National Indian Gaming Commission

FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan

1
The Commission

Jonodev O. Chaudhuri 

(Muscogee(Creek))

Chairman

Kathryn Isom-Clause 

(Taos Pueblo)

Vice Chair

E. Sequoyah Simermeyer 

(Coharie)

Associate Commissioner

2
Timeline

June 2, 2017 High level Strategic Plan due to OMB

June 30, 2017 Comments from OMB should be received 

July 13, 2017 Tribal consultation on draft Strategic Plan

August 11, 2017 Comments on Strategic Plan Due to NIGC

September, 2017 Full draft of Strategic Plan due to OMB

November, 2017 Comments from OMB should be received

December 22, 2017 Final draft of Strategic Plan due to OMB

February, 2018 Publish Strategic Plan

3
MISSION

The NIGC’s mission is to (1) promote tribal economic 

development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments; (2) 

maintain the integrity of the Indian gaming industry; and (3) 

ensure that Tribes are the primary beneficiaries of their gaming 

activities. To fulfill its mission and achieve compliance, the NIGC 

works within the framework created by the IGRA by providing 

sound guidance, removing unnecessary roadblocks, and 

sensibly regulating gaming activities conducted by sovereign 

Indian Tribes on Indian lands.

4
VISION

The Commission’s vision is to utilize all of its regulatory tools, including 

training, technical assistance, public education, and enforcement, to 

empower and partner with tribal governments to ensure regulatory 

compliance and gaming integrity that respects the capabilities and 

responsibilities of each sovereign tribe.

5
STRATEGIC GOALS

Goal 1: Gamesmanship – Protect against anything that amounts to 

gamesmanship on the backs of tribes through meaningful communication, 

training, and technical assistance and utilize the NIGC’s enforcement 

authorities when necessary 

Goal 2: Strong Workforce – Maintain a strong workforce both within the 

Agency as well as with NIGC’s tribal regulatory partners

Goal 3: Technology – Leverage reliable and emerging industry technology 

trends to support tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and the 

integrity of Indian gaming 

Goal 4: Rural Outreach – Develop and execute a plan for small rural 

gaming tribes that reviews training, technical assistance and regulations

Goal 5: Operational Excellence – Deliver appropriate resources, 

solutions, and services in an efficient and effective manner to benefit 

stakeholders

6
Goal 1: Gamesmanship

Gamesmanship – Protect against 

anything that amounts to 

gamesmanship on the backs of tribes 

through meaningful communication, 

training, and technical assistance and 

utilize the NIGC’s enforcement 

authorities when necessary. 

7
Goal 1: Gamesmanship

Objective 1.1

Enhance awareness of gamesmanship and improve tribal 

government, regulator, and operator capacity to detect the 

occurrence of gamesmanship.

Strategies

• Create and update training courses.

• Ensure stakeholders receive coordinated and consistent 

information.

• Build partnerships within the Indian gaming industry.

• Meet with stakeholders.

• Utilize the declination process.

• Create and improve tools and technology.

• Develop and maintain a collection of data analysis.

• Identify and utilize all resources available. 8
Goal 1: Gamesmanship

Objective 1.2

Prevent and eliminate ongoing gamesmanship by utilizing the 

NIGC’s enforcement authority to ensure that the gaming fulfills the 

legislative purposes of IGRA.

Strategies

• Conduct site visits at gaming facilities, tribal gaming regulatory 

authorities, and other tribal entities to detect conditions of risk 

and incidences of ongoing or prior gamesmanship violations.

• Review submitted unexecuted contracts and agreements for 

potential gamesmanship.

• Analyze audited financial statements and AUP reports submitted 

for potential gamesmanship violations or conditions that create a 

risk for gamesmanship. 9
Goal 1: Gamesmanship

Strategies continued

• Develop trusted contacts within the industry that have access to 

information about gamesmanship occurring or about to occur.

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with tribal 

regulators to address gamesmanship bilaterally when 

appropriate.

• Implement and enforce Indian gaming laws consistently and 

investigate and take actions to address potential violations of 

Indian gaming laws.

10
Goal 2: Strong Workforce

Strong Workforce – Maintain a strong 

workforce both within the Agency as 

well as with NIGC’s tribal regulatory 

partners.

11
Goal 2: Strong Workforce

Objective 2.1

Provide training to tribal regulatory partners to promote tribal 

economic development, tribal self-sufficiency, and strong tribal 

governments.

Strategies

• Conduct training events that provide a consistent approach from a 

variety of methods that supports the purposes of IGRA

• Maintain a library of training material for Agency staff to use to 

provide consistency in presentations

• Continue to support the development and delivery of training 

courses essential to maintain a highly effective workforce

• Strengthen the impact and effectiveness of training by fostering 

best practices, facilitating partnerships, and identifying gaps in 

training. 12
Goal 2: Strong Workforce

Objective 2.2

Utilize technology and a variety of hands-on learning and virtual 

learning modalities to support efficient and effective training and 

technical assistance to regulatory partners.

Strategies

• Offer ongoing in-person and virtual access to training and 

development resources to support continual learning.

• Develop a Learning Management System.

• Link the Learning Management System to the Agency’s website 

for ease of access and user ability.

• Increase knowledge reviews on training courses offered.

• Optimize the training experience through the use of various 

communication tools to support the improvement of training.

