INDIANZ.COM LISTENING LOUNGE House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in Miami, Oklahoma. February 20, 2008 • Opening Statements Panel 1 - Testimony | Q&A Norm DesRosiers, Vice Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission Panel 2 - Testimony | Q&A Gregory E. Pyle, Chief Choctaw Nation John Berrey, Chairman, Quapaw Tribe John P. Froman, Chief, Peoria Tribe of Indians Panel 3 - Testimony | Q&A Chad Smith, Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation Jim Gray, Principal Chief, Osage Nation Brian Campbell, Administrator, Division of Commerce, Chickasaw Nation David J. Qualls, Chairman, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Panel 4 - Testimony | Q&A Brent Brassfield, Mayor, City of Miami Russell Earls, Commissioner, Ottawa County Brian Barger, Director, Community and Economic Development Department

At a House Natural Resources Committee field hearing on Wednesday, Oklahoma tribes said they would lose millions of dollars if the National Indian Gaming Commission tightens regulations for Class II machines.

Oklahoma is the largest market for Class II games like bingo. But the NIGC says technological advances are making Class II games look more like slot machines, which fall into the Class III category.

Class II games can be operated without state oversight. Class III games require a tribal-state compact.

In the case of Oklahoma, tribes have to share revenues with the state for Class III machines. Though tribes make less money on Class II machines, they depend on them to generate revenues at their casinos.

If enacted, the NIGC's regulations would turn some Class II machines into Class III ones. A study predicted a loss of $1 billion across the nation.

Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Chickasaw Nation, oppose the NIGC's proposal. They are asking the agency to extend the comment period beyond March 9.

Get the Story:
Gambling rule change criticized (The Tulsa World 2/21)
Tribes plead case before Boren, Cole (The Oklahoman 2/21)
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