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Analysis: NIGC goes in new direction with tribal consultation plan (12/09)

"n the past year, three new commissioners were appointed to the NIGC and it is apparent that they are intent on reversing the somewhat adversarial relationships the agency has had with tribes in a number...

Gaming firm that owes Elk Valley Rancheria declares bankruptcy (12/03)

The Elk Valley Rancheria of California is trying to collect at least $480,000 from a gaming firm that just declared bankruptcy. The tribe loaned the money to Ellis Las Vegas Inc. in 2008. Owner R....

New chairman of NIGC promises meaningful dialogue with tribes (11/23)

The new leader of the National Indian Gaming Commission promises to consult with tribes before making any major decisions. Tracie Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, joined the agency in June. She...

La Jolla Band mum about casino plans with new gaming partner (11/19)

The La Jolla Band of Mission Indians want to build a casino on its remote reservation in southern California but details are apparently hard to come by. The tribe has entered into a management agreement...

Poarch Creeks dispute state jurisdiction over gaming facilities (10/27)

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) can't go after tribal gaming facilities, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians says. The tribe operates Class II machines at casinos on its reservation. Riley claims he has the authority...

Alabama governor aims to close Poarch Creek Class II facilities (10/25)

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) says the Poarch Band of Creek Indians can't offer electronic Class II machines. Riley started a task force that closed down all of the non-Indian gaming facilities in the state....

Mayor says Ponca Tribe's casino will boost economy in Iowa city (10/21)

The leader of Carter Lake, Iowa, welcomes the proposed Ponca Tribe casino. Mayor Russ Kramer said he's tried unsuccessfully to lure businesses to the city. Indian gaming appears to be the only way to spur...

Casino foes argue Graton Rancheria land not eligible for gaming (10/21)

Foes of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in California say the tribe's new reservation is not eligible for gaming. The tribe was restored to federal recognition by an act of Congress. The law directed...

Ponca Tribe confident of NIGC approval for casino plans in Iowa (10/20)

The Ponca Tribe is confident the National Indian Gaming Commission will once again approve plans for a casino in Iowa. A federal judge ruled that the NIGC lacked the authority to make the decision. But...

8th Circuit tells NIGC to reconsider Ponca Tribe's casino project (10/19)

The National Indian Gaming Commission must reconsider a decision that allowed the Ponca Tribe to pursue a casino, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals said today. In December 2008, the NIGC said the tribe's land...

Group plans another lawsuit to block Graton Rancheria's casino (10/15)

A group called Stop the Casino 101 Coalition plans to file another lawsuit in hopes of stopping the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria from building a casino in California. The group already lost one lawsuit...

7th Circuit hears Lac du Flambeau casino debt case this month (10/07)

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will hold oral arguments in a closely-watched Indian gaming debt case on October 20. The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin defaulted on a...

Opinion: Some praise for Phil Hogen for his tenure at the NIGC (10/05)

"Forgive me, if you will, for tossing some praise out for Phil Hogen, an honest and honorable man who in stepping down after seven years of stewardship as head of the National Indian Gaming Commission...

NIGC attorney says more tribes restructuring their gaming debt (09/16)

More and more tribes are restructuring their debt, an attorney for the National Indian Gaming Commission said. The NIGC has reviewed 25 contracts this year alone, associate general counsel Michael Gross said. Tribes have refinanced...

NIGC delays effective date of Class II standards for another year (09/13)

The National Indian Gaming Commission has delayed the effective date of Class II regulations for another year The Bush administration proposed the Minimum Internal Control Standards for Class II games. Tribes, mainly in Oklahoma,...

9th Circuit rejects challenge to NIGC's approval of Cowlitz casino (09/01)

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit that sought to stop the Cowlitz Tribe from building a casino in Washington. The city of Vancouver sued the National Indian...

New NIGC chair speaks at Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (08/24)

Tracie Stevens, the first woman to lead the National Indian Gaming Commission, delivered the keynote at the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association conference on Monday. Stevens pledged to consult tribes on gaming issues. She said...

