Indians should continue to self-regulate casinos, lobbying group says

The nine-member National Gambling Impact Study Commission has been meeting around the country for 18 months to collect testimony.

Their meeting this week at Regent University marks the first step toward a report the commission will make on gambling in America to the president and Congress in June. A number of groups have been invited to recommend what should be in the report.

The National Indian Gaming Association urged the study commission on Tuesday to acknowledge in its report that the tribes are sovereign nations and have the right to manage gambling operations without outside interference.

"I must tell you, in all truthfulness, that Indian nations have lost a great deal of hope in this commission," Rick Hill, chairman of the lobbying group, said during a meeting that became contentious at times.

More than 100 tribal leaders and representatives have testified that Indian gambling is strictly regulated and beneficial to their reservations, but "we are not convinced that you have received this message," Hill told the commissioners.

While critics have said gambling on reservations is unregulated, the federal government, Indian nations and state governments, all have a hand in regulation, Hill said.

The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allowed federally recognized tribes to run gambling operations. The tribes negotiate compacts with states that permit gambling. No Virginia tribes are federally recognized, so there are no Indian casinos in the state.

Indians have no legal remedy if states do not negotiate in good faith, Hill said. So NIGA urged the study commission to support solutions such as allowing the secretary of the Interior Department to approve compacts.

Commissioner Paul Harold Moore said he was concerned about self-regulation at Indian casinos. With "Indians checking Indians," how do casinos ensure money is not being skimmed, he asked, adding that he did not mean to imply dishonesty by anyone.

"It would add prestige to Indian tribes if each one of you could have a real workable contract or compact with each state you do business in," Moore said.

"I think you're trying to make the point that there's something inherently wrong if we count our own money," Hill responded. He said the tribes have been responsible, using computers and camera surveillance systems in count rooms.

The National Indian Gaming Commission, a federal regulatory agency, also submitted recommendations. They include recognizing that each tribe has its own regulatory entity and not subjecting Indian gaming to special or higher regulatory standards than state or commercial gaming.

The National Governors Association also was invited to make a presentation but a representative was unable to attend, study commission spokesman Craig Stevens said.

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