For Immediate Release
Contact: Shawn Pensoneau
(202) 632-7003
NIGC Postpones Effective Date of Class II MICS
Washington, DC September 10, 2010 — Today, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC or Commission) announced the extension of the effective date of the final rule for Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) for bingo which were published in the Federal Register on October 10, 2008, and codified under 25 CFR part 543.
At the time of final publication in 2008, the initial deadline set for tribal gaming regulatory agencies and operations to implement the new MICS was October 10, 2009. This date would have also marked the removal of certain sections of part 542. In October 2009, the previous Commission extended the original effective date to October 13, 2010, in order to complete a multi-phase process of establishing separate MICS for Class II gaming.
As a result of consulting with tribes this summer and in response to tribal concerns, the Commission has determined an additional extension is appropriate. The new effective date is now October 13, 2011. Further, the newly appointed Commission has committed to a review of all NIGC regulations, including the 2008 published Class II MICS, for effectiveness and relevance.
“As a new Commission, one of our main priorities is strengthening our government-to- government relationship with tribes,” said NIGC Chairwoman Tracie Stevens. “It’s important to us that we work collaboratively with tribes to protect the integrity of the Indian gaming industry. The extension of the deadline is a direct result of our outreach and communication with tribes and it further underscores our efforts towards a thorough regulatory review.”
In addition to extending the effective date of Class II Bingo MICS, the NIGC is requesting that tribes provide comment on whether this rule should be amended in whole or in part. Original written comments should be mailed to:
“Comments on Class II MICS”
Attention: Jennifer Ward
National Indian Gaming Commission 1441 L St. NW, Suite 9100
Washington, DC 20005
Fax to: (202) 632-7066
E-mail to: 2008_MICS_comments@nigc.gov
or posted at www.regulations.gov, Document ID NIGC_FRDOC_0001-0041.
For further information, please contact Jennifer Ward, Attorney, Office of General Counsel, at (202) 632-7003; fax (202) 632-7066 or by e-mail at Jennifer_Ward@nigc.gov.
Formal notice of the extension and request for comment were published in the Federal Register at 75 Fed. Reg. 55,269 on Friday, September 10, 2010. Click on the following link to view the Federal Register notice http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010- 22661.pdf.
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The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
Download the PDF here.