NIGC schedules tribal consultation at conference in Oklahoma (08/12)

The National Indian Gaming Commission wants to meet with tribes during the upcoming Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association conference and trade show. Agency officials will be in Tulsa on Tuesday, August 24, to discuss regulatory and...

NIGC chooses Paxton Myers, Eastern Cherokee, as chief of staff (08/09)

Paxton Myers, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, has been named the new chief of staff at the National Indian Gaming Commission. Myers recently served as the Native...

Joe Bunch: Oklahoma tribes know how to regulate gaming facilities (08/06)

The following is the opinion of Joe Bunch, the chairman of the gaming commission for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. On October 20th, 2006, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled...

'Andrew Jackson Institute' criticizes Florida tribal casino industry (08/05)

A group called the Andrew Jackson Institute has been "set up to expose corruption in the Indian gaming industry," according to its web site. The group, named for the president that forced tribes from the...

Former NIGC chairman singles out Oklahoma as lacking regulation (08/02)

Phil Hogen, the former chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, says regulation in Oklahoma isn't as strong as it could be. Hogen, who tried...

Seminole Tribe taking steps to respond to NIGC notice of violation (08/02)

The Seminole Tribe of Florida says it is responding to a National Indian Gaming Commission violation report. The notice of violation NOV) listed six violations of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The NIGC said the...

New leader of NIGC declines to endorse fix to IGRA case from 2006 (07/30)

Tracie Stevens, the new chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, once again declined to endorse a Congressional fix to a case from 2006 but...

Witness list for Senate Indian Affairs Committee oversight hearing (07/27)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee holds an oversight on hearing on gaming this Thursday. The hearing takes place at 9:30am in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. The witness list follows: Panel #...

NIGC announces Lawrence Roberts, Oneida, as its general counsel (07/19)

The National Indian Gaming Commission announced Lawrence S. Roberts, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, as its new general counsel. Roberts has worked in the private sector and for the Department of...

Tribes face scrutiny of gaming revenue amid economic downturn (07/16)

The worst economic recession in decades hasn't been kind to many tribes with casinos and some of them are facing even more pressure from outside entities and the federal government. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation...

Mississippi governor asks NIGC to block work on Choctaw facility (07/16)

The National Indian Gaming Commission is being asked to stop the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from building a new casino. Gov. Haley Barbour (R) said the tribe has not informed the NIGC of its...

Mechoopda Tribe weighs move after losing gaming land decision (07/14)

The Mechoopda Tribe of California is considering its next move after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals put a halt to its gaming plans. The tribe wants to build a casino on a 645-acre site...

Column: Tribes in Florida mismanaging their gaming revenues (07/06)

"I'm not much of a casino gambler. But I'm betting early reports of how some American Indian tribes are mismanaging or misdirecting their enormous sums of casino money, here in Florida and elsewhere, are just...

Miccosukee Tribe under scrutiny for $61K per capita payments (06/29)

The Internal Revenue Service is investigating whether members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida paid federal taxes on their per capita payments, The Miami Herald reports. The tribe distributes gaming revenues to its 650 members...

Salazar tells BIA to continue work on gaming land applications (06/28)

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told the Bureau of Indian Affairs to move forward with pending gaming land applications but did not offer any new policy in a memo that was released today. Salazar asked Assistant...

County waits for ruling in case against Mechoopda Tribe casino (06/28)

Officials in Butte County, California, are waiting for a decision in their lawsuit that seeks to stop the Mechoopda Tribe from building a casino. The county sued the National Indian Gaming Commission for issuing...

Secretary Salazar welcomes Tracie Stevens as head of NIGC (06/24)

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tracie Stevens brings a "wealth of expertise and experience" to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, was confirmed to lead the...

Senate confirms Tracie Stevens to lead Indian gaming agency (06/23)

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Tracie Stevens to serve as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Stevens is a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington. She is the first woman to lead...

Law Article: NIGC and IRS put casino revenue under scrutiny (06/16)

"In the US, Indian tribes are considered sovereign nations. The tribes are given certain special benefits such as gaming licenses. 242 of 564 Indian tribes have gaming licenses; however, they are subject to federal laws...

