Media Contact: Mary Parker
(202) 336-3470
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Notice of Violation Issued Against the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 19, 2023 – Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) today against the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, located in Anadarko, Oklahoma. The NOV resulted from a thorough investigation by the NIGC Oklahoma City Region Office that identified multiple violations of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), NIGC regulations, and the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma Gaming Ordinance (Tribe’s gaming ordinance).
As set forth in the NOV, the investigation found the Tribe has violated IGRA, NIGC regulations and the Tribe’s gaming ordinance by failing to submit timely and compliant Audited Financial Statements and Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) reports for fiscal years 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The violations occurred at the Tribe’s Golden Eagle Casino and the Silver Buffalo Casino (closed in 2013). Specific to the Golden Eagle Casino, the Tribe also failed to maintain books of account or records.
“NIGC’s technical assistance provided to the Tribe over the past several years to correct these violations and to improve its internal controls and record keeping has not resulted in voluntary compliance. Submitting timely and accurate annual independent audit report and AUPs is critical to NIGC's mission to protect the integrity of Indian gaming, and we do not take this enforcement action lightly,” Simermeyer said.
The Tribe could face civil penalties not to exceed $57,527 per day for each violation.
The full NOV is available on the NIGC’s website.
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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 510 gaming establishments operated by 240 tribes across 29 states. To learn more, visit www.nigc.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Download the PDF here.
