The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC; ) is a United States federal regulatory agency within the Department of the Interior. Congress established the agency pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988.
The commission is the only federal agency focused solely on the regulation of gambling, though it has many counterpart state and tribal regulatory agencies. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior also have responsibilities related to gaming and Indian gaming, respectively.
The commission is an independent regulatory agency, but works closely with the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior on matters of game classification and Indian lands questions. In addition, it is represented in litigation in court by the Department of Justice. Thus, its independence has some practical limits related to cooperation with Executive Branch agencies.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was enacted to support and promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments through the operation of gaming on Indian lands. The act provides a regulatory framework to shield Indian gaming from corruption, and to ensure that the games offered are fair and honest and that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of gaming operations. The act created the commission to protect tribal gaming as a means of generating revenue for tribal communities. IGRA placed the commission within the Department of the Interior (DOI), but also provided it with independent federal regulatory authority. The commission monitors tribal gaming activity, inspects gaming premises, conducts background investigations and audits of Class II gaming operations (and Class III gaming operations, upon request or as provided by applicable law, such as tribal gaming ordinances and tribal-state compacts). The commission also provides technical assistance and training to tribal gaming commissions and operations and, when appropriate, undertakes enforcement actions.
Because the National Indian Gaming Commission is subject to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, they submitted in 2022 a strategic plan to Congress, which covers the fiscal years 2022 to 2026. NIGC's annual report is available here.
The commission comprises a chair and two commissioners, each of whom serves on a full-time basis for a three-year term. The chair is appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate. The Secretary of the Interior appoints the other two commissioners. Under the act, at least two of the three commissioners must be enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe, and no more than two members may be of the same political party. The commission also has a general counsel, who supervises the legal staff and advises the commission on its work. The current acting general counsel is Rea Cisneros.
The commission fulfills its responsibilities under IGRA by:
The Commission provides Federal oversight to more than 520 tribal-licensed gaming establishments on Indian lands in 29 states. The Commission maintains its headquarters in Washington, DC, and has eight regions. The Commission staff is assigned to headquarters in Washington, DC, with the remaining staff assigned to regions located in Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Phoenix, Arizona; St. Paul, Minnesota; Rapid City, South Dakota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The commission established its regions to improve the level and quality of services it provides to tribes, and to enhance its ability to communicate, collaborate, and interact with tribes located within each region's geographic region. These regions are vital to carrying out the statutory responsibilities of the commission. By having auditors and compliance officers close to tribal gaming facilities, the commission seeks to facilitate compliance with the act and better relationships with tribal leaders, officials, and regulatory personnel. In addition to auditing and investigative activities, the field staff provides technical assistance and training to promote a better understanding of gaming controls within the regulated industry and to enhance cooperation and compliance to ensure the integrity of gaming operations.
The following persons served as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission: