The National Indian Gaming Commission is reducing the fees it charges for processing fingerprints.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires tribes to perform background checks primary management officials and key employees. The NIGC charges a fee to handle the fingerprint check.

Starting October 1, 2009, the fee will drop from $35 to $24. “It is vital that gaming tribes know that those they license and employ to conduct their gaming activities don’t have questionable pasts, which would constitute a threat to the tribes’ revenues, assets, reputations and business good will, and a prompt, accurate report on applicants’ criminal history and record, if any, is achieved through fingerprint searches,” said NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota who is stepping down from the post.

As part of the background check process, the NIGC recently launched the Tribal Access Portal to help tribes conduct investigations of key employees.

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Press Release: NIGC to Reduce Fingerprint Fees (NIGC 9/30)