13
Goal 2: Strong Workforce

Objective 2.3

Ensure the Agency creates reasonable goals for employee 

engagement.

Strategies

• Evaluate employee feedback based on the Federal Employee 

Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) results, utilize Office of Personnel. 

Management (OPM) communication plan to market and promote 

FEVS participation.

• Create and execute FEVS Agency Action Plan based on previous 

year’s survey results.

• Develop other tools to garner employee feedback to improve the 

Agency

14
Goal 2: Strong Workforce

Objective 2.4

Invest in the Agency’s employee training, work-life programs, and 

performance management to recruit, hire, and retain the most 

qualified and motivated employees to ensure a talented and diverse 

workforce.

Strategies

• Conduct organizational development activities that involve skillbased and work-life opportunities or programs.

• Provide training that addresses skill gaps.

• Recruit and retain a high-quality, diverse staff through workforce 

planning.

• Support a culture of health and safety.

15
Goal 2: Strong Workforce

Strategies continued

• Ensure access to employee services regardless of geographic 

location.

• Ensure effective use of the performance management system to 

manage employee performance.

• Recognize employees for accomplishments and achieving the 

Commission’s vision.

16
Goal 3: Technology

Technology – Leverage reliable and 

emerging industry technology trends 

to support tribal economic 

development, self-sufficiency and the 

integrity of Indian gaming. 

17
Goal 3: Technology

Objective 3.1

Stay relevant about developments in the gaming industry, 

including best practices and emerging technologies and utilize the 

knowledge to raise awareness of these developments to our tribal 

regulatory partners.

Strategies

• Research industry technology trends and best practices.

• Identify or develop agency staff subject matter experts.

• Disseminate information to tribes, tribal regulators and 

operators.

• Accelerate discovery of developments through the sharing of 

knowledge.

18
Goal 3: Technology

Objective 3.2

Provide subject matter expertise to the Indian gaming industry in 

the field of technology.

Strategies

• Continue to educate by offering information technology 

courses.

• Provide information technology vulnerability assessments 

(ITVA) at tribal gaming operations.

19
Goal 3: Technology

Objective 3.3

Strengthen information and communication systems to support 

timely decision making and the dissemination of information to all 

Agency staff.

Strategies

• Ensure consistency in services by improving communication and 

customer service with agency staff.

• Develop and maintain appropriate records management 

procedures and tools.

• Develop and maintain the tools and technology required to 

effectively, efficiently, and securely disseminate data and 

information internally.

• Improve employee intranet to provide timely information to 

agency staff.

20
Goal 3: Technology

Objective 3.4

Maintain the internal technology infrastructure and continuity of 

technology services.

Strategies

• Increase process automation.

• Expand the use of agency information technology to improve 

service and increase efficiency.

• Assess agency applications for value and use.

• Operate an effective secure network.

21
Goal 4: Rural Outreach

Rural Outreach – Develop and 

execute a plan for small rural gaming 

tribes that reviews training, technical 

assistance and regulations.

22
Goal 4: Rural Outreach

Objective 4.1

Increase engagement and outreach through agency training and 

technical assistance for the unique circumstances of small rural 

gaming tribes.

Strategies

• Support demonstration or pilot projects for improving how 

training and technical assistance is delivered to small rural 

gaming tribes.

• Review data from the Agency to determine whether new training 

and technical assistance can better meet the unique needs of 

smaller rural gaming tribes.

23
Goal 4: Rural Outreach

Objective 4.2

Review regulations to determine whether they are overly 

burdensome to smaller operations.

Strategies

• NIGC staff will make recommendations to the Commission 

regarding whether there are regulations that overburden 

smaller operations, or whether other corrective actions are 

required to support smaller rural tribes.

• The Commission shall consult with tribes regarding any 

potential change to the regulations to support smaller rural 

operations. 

• The Commission shall institute other corrective action as 

needed to support rural outreach.

24
Goal 5: Operational Excellence

Operational Excellence – Deliver 

appropriate resources, solutions, and 

services in an efficient and effective 

manner to benefit stakeholders.

25
Goal 5: Operational Excellence

Objective 5.1

Monitor employee work effectively to provide superior service and to 

promote continuous improvements to routine processes and 

services.

Strategies

• Provide feedback to employees during work processes.

• Provide support by supervisors and managers to manage 

workload.

• Simplify processes and procedures for operational improvement 

by removing duplicative tasks or unnecessary steps.

• Develop evidence-based decision making.

• Initiate an annual review of agency policies and procedures for 

updates as necessary.

• Develop a training/mentoring program for new employees to 

enhance employee skills and efficiency.

26
Goal 5: Operational Excellence

Objective 5.2

Increase transparency and accountability in financial management 

for the Agency.

Strategies

• Effectively allocate and prioritize resources by improving the 

budget formulation process and document this process.

• Ensure efficient and effective management of financial 

resources through a balanced budget.

• Seek out and identify opportunities to share information about 

the Agency’s financial resources with tribes and obtain tribal 

input on this information where it could improve efficiencies.

• Improve the reliability of the secondary accounting system.

• Provide a budget to all managers and compare budgeted to 

actual. 27
Questions & Comments

Submit written comments by e-mail to 

Vannice_Doulou@nigc.gov

or

National Indian Gaming Commission

Attn: Vannice Doulou

1849 C Street, NW Mail Stop 1621

Washington DC 20240

Written comments must be submitted by August 11, 2017.

28