Bureau of Indian Affairs head Dave Anderson has recused himself of all federal recognition matters due to his previous work in Indian gaming.

Recognition decisions were delegated to BIA deputy Aurene Martin, a development Martin publicly disclosed at a Senate hearing last month when asked why Anderson wasn't testifying on a bill to reform the federal recognition process. Indianz.Com reported her remarks on March 22.

In the 1990s, Anderson ran a company that managed tribal casinos. He sold the company but his former business partner retained a financial interest in some clients and has a recognition decision pending at the BIA.

Some of the company's business also ended up at Park Place Entertainment, now known as Caesars Entertainment. The firm, the largest gaming company in the world, has several land-into-trust and gaming decisions pending at the BIA. Anderson used to own Park Place stock but sold it before joining the Bush administration in February.

In addition to recognition, Anderson recused himself on all gaming and all gaming-related land-into-trust decisions, Martin said last month.

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