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 News from NIGC
                

                Home
                    News NIGC Announces Departure of Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer
                                    02/20
                                        Mavis Harris
                                        News Release,**Media Contact:**
Monique Fontenot
(301) 751-4981
Monique.Fontenot@nigc.gov

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**NIGC Announces Departure of Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 20, 2024 –**The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) today announced the resignation of E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, as the chairman of NIGC, effective Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Simermeyer, confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2019, led the Agency through unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic. During this time, the Agency helped set the regulatory conditions for a multi-year, post-pandemic recovery, where Indian gaming gross revenues rose to a record $40.9B last year. Prior to his tenure as chairman, Simermeyer served with NIGC as associate commissioner and director of the Office of Self-Regulation since 2015.

Reflecting on his time at the Agency, Simermeyer said, “I’ve witnessed firsthand how tribes across the Indian gaming industry have pursued economic sustainability through gaming by relying on - and cultivating - the robust regulatory reputation for which Indian gaming is well known, and made better when supported by effective and efficient measures by Indian gaming’s regulators. I’m proud of the integral part this Agency has played in meeting the challenges of an evolving industry, and encouraged that NIGC’s strong cadre of professionals will continue to work hand-in-hand with gaming operations to ensure tribal gaming remains primarily for the benefit of its citizens as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) mandated 35 years ago.”

From day one, Simermeyer established industry integrity, preparedness, outreach, and Agency accountability as strategic goals for the Agency, leading NIGC through a period of growth and expansion of programs and services available to gaming tribes.

Under Simermeyer’s leadership, the Agency took steps to grow its capacity to provide outreach, training and technical assistance to gaming tribes, notably formalizing its Environmental Public Health and Safely (EPHS) program to assist tribes with overall operational preparedness, and expanding the Agency’s ability to provide cybersecurity technical assistance as the industry faced emerging threats from cybercrimes, including NIGC’s first Chief Information Security Officer. His “3 for 35” campaign for workforce preparedness, aimed at building regulatory capacity to future-proof tribal gaming, was also an Agency signature outreach effort during his tenure.

NIGC’s efficient and effective approach to regulation was driven by its formalized, collaborative tribal consultation process, where over the past three years, the Agency published eight final rules to keep pace with changing regulatory conditions and industry best practices, while allowing tribes the maximum flexibility allowed under IGRA to pursue efficiencies intended to help operations grow and thrive. To further strengthen its compliance and oversight functions, the Agency also rolled out the “Report a Violation” tool on its website to allow for reporting suspected IGRA violations. NIGC also provided important clarity in the wake of industry-wide questions arising from emerging topics such as significant court decisions on sports betting, the impact of cannabis on licensing and the use of gaming revenue, and the independence of tribal gaming regulatory bodies.

Simermeyer also positioned the Agency as a lead collaborator with federal agencies and organizations similarly dedicated to the success of tribal gaming. NIGC’s annual multiagency Cybersecurity Symposium, Anti-Money Laundering/Banking Security Act (Title 31) regulatory training conference and ongoing partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign to prevent human trafficking, are all examples. He also led the Agency to pursue memoranda of understanding with federal agencies like the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, to promote a shared interest in researching the impacts of lending to tribes engaged in gaming and facilitating tribal access to capital.

Focusing on Agency operations, Simermeyer led the Agency through a multi-year IT security modernization plan to improve NIGC’s internal cybersecurity and resilience. Additionally, he transformed the Agency’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Audit program to better align with FBI requirements. As another step towards transparency and accountability, the Agency reimagined its fiscal annual report to better tell the story of its commitment to preserve and protect Indian gaming under IGRA, and the stories of the employees behind it. Perhaps most important, under Simermeyer’s leadership, the Agency achieved a 91% employee satisfaction rating on the 2023 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), making the NIGC one of the best places to work in the federal government.

On transitioning to the next stage of his career, Simermeyer is grateful for his nearly nine years with the Agency. “My time with NIGC has been some of the most memorable and impactful years of my career. As a Native person, I’m truly blessed to have been surrounded by experts dedicated to protecting and preserving the valuable resource Indian gaming represents for our communities. I’m thankful for the advice and counsel of my fellow commissioners and NIGC staff, and the support and hard work of the nearly 5,000 tribal regulators who work alongside NIGC day-in and day-out to keep Indian gaming strong now, and for the next 35 years,” said Simermeyer.

Additional details regarding the transition are available in NIGC Bulletin 2024-01.

*###*

*The National Indian Gaming Commission’s mission is to support tribal self-sufficiency and the integrity of Indian gaming through effective regulation. Together with tribes and states, the NIGC regulates more than 500 gaming establishments operated by nearly 250 tribes across 29 states. To learn more, visit**www.nigc.gov**and follow us on**Facebook**,*X (Twitter)*and**LinkedIn**.*
                                            
                                            
                                             Download the PDF here.
               
                                      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
					 Subscribe to our RSS feeds by email:
		**Choose a category for updates:**
										NewsNew on NIGC.govOrdinancesTrainingBulletinsEnforcement Actions
						
								Enter Email Address * 
										* indicates required 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