MAILING ADRESS: NIGC/DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop #1621 Washington, DC 20040 Tel: 202.632.7003 Fax: 

202.632.7066

REGIONAL OFFICES Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA; Phoenix, AZ; St. Paul, MN; Tulsa, OK; Oklahoma City, OK; Rapid City, SD

WWW.NIGC.GOV

December 10, 2021

Dear Tribal Leader:

This letter provides an update on the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Tribal 

Consultation Series C dates, consultation topics, information on virtual meeting registration and comment 

submission. Please note the dates for Consultation Series C, the third and final session in our three-part

series, have been rescheduled from November 1, 2021 through December 17, 2021 to December 13, 2021

through February 11, 2022.

Series C will focus on regulations with implications for technology and NIGC processes to 

protect tribal assets, including NIGC background investigations and the substantial violations list. The 

Commission views updates to NIGC regulations addressing technology based threats to the security of 

gaming operations’ day-to-day activity as an important discussion to ensure its regulations remain 

responsive to industry trends. The Commission views the protection of tribal assets through tools such as 

its substantial violations list and background investigations for the Chairman’s suitability determinations 

associated with management contract reviews as necessary for modernizing Agency regulations, ensuring 

Agency practice reflects gaming industry trends in the regulatory community’s approach to background 

investigations, and supporting the Agency’s role as a federal regulatory body.

The Agency anticipates that this consultation could lead to the promulgation of new regulations 

after an additional round of consultation and dialogue with tribes and industry stakeholders during 

calendar year 2022. Additional framing material for these consultation topics will be available by 

December 13, 2021 at https://www.nigc.gov/commission/tribal-consultation-2021. Between December 

13, 2021 and February 11, 2022, the Commission hopes to receive written comments from tribal leaders 

or their representatives and plans to host four nation-wide video conferences. Written comments may 

be submitted to NIGC.Outreach@nigc.gov. 

 25 C.F.R. Parts 543 and 547 – Minimum internal control standards and minimum technical 

standards: Gaming technology and risks have changed significantly since the NIGC implemented 

its current minimum internal control standards and technical standards. The Commission is 

seeking your input on matters related to technological enhancements and technology threats.

 25 C.F.R. § 522.4(b)(7) – Approval requirements for class II ordinances; 25 C.F.R. § 573.4(a)12 

– When may the Chair issue an order of temporary closure; The Commission seeks your input on 

whether the requirement that a tribe construct and operate its gaming operation in a manner that 
MAILING ADRESS: NIGC/DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop #1621 Washington, DC 20040 Tel: 202.632.7003 Fax: 

202.632.7066

REGIONAL OFFICES Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA; Phoenix, AZ; St. Paul, MN; Tulsa, OK; Oklahoma City, OK; Rapid City, SD

WWW.NIGC.GOV

adequately protects the environment, public health, and safety extends to issues related to cybersecurity.

 25 C.F.R § 573.4(a) – When may the Chair issue an order of temporary closure: The 

Commission is seeking your input on adding misuse of net gaming revenues to the list of 

substantial violations for which the NIGC Chair may issue a temporary closure order.

 25 C.F.R. Part 537 – Background investigations for person or entities with a financial interest in, 

or having management responsibility for, a management contract: Since the NIGC first issued 

regulations related to contract review, the practices and procedures the agency uses in conducting 

those reviews has continued to evolve. The Commission seeks to engage in a discussion as to 

how the NIGC may modify its regulations to provide more transparency, accountability, and 

efficiency in its contract reviews.

The following listening sessions planned for tribal engagement for Consultation Series C topics:

 January 11, 2022: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST

o https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_Oe65yYrkSBCsSgd-cVmPYw

 January 12, 2022: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

o https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_KmRJQa3ITm21iO0moINUPg

 January 18, 2022: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST

o https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_lzJbOlckRgy70XmSB-UJwg

 January 25, 2022: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

o https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_46qxgcYzSJaU6yGLGcIaKg

*Please note the same material and topics will be presented for each session.

Additional information on all of the NIGC’s consultation series is listed in the June 9, 2021 Dear 

Tribal Leader letter available at: https://www.nigc.gov/images/uploads/DTLconsultltr6-9-21.pdf. 

We hope that you will be able to join us for this important discussion and value your 

participation. For questions or assistance, please contact Acting Communications Manager Mary Parker at 

202-336-3470 or mary.parker@nigc.gov or Chief of Staff Dustin Thomas at 202-531- 6407 or 

dustin.thomas@nigc.gov. 

Sincerely,

Dustin Thomas 

Chief of Staff