FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 1997
CONTACT: Christopher M. Changery
(202) 224-2251

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) today introduced the Indian Gaming Enforcement and Integrity Act of 1997. The bill changes the way fees are assessed by National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), giving the Commission the resources it needs to monitor Indian gaming.

"The future of Indian gaming depends on public confidence that the facilities are run reputably," Campbell said. "The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 gave Indian tribes a shot at economic independence. We need effective internal and external regulation so that opportunity is not taken away."

The NIGC was created in 1988 to regulate Indian gaming to shield tribes from corrupting influences and protect the patrons by ensuring games are conducted fairly and honestly. Under current law, the commission gets its funding from a federal appropriation and from fees paid by tribal gaming operations, which are limited to $1.5 million per year. Since 1988, tribal gaming has grown significantly to the point where NIGC staff and resources are being strained. Members of the commission testifying before the committee on July 10 said the current cap on assessed fees constrained their budget to the point where "effective regulation is hampered."

Campbell's bill, which will provide sufficient resources to the NIGC without burdening tribal gaming operations, resulted from testimony at the July 10 hearing from Indian tribal leaders, tribal organizations and NIGC commissioners. The bill raises the amount of fees the commission can collect to $8 million dollars in FY1998; $12 million dollars in FY1999; and $15 million dollars in FY2000. It also creates a special account for the fees at the U.S. Treasury to ensure that the money is only used for the commission.