tribes assail Class II regulations

Thursday, February 21, 2008


INDIANZ.COM LISTENING LOUNGE
House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in Miami, Oklahoma. February 20, 2008
• Opening Statements

Panel 1 - Testimony | Q&A
Norm DesRosiers, Vice Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission

Panel 2 - Testimony | Q&A
Gregory E. Pyle, Chief Choctaw Nation
John Berrey, Chairman, Quapaw Tribe
John P. Froman, Chief, Peoria Tribe of Indians

Panel 3 - Testimony | Q&A
Chad Smith, Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation
Jim Gray, Principal Chief, Osage Nation
Brian Campbell, Administrator, Division of Commerce, Chickasaw Nation
David J. Qualls, Chairman, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association

Panel 4 - Testimony | Q&A
Brent Brassfield, Mayor, City of Miami
Russell Earls, Commissioner, Ottawa County
Brian Barger, Director, Community and Economic Development Department
At a House Natural Resources Committee field hearing on Wednesday, Oklahoma tribes said they would lose millions of dollars if the National Indian Gaming Commission tightens regulations for Class II machines.

Oklahoma is the largest market for Class II games like bingo. But the NIGC says technological advances are making Class II games look more like slot machines, which fall into the Class III category.

Class II games can be operated without state oversight. Class III games require a tribal-state compact.

In the case of Oklahoma, tribes have to share revenues with the state for Class III machines. Though tribes make less money on Class II machines, they depend on them to generate revenues at their casinos.

If enacted, the NIGC's regulations would turn some Class II machines into Class III ones. A study predicted a loss of $1 billion across the nation.

Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Chickasaw Nation, oppose the NIGC's proposal. They are asking the agency to extend the comment period beyond March 9.

Get the Story:
Gambling rule change criticized (The Tulsa World 2/21)
Tribes plead case before Boren, Cole (The Oklahoman 2/21)
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