Federal Gaming Standards — VoteNoDemandBetter.com

Why Was IGRA Created?

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was signed into law in 1988. Congress created it specifically to protect tribal members from corruption, self-dealing and misuse of gaming revenues. Here is what Congress was concerned about:

IGRA was designed to prevent:

Outside interests infiltrating tribal gaming
Leaders personally profiting from gaming revenues
Insider contracts with no independent oversight
Gaming revenues not reaching tribal members
One person controlling both contracts AND oversight

IGRA guarantees tribal members:

Tribe must have sole proprietary interest in gaming
Revenues can ONLY go to tribal government and members
Independent oversight body — separate from leadership
Federal approval required for all management contracts
Background investigations for all key gaming employees

Official Federal Guidance

NIGC Bulletin No. 2022-5

Independence of Tribal Gaming Commissions and their Functions — July 12, 2022

📄 Read the Full Bulletin at nigc.gov →

The NIGC is the federal agency created by IGRA to oversee all tribal gaming in America. Here are the six key recommendations from Bulletin 2022-5 — and how this amendment violates every single one:

Gaming commission must be INDEPENDENT of tribal leadership

"A well-run tribal gaming commission — free to regulate without undue interference from the tribe's leadership or from the gaming operation's management — is the best vehicle for achieving functional separation."

This amendment does the opposite: The Chairman alone nominates ALL gaming board and regulatory board members. A 17-2 aligned Tribal Council confirms them all. There is zero functional separation.

Governing body members DISALLOWED from gaming commission

"Disallow members of the tribe's governing bodies from serving on the gaming commission. Actual and perceived independence for the gaming commission is fostered if the roles of the governing bodies' members and the gaming commission members are separate and distinct."

This amendment does the opposite: The governing body — the Tribal Council — has confirmation power over every single gaming commission nominee. The federal government says disallow them. This amendment gives them full control.

Commission must be NON-PARTISAN and NON-POLITICAL

"Foster continuity also by making the gaming commission non-partisan and non-political."

This amendment does the opposite: Every commissioner is nominated by the Chairman and confirmed by a council that voted 17-2 to advance his amendment. It is impossible for that commission to be non-political.

Commissioners removed ONLY for good cause

"Remove gaming commissioners during their terms only for good cause and follow procedures that provide due process. Removal should not be for simple disagreements with tribal leadership over matters that involve a gaming commissioner's exercise of discretion in the performance of his or her duty."

This amendment does the opposite: There are zero removal protections for gaming commissioners anywhere in this amendment. None.

Funding from tribal government — NOT the gaming operation

"To ensure an independent gaming commission, funding should be appropriated from the tribal government instead of directly funded from the gaming operation. If the tribal government is able to withhold funding from the gaming commission, the gaming commission's independence and integrity may be seriously threatened or compromised."

This amendment does the opposite: No funding independence or protections for the gaming commission are guaranteed anywhere in this amendment.

Gaming operation must NOT employ commissioners

"Forbid the gaming operation, management company, and consultants from employing gaming commissioners and prohibit gaming commission employees from gambling at the operations which they regulate to avoid questions about the independence of the gaming commission and compromising its and its members' integrity."

This amendment: The Chairman who was on Metcon's 2024 payroll is given the power to negotiate all gaming contracts — potentially with Metcon. Read more about the $6.8M land flip deal →

This is not our opinion. This is the federal government's official position.

The NIGC — the federal agency created by IGRA — published these standards specifically to protect tribal members from corruption, self-dealing and misuse of gaming revenues. This amendment violates all six key recommendations.

The same man who nominates all gaming board members would also negotiate all gaming contracts — and public records show he was on the payroll of the likely casino builder as recently as 2024. That is precisely the conflict of interest IGRA was designed to prevent.

You can read the full bulletin yourself at nigc.gov — Bulletin No. 2022-5.

What IGRA Says Gaming Revenues Must Be Used For

Under IGRA, net gaming revenues can ONLY be used for these five purposes. No exceptions:

Funding tribal government operations and programs

Providing for the general welfare of the tribe and its members

Promoting tribal economic development

Donating to charitable organizations

Helping fund operations of local government agencies

The problem: This amendment contains zero revenue protections. Nothing guarantees gaming revenues go to tribal healthcare, housing, education or eldercare. Those protections would need to be in a separate ordinance — controlled by the same Chairman and council this amendment empowers.

Demand gaming oversight that meets federal standards.

Vote NO on June 23. Demand a better amendment.

What a Better Amendment Looks Like → Read the Full Amendment →

What Federal Law Says About Tribal Gaming Oversight