NIGC figures show 1 percent decline in tribal casino revenue (06/15)

Tribal gaming revenues fell by 1 percent in 2009, according to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Tribal operations in the region covering Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and southern Nevada were hit hardest. Their revenues fell...

AllGov: Some background on Tracie Stevens, NIGC nominee (06/14)

"If confirmed as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, Tracie Stevens would become the first woman to lead the oversight body for the $27 billion Indian gaming industry. A member of the Tulalip...

Hansen: Woman, casino at odds over $5,000 bingo (06/08)

"She said bingo. They said no go. Does the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama owe Jacalyn Hartig $5,000? Hartig says yes. General manager Daniel Stromer says no. While several witnesses say you bet, the...

NIGC accuses Seminole Tribe of misusing gaming revenues (06/04)

The National Indian Gaming Commission hit the Seminole Tribe with a notice of violation (NOV) on Thursday. The NOV listed six violations of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The NIGC said the tribe used gaming...

Crow Tribe to use $3M Shakopee loan to build a new casino (06/01)

The Crow Tribe of Montana agreed to the terms of a $3 million that will be used for a new casino. The tribe previously accepted a $2.5 million loan from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux...

NIGC nominee gets warm welcome at confirmation hearing (05/31)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing last Wednesday for Tracie Stevens to be chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, has extensive...

Osage Nation to file land-into-trust applications for casinos (05/28)

The Osage Nation of Oklahoma plans to submit land-into-trust applications for its gaming sites, Chief Jim Gray said. Three of the tribe's Million Dollar Elm casinos -- including the largest one in Tulsa --...

NIGC issues an apology of sorts to attorney from Oklahoma (05/27)

The National Indian Gaming Commission issued a "letter of regret" to an Oklahoman attorney who used to do work for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The letter said an audit of tribal gaming revenues that...

Senate panel holds confirmation hearing for NIGC nominee (05/26)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing this morning for Tracie Stevens to be chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, was warmly...

Briefs due in appeal of Lac du Flambeau gaming bond case (05/26)

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals is due to accept briefs in the gaming bond case involving the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. On behalf of bondholders, Wells Fargo...

Senate confirmation hearing for Tracie Stevens to run NIGC (05/25)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a confirmation hearing tomorrow for Tracie Stevens to be chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. The hearing takes place at 10am in Room 628 of the...

Senate confirmation hearing for Tracie Stevens to head NIGC (05/14)

Note: The hearing takes place May 26. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on May 26 for Tracie Stevens as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Stevens is a...

Lac du Flambeau deal was unique in tribal gaming industry (05/12)

A gaming debt case involving the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin probably won't have a big e impact on the tribal casino industry, experts say. The tribe used...

Tulalip woman awaits confirmation hearing as head of NIGC (05/11)

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee hasn't set a date for a confirmation hearing for Tracie Stevens as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, was...

NIGC counsel says Alabama can't hit Poarch Creek gaming (05/06)

The state of Alabama can't go after the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for offering Class II games, the outgoing general counsel of the National Indian Gaming Commission said. Gov. Bob Riley (R) started...

NIGC's acting general counsel to retire from post on July 2 (05/05)

Penny Coleman, the acting general counsel at the National Indian Gaming Commission, will retire on July 2, a spokesperson said today. Coleman, a non-Indian attorney, held the post since the end of the Clinton administration....

Bank appeals decision over Lac du Flambeau gaming debt (05/03)

Wells Fargo Bank has filed a notice of appeal in the gaming debt case involving the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. The bank issued a $50 million bond to...

New leader of NIGC might bring in a new general counsel (04/30)

Gambling Compliance speculates that the new chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission might bring in a new general counsel. Penny Coleman, a non-Indian attorney, has held the post since the end of the Clinton...

Obama nominates Tulalip woman for NIGC chairman post (04/29)

President Barack Obama finally nominated someone to serve as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Obama nominated Tracie Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, to the post. If confirmed by the Senate, she...

NIGC complete for now with Daniel Little as last member (04/21)

The National Indian Gaming Commission once again has three members. Daniel Little, a former employee of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut, joined the NIGC on Tuesday. He will serve as associate commissioner,...

