Contact Us
							Report A Violation
                            Gaming Locations
                            Tribal Access Portal
 Facebook
                            Twitter
                            LinkedIn
                            Youtube
                            RSS
                            (202) 632-7003
                            ContactUs@nigc.gov
 Search

            HomeCommissionAbout UsHistoryAgency Strategic GoalsOrganizational StructureStrategic PlanFederal Employee Viewpoint SurveyPerformance DashboardAgency ActionsCommission Final DecisionsEnforcement ActionsNEPA Decision of RecordsCategorical Exclusion Administrative RecordCommissionersChair's NoticeSpeechesPast CommissionersContact UsFrequently Asked QuestionsHuman Trafficking ResourcesLegislative AffairsCongressional TestimonyLegislative HistoryNIGC Guidance Regarding COVID-19Office of Self-RegulationPublic HearingsReports and PublicationsAnnual ReportsCompliance ReportsFOIA ReportsGross Gaming Revenue ReportsQuarterly FOIA ReportsRulemakingTribal ConsultationsConsultation PolicyTribal Consultation 2021Tribal Consultation 2018Tribal Consultation 20172017 Consultation BriefingTribal Consultation 2015Draft Strategic Plan 2014-2018Tribal Consultation 2013Electronic One Touch BingoRegulatory Review 2011-20132013 Summary of Regulatory ChangesTribal Advisory CommitteeRegulatory Review 2010-2011Regulatory Review 2005-2010ComplianceAlternate StandardsAuditInternal Control AssessmentFinancial SubmissionsInternal Audit MICS ComplianceBulletinsChecklists and WorksheetsRegional OfficesOklahoma City Regional OfficePortland Regional OfficePhoenix Regional OfficeSacramento Regional OfficeSt. Paul Regional OfficeTulsa Regional OfficeWashington DC Regional OfficeRapid City Regional OfficeReport A ViolationFinanceAnnual Commission BudgetsFeesPay.govFingerprint FeesPay.govGross Gaming RevenuesManagement ContractsSubmitting a Mgmnt. ContractPublic AffairsBiographiesCommunity ImpactEvent CalendarFact SheetsFeatured ArticlesMedia CenterSeals and GraphicsPress Conferences & TranscriptsNews ReleasesReflecting on 30 Years of IGRASocial MediaGeneral CounselCompactsGaming OrdinancesLegal OpinionsDeclination LettersGame Classification OpinionsIndian Lands OpinionsLaws and RegulationsCommission RegulationsEPHS Interpretive RuleGaming Criminal Laws and PenaltiesDOI Gaming RegulationsIndian Gaming Regulatory ActJohnson ActNational Environmental Policy ActTechnologyCJIS Resource MaterialsFingerprint ProcessIT Vulnerability AssessmentKiteworks Guide for External UsersTech Alerts and WarningsTribal Access PortalUsing TAPObtaining TAP CredentialsTrainingCatalog of CoursesEnvironment, Public Health and SafetyTailored & Site Specific TrainingToolkitsAuditing Revenue 543.24 ToolkitBingo 25 CFR 543.8 ToolkitCage 25 CFR 543.18 ToolkitIT 25 CFR 543.20 Toolkit25 CFR 543.21 Surveillance Audit ToolkitTraining Event CalendarVideo LibraryI want to....Contact the nearest NIGC officeSubmit electronic financial statementsView upcoming training & eventsFind the Min. Internal Control StandardsSee agency decisions and actionsReport A ViolationView NIGC's Indian gaming regulationsRequest a Declination LetterRequest a Game Classification OpinionRequest an Indian Lands OpinionSubscribe to NIGC News and Updates Bulletins
                

                Home
                    Compliance
					Bulletins Date
                                              Publication Number
                                              Title
                                              Topic04/20/1994
                                              	No. 1994-2
                                                Suitability Determinations
                                                Regulation by TribesSuitability Determinations
                                Date: April 20, 1994



Subject: Suitability Determinations

Before approving a management contract for class II gaming, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) requires the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) to conduct a background investigation on those individuals and entities with a financial interest in or management responsibility for a management contract. 25 U.S.C. § 2711(a). The purpose of the background investigation is to determine the suitability of those individuals and entities for involvement in the management of Indian gaming operations.

