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 (NIGC or the Commission). The stated purpose of the Commission is to regulate the operation of gaming by Indian tribes as a means of promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments. It is the Commission's intention to provide regulation of Indian gaming to adequately shield it from organized crime and other corrupting influences, to ensure that the Indian tribe is the primary beneficiary of the gaming operation, and to assure that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both the operator and players.
The NIGC's regulatory priorities for the next fiscal year are to:
1. Establish regulations to implement the issuance of certificates of self-regulation for class III gaming operations.
2. Establish minimum internal control standards for tribal gaming operations, including standards for auditing, debt collection, accounting, and security.
3. Develop regulations to establish processes for the classification, review, and approval of games and devices used in tribal gaming.