For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Mark Gaston
(202) 632-7003
NIGC Presents Certificate of Self-Regulation to the Barona Band of Mission Indians
WASHINGTON, December 06, 2017 – Today the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) announced the issuance of a certificate of self-regulation to the Barona Band of Mission Indians.
Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and NIGC regulations (25 C.F.R. Part 518), self-regulation status allows a tribe to regulate Class II gaming with reduced oversight from the NIGC. The Commission only issues certificates of self-regulation to a tribe that can demonstrate it has satisfied the applicable requirements, which include a three-year review to ensure its gaming activities have been in compliance with the IGRA, NIGC regulations, and the tribe’s laws and regulations.
“The Barona Band of Mission Indians has taken significant time and effort to build a successful gaming operation, while simultaneously creating a strong regulatory structure to oversee that gaming. Therefore we are granting a certificate of self-regulation to the Barona Band of Mission Indians. This is an exemplary feat, and I congratulate the Tribe for being able to achieve self-regulation under IGRA,” said NIGC Chairman Jonodev Chaudhuri.
As part of the self-regulation process, the NIGC spent a significant amount of time reviewing the Tribe’s gaming regulatory structures. This review process ensures that the tribe has conducted its gaming activity in a manner that effectively accounts for all gaming revenue; that it has a reputation for a safe, fair, and honest operation; and that it is free of criminal or dishonest activities. Additionally, the NIGC confirms that the tribe’s gaming operation is operated on a fiscally sound basis and that it has adequate systems for accounting, investigations, licensing, and enforcement.
“We are honored to be the first tribe in California to receive self-regulation status from the National Indian Gaming Commission. This achievement emphasizes Barona’s dedication and commitment to preserving Tribal sovereignty,” said Edwin “Thorpe” Romero, Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. “I want to thank the Barona Tribal Gaming Commission for their diligence and determination that made self-regulation possible.”
“As the Director of the Commission’s Office of Self-Regulation, it is my responsibility to oversee the self-regulation review process. This exhaustive assessment takes an extensive amount of coordination by both the Tribe and the NIGC, and I would like to thank all parties for the incredible work they have contributed to the self-regulation process and to congratulate the Barona Band of Mission Indians for reaching self-regulation status,” said NIGC Associate Commissioner E. Sequoyah Simermeyer.
###
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act created the National Indian Gaming Commission to support tribal self-sufficiency and the integrity of Indian gaming. The NIGC has developed four initiatives to support its mission including (1) To protect against anything that amounts to gamesmanship on the backs of tribes; (2) To stay ahead of the Technology Curve; (3) Rural outreach; and (4) To maintain a strong workforce within NIGC and with its tribal regulatory partners. NIGC oversees the efficient regulation of 499 gaming establishments operated by 244 tribes across 28 states. The Commission’s dedication to compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ensures the integrity of the growing $31.2 billion Indian gaming industry. To learn more, visit www.nigc.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Download the PDF here.
