The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) proposes to amend its minimum internal control standards for Class II gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to correct an erroneous deletion of the key control standards and to make other minor edits and additions for clarity.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA or Act), Public Law 100-497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., was signed into law on October 17, 1988. The Act established the National Indian Gaming Commission (“NIGC” or “Commission”) and set out a comprehensive framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands. On January 5, 1999, the NIGC published a final rule in the Federal Register called Minimum Internal Control Standards. 64 FR 590. The rule added a new part to the Commission's regulations establishing Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) to reduce the risk of loss because of customer or employee access to cash and cash equivalents within a casino. The rule contains standards and procedures that govern cash handling, documentation, game integrity, auditing, surveillance, and variances, as well as other areas.

The Commission recognized from their inception that the MICS would require periodic review and updates to keep pace with technology and has substantively amended them numerous times, most recently in late 2013 (78 FR 63873).

On September 21, 2012, the Commission concluded nearly two years of consultation and drafting with the publication of comprehensive amendments, additions, and updates to Part 543, the minimum internal control standards (MICS) for Class II gaming operations (77 FR 58708). The regulations require tribes to establish controls and implement procedures at least as stringent as those described in this part to maintain the integrity of the gaming operation. In late 2013, the Commission published a final rule, adding kiosk drop, count, fill, and surveillance standards to Part 543 (78 FR 63873).

Now, the Commission proposes additional revisions, largely technical in nature, that are meant to correct earlier editing oversights and to better clarify the intent of the provisions.