Station Casinos to accept bids on tribal gaming projects (04/21)

As part of its bankruptcy plan, Station Casinos will entertain bids on its tribal gaming projects. Station Casinos has entered into gaming management contracts with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria of California, also known...

NIGC nominee denies online posts that criticized Obama (04/16)

Daniel J. Little, a nominee to the National Indian Gaming Commission, was not behind Internet postings that criticized President Barack Obama, an Interior Department spokesperson said. Little, a longtime employee of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal...

Osage Nation casinos threatened by recent court decision (04/12)

In a recent tax case filed by the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Osage Reservation did not exist, a ruling that could affect the tribe's gaming...

Blog: NIGC nominee may have bashed Obama on Internet (04/06)

"In the comments section of media Websites, "djlndc" has cut quite a swath. On a Washington Post blog, djlndc wrote last February, "the leftist media [are] covering for Obama -- just like during the campaign."...

Shingle Springs Band to assert immunity over failed casino (04/06)

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians will continue to assert sovereign immunity in a lawsuit over a failed casino deal, Chairman Nicholas Fonseca told The Sacramento Bee in a statement. The tribe is being...

Judge won't let Seneca Nation intervene in gaming case (03/31)

A federal judge won't let the Seneca Nation intervene in a lawsuit that challenges its off-reservation casino in Buffalo, New York. In a decision issued yesterday, Judge William Skretny said the tribe waited too long...

Creek Nation leader wins decision over control of casinos (03/22)

Chief A.D. Ellis of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation won a lawsuit over control of the tribe's six casinos. Ellis took over the casinos after he said an audit revealed financial mismanagement. He also pointed to...

Comment period for NIGC appointment closes March 29 (03/10)

Correction: Daniel Little is not a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. He is the manager of national governmental affairs for the tribe. The National Indian Gaming Commission could soon have a third...

Obama nominates Pequot employee to gaming commission (02/26)

Correction: Daniel Little is not a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. He is the manager of national governmental affairs for the tribe. President Barack Obama has filled an open position on the...

State official wants to ask NIGC about Poarch Creeks (02/23)

The head of an anti-gambling task force set up by Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) still has the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in his sights. Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr., who...

Former Scotts Valley chairman rallies for casino (02/19)

Les Miller, a former chairman of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California, wants his tribe to consider a new site for a casino. Miller is leading a rally tonight in hopes of...

Group files suit over Buena Vista Rancheria casino (02/12)

An anti-casino group called Friends of Amador County says the Buena Vista Rancheria of Mewuk Indians of California can't use its original reservation for gaming. The group says the people who occupied the 67-acre site...

Crow Tribe owes $400K in casino employment taxes (02/08)

The Crow Tribe of Montana owes $400,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid employment taxes at the Little Big Horn Casino. The tribe is negotiating payment to the IRS. “The Crow Tribe takes...

Lac du Flambeau Band getting less money out of casino (01/15)

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin is seeing fewer revenues from the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino. According to court documents, the casino provided $17 million to $18...

Scotts Valley Band seeks new off-reservation investors (01/15)

In a settlement with the National Indian Gaming Commission, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians agreed to look for new investors for an off-reservation casino in California. The tribe entered into a management contract...

Seminole Tribe invites NIGC to inspect virtual blackjack (01/14)

The Seminole Tribe of Florida asked the National Indian Gaming Commission to look at virtual blackjack games being offered at non-Indian racetracks. The tribe offers live blackjack at its casinos. Lawmakers say the games are...

Chickasaw woman begins job at Indian gaming agency (01/14)

Steffani A. Cochran, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, began work at the National Indian Gaming Commission last week. Cochran is serving as a commissioner on the agency that regulates the tribal...

Norm DesRosiers to leave NIGC at end of month (01/12)

Norm DesRosiers, a Bush administration holdover, will leave the National Indian Gaming Commission on January 31, a prominent tribal gaming regulator said today. DesRosiers, who is non-Indian, joined the agency in January 2007. He...