For Immediate Release Media Contact: Mary Parker
(202) 632-7003
Commissioner Hovland Appointed as Director for the Office of Self-Regulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. May 20, 2021 – The National Indian Gaming Commission today announces that Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer appointed Commissioner Jeannie Hovland to serve as the Director of the Office of Self-Regulation.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) authorizes the NIGC’s three-member commission to consider tribes’ requests for a certificate of self-regulation. Under IGRA a certificate of self-regulation recognizes a tribe’s strong history of regulation of its gaming operations. The certificate provides tribes with the option of reducing the NIGC’s role in a tribe’s regulation of certain aspects of class II operations. The NIGC regulations also establish a lower annual fee rate for tribes with a certificate of self-regulation.
Any Indian tribe that operates class II gaming activity may petition the Commission for a certificate of self-regulation. The petition review process begins with the NIGC’s Office of Self-Regulation. The Agency’s regulations at 25 C.F.R. Part 518 lay out the petitioning process. Once a complete petition is received, the Office of Self-Regulation then undertakes a comprehensive review of the tribe’s regulatory program. The Office then submits a report and recommendation for a vote by the full commission.
Tribal leaders proposed IGRA’s self-regulation provisions during the initial development of the law. The principles behind the policy are grounded in the concepts of tribal self-determination and empowerment through greater flexibility and less redundancy in federal regulation and program administration.
"The NIGC and its Office of Self-Regulation are ready to assist any tribe that petitions for self-regulation certification,” said Chairman Simermeyer. “Commissioner Hovland will be an asset in this role and will provide valuable insight to the tribes during the process. I look forward to Commissioner Hovland’s support for the NIGC’s self-regulation program by leading this office.”
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The National Indian Gaming Commission’s mission is to support tribal self-sufficiency and the integrity of Indian gaming through effective regulation. Together with tribes and states, the NIGC regulates more than 527 gaming establishments operated by 251 tribes across 29 states. To learn more about our role and responsibilities, visit www.nigc.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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