NIGC hosts consultation sessions in San Diego

Tuesday, April 22, 2008  

The National Indian Gaming Commission is meeting with tribes this week at the National Indian Gaming Association’s annual trade show and convention in San Diego, California.

The government-to-government consultation sessions will focus on a wide range of gaming issues. "The NIGC has long held the belief that input from Tribes is essential in the development of rules and regulations that will affect Indian gaming. Additionally, we listen to the input received, and in many situations changes have been made to issues at hand," said NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen.

Tribes have complained about NIGC's consultation efforts. At a Senate hearing last week, they said their views on critical regulations are being ignored.

Hogen agreed that his agency and tribes don't always agree. But he said a bill that would impose a consultation policy on the NIGC was unnecessary.

Future NIGC consultations will take place at the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association conference in Mystic Lake, Minnesota, and the National Congress of American Indians midyear session in Reno, Nevada.