Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona). File photo © Indianz.Com
Dave Palermo reports on tribal concerns about a Government Accountability Office report on Indian gaming that's expected to be completed by the end of the year:
The GAO investigation was called for by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and senior member John McCain (R-Ariz.), an outspoken critic of NIGC oversight of tribal casinos. “One of my primary concerns continues to be the performance and legal limitations of the National Indian Gaming Commission as the chief federal regulator for Indian gaming,” McCain said at a July committee hearing. A preliminary GAO report notes NIGC enforcement actions “decreased significantly” because of an emphasis by Obama Administration appointees on technical assistance and training rather than disciplinary action to achieve compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The effectiveness of the so-called ACE (assistance, compliance and enforcement) initiative will be a major component of the final report, which is due by the end of the year. “Effectiveness [of the ACE initiative] is the key point of this whole thing,” Senator John Barrasso, (R-Wy.) said of the audit. A critical assessment of the ACE program, coupled with diminished NIGC enforcement, could be viewed by senators as justification to seek increased federal regulation of the industry. “It’s a little bit concerning,” said Jamie Hummingbird, chairman of both the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission and National Tribal Gaming Commissioners/Regulators (NTGCR). “Depending on the picture the GAO paints of regulations, it could generate at least the notion IGRA should be reopened for amendments to expand NIGC jurisdiction over tribal casinos. “He (McCain) doesn’t believe the NIGC is doing enough to regulate the industry.”Get the Story:
Dave Palermo: GAO Casino Audit Concerns Tribal Regulators (Pechanga.net 10/6) Audio of July 23, 2014, SCIA hearing on Indian gaming from the Indianz.Com SoundCloud
Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Indian Gaming: The Next 25 Years" (July 23, 2014)
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