Dale C. Robertson, Tribal Gaming Commissioner 

Big Sandy Rancheria Tribal Gaming Commission 

37007 Auberry Road 

P.O. Box 129 

Auberry , California 93602 

Dear Mr. Robertson: 

This letter responds to your request to review and approve the amendment to the 

Big Sandy Rancheria's gaming ordinance submitted on April 5, 1999. The amendment 

was adopted on March 27, 1999. The original ordinance was approved by the 

Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) on June 21, 1995. 

This letter constitutues approval under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). 

. Thank you for submitting the Big Sandy Rancheria's amendment for review. 

If you have questions or require further assistance, please contact Ms. Frances Fragua 

at (202) 632-7003. 

Sincerely yours, 

wMn 

Montie R. Deer 

Chairman 

1441 L STREET, N.W. 9M ROOR WASHINGTON. D.C. 20005 EL.: 202-632-7003 FAX: 202-632-7066 
AUBERRY BIG SANDY BAND OF INDIANS 

AUBERRY, FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 

CLASS I1 GAMING ORDINANCE 

AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION NO. 96-12 

MARCH 27,1999 A~R 1 3 1999 

Section I. Big Sandy Rancheria Gaming Commission 

A. Establishment of Gaming Commission. There is established by 

the Tribe hereby a Gaming Commission to be known as the Big Sandy Rancheria 

Gaming Commission . The Gaming Commission shall be composed of: 

1. (1) one Gaming Commissioner 

2. (2) two Background Investigators 

3. (2) three Compliance Officers 

1. Establishment of the Gaming Commissioner. l'here is established 

by thc Tribe hereby a Commissioner to be known as the Big Sandy 

Kancheria Gaming Commissioner. This Gaming Commissioner will be 

appointed by the Big Sandy Kancheria Tribal Council. 

2. Establishment of Gaming Background Offlcer. There is 

established by the Tribe hcreby a Gaming Rack~round Officer to be 

known as the Big Sandy Rancheria Background Officer. The Background 

Officer shall be composed of two (2) persons, all of whom shall be 

interveiwed and hircd by the Tribe's Gaming Commissioner, the Big 

Sandy Rancheria Govermcnt Office's Personnel Keprescntativc and one 

(1) member of the l'ribal Council. 

3. Establishment of Gaming Compliance Officer. There is 

established by the Tribe hereby a Gaming Compliance Officer to be 

known as the Big Sandy Rancheria Compliance Officer. The Compliance 

Oflicer shall bc composed of two (2) persons, all of whom will be 

interveiwed and hired by the l'ribe's Gaming Commissioner, the Big 

Sandy Kancheria Goverment Ofice's Personnel Representative and onc 

(I) member of the Tribal Council. 

C. Terms of Office for the Gaming Commission, Exccpt that immediately 

after enactment of this act. The respective term for the Commissioner shall be a 

(3) three year tcrm with reappointment possible, Background Officers and 

Compliance Officers shall receive thc same classification of a Big Sandy 

liancheria Government employee, employment shall be based on job performance 

and follow all BSR employment policies and procedures. 
E. No quorum needed. The Gaming Cornmissioner will execute the duties 

of his or her position as required. Changes in policies and enforcement issues 

shall be brought to and approved by the Big Sandy Kancheria Tribal Council. 

F. Offtice and Duty. The Gaming Commissioner shall preside over and execute all 

duties of the Big Sandy Rancheria Gaming Commission, utilizing the staff of the 

Big Sandy Gaming Commission to maintain the intrcgity of the Tribe's gaming 

facility with all Tribal, Federal and State compacts and regulations. 

G. Action taken. All actions taken must be executed in a professional manner with 

the interest of the 'Tribe's business, and in maintaining compliance with all Tribal, 

Federal and State compacts and regulations. 

H. Meetings. Meetings with the Tribal Council shall held once a month at which a 

report will be given on the Tribe's gaming facility. Staff meetings within the Big 

Sandy Rancheria Gaming Commission should be held weekly. 

CERTIFICATION 

'I'he foregoing amendment to resolution 96- 12 was adopted at a duly called meeting held on 

March ,1999 by the following: ~ote:a~orOA~ainstAbstain I Absent 

~&ris Reid, Tribal Secretary 

Member at Large - Open 
AUBERRY BIG BANDY BAND OF INDIANS 

AUBERRY, FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 

CLASS I1 GAMING ORDINANCE 

MAY 29, 1996 

RESOLUTION NO. 96-12 

Section I. ~aming commission. 

a. Establishment of Gaming Commission. There is 

established by the Tribe hereby a commission.to be known as 

the Big Sandy Rancheria Gaming Commission. The Gaming 

Commission shall be composed of four (4) persons, all of 

whom shall be appointed by the Tribal Council. 

4 b. Disqualifications for Office. The following 

persons may not sewe as Commissioners: 

;(I) Employees of any gaming enterprise on.the 

Reservation; 

I 

(2) Persons related to any gaming,contractor 

(including any principal thereof or closely 

associated independent contractor); 

(3) Persons who would not be eligible to be 

.officers of the Tribe pursuant to the Tribes's .. Articles and Bylaws; or 

(4) Persons having any interest ii or 

responsibility for, either directly or indirectly, 

any gaming related contract with the Tribe or any 

gaming enterprise on the Reservation; 

(5) Any violations of the Big Sandy Rancheria 

Gaming Code of Ethics. 

c. Terms of Office. The Commissioners shall serve 

for four-year terms, except that immediately after enactment 

of this Act two (2) of the Commissioners shall sewe for 

three years, and two (2) of the Commissioners shall serve 

for four yeare, The respective Larm for each Commissioner 

shall be designated in their appointment. Commissioners may 

serve for more than one term. 

d. Removal from Office. Commissioners may only be 

removed from office before the expiration of their terms by 

the Tribal Council for neglect of duty, malfeasance or other 

good cause shown, in the same manner as officers of the 

Tribe may be removed. 1 

e. Quorum. Three (3) members of the Gaming 

Commission shall consititute a quorum., 
f. Officers and Duties. The Gaming Commission shall 

select, by majority vote, a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 

Secretary. , The Chairman shall preside over meetings of the 

Gaming Commission and the Vice-Chairman shall preside in 

absence of the Chairman. The Secretary shall record in 

writing the minutes of all ~aming Commission meetings and 

all official actions taken by the Gaming Cornmission. 

Officers shall serve for one year terms and may not sene in 

the same position for two consecutive years. 

g. Voting. All actions of the ~aming Commission 

shall be taken by majority. vote. 'I'l~e Commission Chairman 

may vote on any issue. 

hi. Meetings. Meetings shall be held at least once 

per month, on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. 

at the Gaming Commission's office. Additional meetings 

shall be held as called by the Chairman or by at least three 

(3) Commissioners. Notice of meetings shall be given'in 

writing to each Commissioner, served by first class 

mail/personnel delivery or Telephone call at least three (3) . business days prior to such meeting. 

i. compensation for serving; Fringe ~enefits; 

Reimbursemenb of Expenses. omm missioners shall be 

compensated for:serving on the Commission at rates to be set 

by the Tribal Council after review. Such rates shall be 

identical for all ~ommissioners. Step increases may be 

allowed based on length of service. Commissioners shall be 

eligible for fringe LanaClta whloll ara available to othar 

'employees of the Band to the extent the.provider of such 

benefits qualifies Commission positions.for such benefits. 

Subject to approval by the Tribe Council and in accordance 

with procedures to be adopted by that Council, Commissioners 

shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with 

the performance of their Commission duties. 

j . Powers and Duties. 

The Gaming Commission shall have the power and duty to: 

(1) Inspect, examine and monitor gaming activities, 

i;cluding the power to demand access to and 

inspect, examine, photocopy and audit all papers, 

books and records respecting such gaming 

activities; 

(2) Investigate any suspicion of wrong doing in 

connection with any gaming activity; 

(3) Conduct or cause to be conducted such 

hyestigations as may be necessary to determine in 

connection with any gaming activity, compliance 

with law or this Act or any contracts, agreements, 
(12) Retain applications and reports of background 

investigations of primary management officials and 

key employees for no less than three years from 

termination of employment pursuant to 25 CFR 

558.1 (c) . (13) Ensure that net revenues from any-gaming 

activities are used for the limited purposes set 

forth in the tribal gaming ordinance pursuant to 

25 CFR 522.4 (b) (2) . 

(14) Interact with other regulatory a~ld law enforcement 

agencies regarding the regulation of gaming. 

d(15) Establish or approve rules of various games, and 

inspect games, tables, equipment, machines, cards, 

dice, and chips or tokens used in the gaming 

operation. Establish or approve video 

surveillance standards. Establish 

standards/criteria for gaming machines and 

facilitate the testing of machines for compliance.. 

(16) Resolve patron disputes and other problems, 

pursuant to the tribal gaming ordinance. I 

I 

k. Annual Reports. On or before the last day of the 

third month after the close of the Tribe's fiscal year of 

each year, the Gaming Commission shall provide to the,Tribal 

Council an Annual Report summarizing its activities during 

the prior ;fieaal yenr, ntld ~occ1~i1i13.I.11~~ for nll roanigtn nr~d 

disbursements. 

