98-5656. Minimum Internal Control Standards for Gaming Operations for Indian Lands  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Page 10798]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-5656]
    
    
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    NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION
    
    25 CFR Chapter III
    
    
    Minimum Internal Control Standards for Gaming Operations for 
    Indian Lands
    
    AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission.
    
    ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document announces the initiation of the rulemaking 
    process and requests information relevant to implementing regulations 
    governing minimum internal control standards for gaming operations 
    operated on Indian lands. The Commission has determined that minimum 
    internal control standards are needed to ensure the integrity of gaming 
    on Indian lands and to safeguard this source of tribal revenues.
    
    DATES: Comments in response to this advance notice must be submitted by 
    April 5, 1998. The Commission will be holding a hearing on this matter 
    on April 1, 1998, in Portland, Oregon.
    
    ADDRESSES: Commentors may submit their comment by mail, facsimile, or 
    delivery to: Minimum Internal Control Rule Comments, National Indian 
    Gaming Commission, Suite 9100, 1441 L Street N.W., Washington, DC 
    20005. Fax number: 202-632-7066 (not a toll-free number). Public 
    comments may be delivered or inspected from 9 a.m. until noon and from 
    2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
        The public hearing will be held at the Doubletree Hotel at Lloyd 
    Center, Portland, Oregon.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mia Dinh at 202-632-7003, or by 
    facsimile at 202-632-7066 (not toll-free numbers.)
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    1. Introduction
    
        The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA, or the Act), 25 U.S.C. 2701 
    et seq., was signed into law on October 17, 1988. The Act established 
    the National Indian Gaming Commission (the Commission). The IGRA was 
    enacted for several purposes, primary among them was to provide a 
    statutory basis for the operation of gaming by Indian tribes as a means 
    of promoting economic development self-sufficiency and strong tribal 
    governments, as well as to provide for the regulation of gaming by 
    Indian tribes adequate to shield them from organized crime. The 
    Commission has determined that minimum internal control standards are 
    needed to ensure the intergrity of gaming on Indian lands and to 
    safeguard this source of tribal revenues.
        The IGRA expressly authorizes the Commission to ``promulgate such 
    regulations and guidelines as it deems appropriate to implement the 
    provision of this [Act].'' 25 U.S.C. 2706(b)(10).
    
    2. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
    
        After consideration of this issue, the NIGC has determined that the 
    appropriate course of action is to publish an Advance Notice of 
    Proposed Rulemaking to collect further information.
        Before the NIGC proceeds in this area, it intends to have the 
    benefit of a full airing of the issues through the public comment 
    process.
    
    3. Request for Comments
    
        Public comment is requested to assist the NIGC in the drafting of 
    minimum internal control regulations. Comment is requested on the 
    following issues:
        (a) Should standards be tiered based on the physical size of the 
    operation, the amount of the gross revenues derived from gaming, or 
    some other criteria? Please explain.
        (b) If yes, what tiers should be adopted. Please explain.
        (c) What standards should apply to all operations and what 
    standards should apply to only one or two tiers and not the others?
        (d) What are the major internal control issues/problems that Indian 
    gaming operations face?
        (e) How long should the Commission allow the tribes to implement 
    internal controls that would comply with the regulations?
        The Commission solicits any additional suggestions and/or 
    interpretations regarding the issues raised in this Advance Notice of 
    Proposed Rulemaking.
    
    4. Public Participation
    
        Interested parties are invited to submit comments on any or all of 
    these and other pertinent issues related to minimum internal control 
    regulations by April 5, 1998, in triplicate to Minimum Internal Control 
    Rule Comments, National Indian Gaming Commission, Suite 9100, 1441 L 
    Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005. Fax number: 202-632-7066 (not a 
    toll-free number). All written comments submitted in response to this 
    notice will be available for inspection and copying in the NIGC office 
    from 9 a.m. until noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 
    All timely written submissions will be considered in determining the 
    nature of any proposal.
    
    Authority and Signature
    
        This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was prepared under the 
    direction of Larry Rosenthal, Chief of Staff, National Indian Gaming 
    Commission, 1441 L St. N.W., Suite 9100, Washington, DC 20005.
    
        Signed at Washington, D.C. this 27th day of February, 1998.
    Larry Rosenthal,
    Chief of Staff, National Indian Gaming Commission.
    [FR Doc. 98-5656 Filed 3-4-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7565-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/05/1998
Department:
National Indian Gaming Commission
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
Document Number:
98-5656
Dates:
Comments in response to this advance notice must be submitted by April 5, 1998. The Commission will be holding a hearing on this matter on April 1, 1998, in Portland, Oregon.
Pages:
10798-10798 (1 pages)
PDF File:
98-5656.pdf
CFR: (1)
25 CFR None