For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Gaston
(202) 632-7003
Notice of Violation Issued
to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC May 20, 2016 – Today, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Chairman Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (Respondent or Nation). The NOV comes only after the NIGC expended a substantial amount of time and resources for technical assistance and training to support the integrity of the Nations’ gaming operations.
The NOV sets forward violations of NIGC regulations and the Nation’s gaming ordinance for failing to ensure that Tribal Internal Control Standards (TICS) are established and implemented that provide a level of control equal to or exceeding the applicable standards set forth in NIGC regulations. These violations were at a level of severity that compromised the integrity of the Nation’s operations, which allowed for unacceptable threats against the Nation’s assets.
NIGC regulations require a reasonable amount of time be allowed to make corrections following an NOV. The Nation has until June 19, 2016, to bring the three gaming operations and the Seminole Nation Gaming Authority into substantial compliance. Failure to do so could result in a temporary closure order against the Nation’s operations. 25 C.F.R. § 573.4 (a)(1)(i).
The National Indian Gaming Commission is intently focused on protecting against anything that amounts to gamesmanship on the backs of tribes, developing effective rural outreach to gaming establishments in rural areas, staying ahead of the technology curve, and supporting a strong work force both within NIGC and among our regulatory partners. The NIGC is committed to the prompt and efficient regulation of the Indian gaming industry spanning more than 450 gaming establishments, associated with nearly 242 tribes across 28 states. The Commission’s dedication to compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ensures the integrity of the $28.5 billion Indian gaming industry. To learn more, visit www.nigc.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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The National Indian Gaming Commission is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
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