Jonodev Chaudhuri takes oath of office as new leader of NIGC

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell administers the oath of office to Jonodev Chaudhuri, the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Photo from Twitter

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Jonodev Chaudhuri has been working at the National Indian Gaming Commission for 18 months but Wednesday was still a big occasion for him.

Chaudhuri, a member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, was officially sworn in as chairman of the agency that oversees the $28 billion gaming industry. He was administered the oath of office by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in Washington, D.C.

"I would like to thank President Obama, the Senate, Secretary Jewell and those in Indian country who have supported my nomination," Chaudhuri said in a press release. "There is important work ahead of us at the NIGC. I am committed to continuing our collaborative efforts with tribes and tribal regulators to achieve regulatory compliance and gaming integrity in an industry which is a vital economic development tool for so many tribes."

Chaudhuri is the seventh person to serve as the chairman of the NIGC. Congress created the agency in 1988 through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the industry has grown from small bingo halls to large resorts with hotels, restaurants and other amenities.

To keep up with the times, Chaudhuri created a technology division to address the changes in the business. He's also putting a strong emphasis on consultation and training for tribes.

The Senate confirmed Chaudhuri to his post on April 16.