Saturday, May 20, 2006

As reported by Indianz.com: "Tribes will have to certify every year that
their casinos are operating within the law as part of a new rule developed
by the National Indian Gaming Commission. "Last Friday, NIGC Chairman Phil
Hogen released a working draft of the proposed facility licensing
regulations. He said tribes have until June 30 to submit comments as the
agency moves forward with the rule-making process. "...Under the proposal,
tribes will have to submit an annual license for each and every Class II or
Class III gaming facility they operate. Among other information, tribes must
show that each gaming site is located on 'Indian lands' as defined by the
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

"...The majority of the 400-plus casinos in operation today are located on
Indian lands. But recent developments have prompted the NIGC to take a
closer look at the legality of particular sites due to the way the land was
acquired..."