Chukchansi Tribe brings on former NIGC chairman Phil Hogen

Friday, September 25, 2015

Phil Hogen. Still image from North Dakota Studies

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The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians in California has hired a big name in hopes of reopening its casino.

Phil Hogen, who served as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission during the Bush administration, is advising the tribe. His hiring comes as the tribe lost all three of its gaming regulators -- including Norm DesRosiers, who served with Hogen at the NIGC.

“The tribe knows I’ve been around the block with respect to gaming regulation,” Hogen told The Fresno Bee. “I’m hopefully going to use some of that experience to move things forward for the tribe.”

Tribal leaders, along with Hogen, are meeting with federal officials in Washington, D.C, today as part of their push to reopen the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. The facility closed last October due to a leadership dispute on the reservation.

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