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Tribal Gaming Leaders Ready to Battle Congress

LAS VEGAS – As reported by Indian Country Today: "American Indian gaming leaders are prepping for a no-holds-barred battle with Congress over plans to open and amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, officials said during the recent Global Gaming Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

''We are engaged in hand-to-hand combat as we speak,' Jana McKeag, vice president of government relations at Venture Catalyst Inc., said matter-of-factly as she moderated a roundtable discussion Sept. 15 aptly titled 'Indian gaming: The coming federal battle.'

"At issue is whether the federal government should be allowed to revisit IGRA and make changes to the current pact. In June, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., head of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said at a panel hearing that he plans to amend the act to strengthen federal regulation of tribal casinos, restrict Indian gaming on off-reservation land and tighten a loophole that allows tribes to pay huge fees to advisers as long as they are described as consultants instead of managers.

"…Mark Van Norman, executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association, acknowledged the success of Indian gaming, but was quick to point out that Congress and the media often overlook the contributions tribes are making to their communities.

"…George Skibine, acting deputy assistant secretary of policy and economic development for the Office of Indian Management at the BIA, admitted IGRA will be a 'coming storm' but described other issues, such as tribes seeking off-reservation casinos, as hot-button topics for Congress. It's one on which Marquez has strong feelings…"

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