The suitability standard contained in the IGRA is quite broad. The IGRA requires the Chairman to disapprove a management contract if any person required to submit to a background investigation is determined by the Chairman:

to be a person whose prior activities, criminal record if any, or reputation, habits, and associations pose a threat to the public interest or to the effective regulation and control of gaming, or create or enhance the dangers of unsuitable, unfair, or illegal practices, methods, and activities in the conduct of gaming or the carrying on of the business and financial arrangements incidental thereto.

25 U.S.C. § 2711(e)(1)(D).

Similarly, the Chairman may disapprove a management contract for class III gaming applying virtually the same suitability standard as quoted above. See 25 C.F.R. § 533.6.

The sale, lease, or distribution of gambling devices to Indian tribes or Indian gaming establishments or the operation of such devices in tribal gaming establishments in states where there are no approved tribal-state compacts authorizing gambling devices is a violation of the IGRA and the Johnson Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1175.

Past or current participation in such illegal activities may result in a finding of unsuitability by the Chairman for future involvement in the management of Indian gaming operations.
               
                  		                    News by Category
                                News Release
									
  									 Speeches and Presentations
									
  									 Dear Tribal Letters
									
  									 Bulletins
									
  									 Federal Register Notices
									
  									 Feature Articles

                            Recent News
                                        EventsSecretary Haaland Announces Appointments to National Indian Gaming Commission
                                                        March 25, 2024
												 
                                                NIGC Announces Departure of Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer
                                                        February 20, 2024
												 
                                                Dear Tribal Leader Letter Regarding: NIGC Chairman Encourages Fee Payments Via Pay.gov
                                                        January 22, 2024
                                        NIGC 2-Day In-Person Compliance Workshop: Pathways to Compliance
                                            May 14, 2024
                                                9:00 am Commission
                                          About Us
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Agency Actions
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Commissioners
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Past Commissioners
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Contact Us
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Frequently Asked Questions
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Human Trafficking Resources
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Legislative Affairs
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          NIGC Guidance Regarding COVID-19
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Office of Self-Regulation
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Public Hearings
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Reports and Publications
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Rulemaking
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Tribal Consultations   
                          
                      
					  
                    
                  
                      
                          
                              Compliance
                                          Alternate Standards
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Audit
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Bulletins
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Checklists and Worksheets
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Regional Offices
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Report A Violation   
                          
                      
					  
                    
                  
                      
                          
                              Finance
                                          Annual Commission Budgets
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Fees
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Fingerprint Fees
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Gross Gaming Revenues
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Management Contracts   
                          
                      
					  
                    
                  
                      
                          
                              Public Affairs
                                          Biographies
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Community Impact
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Event Calendar
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Fact Sheets
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Featured Articles
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Media Center
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          News Releases
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Reflecting on 30 Years of IGRA
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Social Media   
                          
                      
					  
                    
                  
                      
                          
                              General Counsel
                                          Compacts
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Gaming Ordinances
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Legal Opinions
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Laws and Regulations   
                          
                      
					  
                    
                  
                      
                          
                              Technology
                                          CJIS Resource Materials
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Fingerprint Process
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          IT Vulnerability Assessment
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Kiteworks Guide for External Users
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Tech Alerts and Warnings
                      
                    
                  
                      
					  
                          Tribal Access Portal

            
            Copyrights © 2024 All Rights Reserved by NIGC.govTerms of Use / Privacy Policy / Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
                    
                     Stay updated on the NIGC

						Sign up to receive the latest gaming news and updates!

                    Facebook

                            Twitter

                            Linkedin

                            YouTube


                            RSS

                        

                         info@nigc.gov ·  202-632-7003