Indian Gaming

There are two gaming notices of interest in today's issue of the Federal Register.

The National Indian Gaming Commission announced the preliminary fee rate for 2014. Tribes in Tier 1 will pay 0.000 percent of gross revenues to the agency while tribes in Tier 2 will pay 0.072 percent, according to the notice.

Tribal fees are used to fund NIGC's budget. No taxpayer money is used for the agency and its activities.

In the same notice, the NIGC adopted a fingerprint processing fee of $22 per card. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires background checks for key tribal gaming personnel and management so fingerprinting is part of that process.

In the second notice, the Bureau of Indian Affairs corrected the size of the land-into-trust acquisition for the Mechoopda Tribe of California. The tribe is acquiring 631 acres, instead of 626.55 acres, part of which will be used for a casino.

Federal Register Notices:
2014 Preliminary Fee Rate and Fingerprint Fees (February 27, 2014)
Land Acquisitions; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria of California (February 27, 2014)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Mechoopda Tribe wins with gaming land decision (01/29)