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NOTICE OF VIOLATION

Ref. No.: NOV-99-35

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
To: Ms. Anna L. Ward
Big Indian Smoke Shop
P.O Box 382
(597 Milestrip Road)

Irving, New York 14081

Respondent

1. The Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission, hereby gives notice to you, the
Respondent, that as owner and operator of Big Indian 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.


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c. Under IGRA, pull tabs may only be sold and played as a Class I 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 Big Indian Smoke Shop, located on
Seneca Nation tribal lands, and purchased pull-tabs. Big Indian 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 15, 1999, representatives of the NIGC visited the Big Indian 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 have a 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 Big Indian 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.F.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 C.F.R. 573.6.

7. Right to submit information in connection with a proposed civil fine assessment. Under 25
C.F.R. 575.5(a), the Respondent may submit written information about the violations to the NIGC



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Chairman within 15 days after service of this NOV (or such longer period as the NIGC Chairman
may grant for good cause). The NIGC Chairman shail 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 C.F.R. Part 577. The Respondent may appeal the
allegations by submitting a Notice of Appeal to the NIGC at the address set forth in paragraph Sc.
The Respondent has a right to be represented by counsel in such an appeal. A Notice of. Appeal must
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. Right to a hearing as part of the appeal. If the Respondent wishes to present oral testimony or
witnesses at a hearing, the Respondent must include a request 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.

DEC 30 980

Montie R. Deer, Chairman Date
National Indian Gaming Commission