1. Funding. All funding of the Gaming Commission 

shall be pursuant to an Anuual Budget to be proposed to the 

Tribal Council ninety (90) days prior to thelclose of the 

Tribe's fiscal year and modified, if necessary, and approved 

and funded in accordance with the Tribe's procedures for 

approving and funding in accordance with the Tribe's 

procedures for approving and funding budgets for other 

departments and agencies of the Tribal government. In 

preparing the Annual Budget, all actual and anticipated 

surplus funds of the Gaming Commission shall be taken into 

account. . Expenditures by the Gaming commission shall be in 

accordance with the approved Annual Budget. Changes in the 

approved Annual Budget and requests for additional funds 

shall be by petition to hthe Tribal Council, in accordance 

with such procedures, if any, for other tribal government 

departments and agencies. 

m. Gaming Commission~s Relationship to Tribal 

Government; Supervision of Administration. 

(1) ~5enc~ of Tribal Govenment. The Tribal Gaming 
i!'go'ods, ,services, events, incidents, . or lother . . , . , -. .: ff:matters related to gaming activities; :. 

- *'.,/ , , !, I. . , 

1. 

'(4j 2~stbblish: and collect license,. i;v=stigation, and 

' regulatory fees to cover the costslconnected I . therewith; tl ' .I., 

(5) ::'~ondict b'ajadkground investigations regarding any , . '!+.'.'?person ori entity in any way -connected. with any, 

gam'ing activity and issue licenses !. to, Iht minimum, 

all: cpa1i.f ied gaming enterprise key employees and 

'j! management officials under - requirements at ?:! . , least as, -stringent as' those 'e'stabli'shed in 25 CFR 

;-? L "Parts F' 556 and 558; and grant, suspend, revoke, and 

.:. $-. renbw 1.icences and hear and'deci.de mateers 

c . 1, . .;affecting, such .granting, suspension', -revocation, 

:' %r kenewal oS iicenses; - I . . .,, 

* 1 : ,, :. . ,. . . i4.i I 

. . 

(6) "j'~o,lh kubh' hås, sit! arid 'act' dtisuc~ ti;& hnd 

: ' i" place's; summori 'persons on the resekvation to 

I.i: "attend an'd testify at such hearing&; )take such 

. . 

,. .j: testimony,, and receive such evidence as the Gaming 

. .commission deems relevant infulfilling its- ; "duttest .;, . I ., . a 1 

!: <)' 

I ril i ' 

. ' .\. +4dmhist&r ., 'oaths ! or affirmations to wif nesses . , .... . , 1 ,appearing before 'Gaming Commission;, .? i .. :: 4 1, I. i' I L .' . . ! a: . . . ..I .. .. : .I ! 8- I !. .- - .$. .. !. /:': 

(~8)-1~:11h~lemknt: and administer a systdin, !:incl63ing.~the ! 

-, i, .a,. ' "progmulgation of regulations, for tnvestigatingi, 

licensing and monitoring management,'~employees,~ ' 

vendors and others connected with gaming L. 8,tf 

, , activities, 'including the issuanc6 ; of licenses ,to 

facilities, individuals and . entities . . .. 

, . f'thh'.verif ication of internal c6ntkolg, 'hs'required 

"under thi's 'Act, IGRA, and any Tribal-State' - a 

"compact or 'equivilant procedures prescribed by"the ' "secretary of the Interior; a 

. , . . . .I I 

/ ' a 

(9) ,~romulgate rules for any class I1 or class 111- . . ., gaming activity on the Reservation, except that 

' Irules for alass XI1 activities shall not be in 

"conflict 'with rules, if any, adopted under any ' Tribal-State compact. . .I . ,. , . 

(10)'Issue such other regulations as it deams ,. 

'appropriate in order to implement the provisions 

of this Act; and, 

(11) 'carry out such other regulatory duties with 

respect to gaming activities as the Tribal Council 

shall direct. 

B 
Commission shall be deemed to be an agency of the Tribal 

Government and as such shall be subject to personnel and 

other Tribal governmental administrative policies. The 

administration of all such policies shall be under the 

supervision of the Tribal Council. In the absence of 

applicable Tribal personnel or other administrative 

policies, the Gaming Commission shall promulgate its own 

policies, subject to approval of the Tribe. 

(2) Independent Decision-Making Authority. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the Gaming Commission is an 

agency of. Tribal government, the decisions of the Commission 

regardingflicensing, suitability; compliance with applicable 

law and other regulatory matters shall be within the 

exclusive province of the Commission provided, that any 

Iperson or entity adversely affected by a ruling of the 

Commission, including but not limited to the gaming 

enterprise or any employee thereof, may petition the Tribal 

Council for review of such decision, which shall only be 

reversed by majority vote at a duly held meeting at which 

such matter has been placed on the agenda at least fifteen 

(15) days.prior to such meeting. 

CERTIFICATION 

.The foregoing resolution was adopted at a duly called 

meeting held on M 4'/ d( L)qb by a vote of 4 . 

TRIBAL TREA~ER 

Mdc/J0/, ~936 

DATE