CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I do hereby certify that I have this igh day of November 1999, mailed the foregoing
Notice of Violation No.: NOV-99-24 via certified mail, return receipt requested to the following

person:

Mr. & Mrs. Merle & Melinda Watt
M & M Smoke Shop

W. Perimeter Road

Steamburg, New York 14783

W conte -

Mananaira Ranos grin
on behalf of the

(signature)

J

National Indian Gaming Commission

NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION
1441 L Street, N.W., Suite 9100
Washington, DC 20005


—

ICE OF IN

Ref. No.: NOV-99-24
Nov ; 8

TIFIE)

To: Mr. & Mrs. Merle & Melinda Watt
M &M Smoke Shop
W. Perimeter Road
Steamburg, New York 14783

Respondent

1. The Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission, hereby gives notice to you, the
Respondent, that as owner and operator of M & M Smoke Shop you are in violation of Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act and the tribal gaming ordinance of the Seneca Nation because you
unlawfully sell pull-tabs.

2. Authority to issue this notice. Under Regulations of the National Indian Gaming Commission
(hereinafter “NIGC”), the Chairman of the NIGC (hereinafter “Chairman”) may issue a Notice of
Violation (hereinafter “NOV”) to any person for violation of any provision of the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act (hereinafter “IGRA”), NIGC regulations, or any provision of a tribal gaming
ordinance or resolution approved by the Chairman. 25 C.F.R. § 573.3.

3. Federal and tribal requirements that are being violated.

a. Under IGRA, ownership of a gaming operation must rest with the Tribe having governmental
authority over the land on which the operation is located. The only exception to this is when the
Tribe, through an ordinance which has been approved by the Chairman, has authorized privately
owned gaming and such operation meets all the requirements found in regulations issued by the
NIGC. 25 U.S.C. § 2710 (a)(2) and (a)(4) and 25 C.F.R. §§ 522.10 and 522.11.

b. On March 19, 1994, the Seneca Nation adopted a gaming ordinance (hereinafter "Ordinance")
which was submitted for approval to the NIGC. This Ordinance was approved by the Chairman on
September 16, 1994. The Ordinance, at Section 6, provides that the Nation shall have the sole
proprietary interest in the conduct of gaming within Seneca Nation lands. The Ordinance does not
permit individually owned gaming on Seneca Nation tribal lands and does not provide for licensing
of individually owned gaming operations. Further, under Section 17-1, the ordinance is violated by
any person who operates or conducts any gaming activity without a gaming license approved by the
tribal council.


c. Under IGRA, pull tabs may only be sold and played as a Class II gaming activity at locations

regularly offering bingo. 25 U.S.C. § 2703(7). If pull tabs are not sold and played in conjunction
with bingo, then, to be lawful under IGRA, their sale and play must be authorized as a Class III

gaming activity in an approved Tribal-State Compact. 25 U.S.C. § 2710(d).

4. Circumstances of the violation.

a. On May 11, 1999, representatives of the NIGC visited the M & M Smoke Shop, located on
Seneca Nation tribal lands, and purchased pull-tabs. M & M Smoke Shop does not offer bingo. The
representatives did not observe bingo being played during their visit and did not observe any
arrangements which indicate that bingo is regularly played in the building.

b. Again, on September 14, 1999, Tepresentatives of the NIGC visited the M & M Smoke Shop and
purchased pull tabs. The representatives did not observe bingo being played during their visit and
did not observe any arrangements which indicate that bingo is regularly played in the building.

c. The Seneca Nation does not havea compact with the State of New York which authorizes the sale
and play of pull-tabs.

d. The tribal council of the Seneca Nation has not issued a license for a privately-owned gaming
operation at M & M Smoke Shop.

5. Measures required to correct this violation.

a. You must cease the sale of pull tabs within ten days of the date of this notice.
b. You must agree not to engage in future sales of pull tabs.

c. You must notify the NIGC by response to this Notice that you have ceased the sale of pull tabs
and will not conduct future sales of pull-tabs. This letter should be submitted to:

Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission
1441 L Street NW, Suite 9100
Washington, D.C. 20005

6. Sanctions that may be imposed. The violations cited in this NOV may result in the assessment of
civil fines against the Respondent in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per day, per violation. 25
U.S.C. § 2713(a) and 25 C.E.R. § 575. The violations cited in this NOV may provide a basis for
the Chairman to issue an order to close the facility because they constitute substantial violations of
IGRA. 25 U.S.C. § 2713(b) and 25 CFR. § 573.6.

7. Right to submit information in connection with a proposed civil fine assessment. Under 25

C.E.R. § 575.5(a), the Respondent may submit written information about the violations to the NIGC
Chairman within 15 days after service of this NOV (or such longer period as the Chairman may



Vw

grant for good cause). The NIGC Chairman shall consider any information submitted in determining
the facts surrounding the violations and the amount of the civil fine, if any. Such information should
be submitted to the address set forth in paragraph Sc.

8. Right to appeal. The Respondent may appeal the allegations contained in this NOV to the NIGC
within 30 days after service of this NOV. 25 CFR. Part 577. The Respondent may appeal the

reference this NOV. Within ten (10) days after filing a Notice of Appeal, the Respondent must file
with the NIGC a supplemental statement that States with particularity the relief desired and the
grounds therefore and includes, when available, supporting evidence in the form of affidavits.

9. Ri i f |. Ifthe Respondent wishes to present oral testimony or
witnesses at a hearing, the Respondent must include a Tequest to do so with the supplemental
statement. The request to present oral testimony must specify the names of the proposed witnesses
and the general nature of their expected testimony, and whether a closed hearing is requested and
why. The Respondent may waive the right to an oral hearing and instead elect to have the matter
determined by the NIGC solely of the basis of the written submissions,

10. A copy of the regulations cited in this Notice of Violation is attached for your information.
11. Point of contact at the NIGC on this matter is:
William F, Grant, Staff Attorney

Phone (202) 632-7003
Fax (202) 632-7066.

NOY | 9 I999

Date Montie R. Deer, Chairman
National Indian Gaming Commission