Shannon	O’Loughlin

Chief	of	Staff	National	Indian	Gaming	Commission

1.	Shannon,	you	bring	very	unique	professional	experiences	to	your	new	role	as	Chief	of	Staff	to	NIGC.	

How	do	you	see	those	experiences	benefiting	you	and	our Tribal	Gaming	Regulators,	in	this	new	position?	

First,	I	consider	myself	a	citizen	of	the	Choctaw	Nation	of	Oklahoma,	a	mother	and	a	wife.	Second,	I	have	been	fortunate	

enough	to	go	to	school	and	was	the	first	in	my	family	to	graduate	high	school.	I	received	a	Master’s	degree	and	Juris	Doctorate	

at	the	University	of	Arizona	in	the	Indigenous	Peoples	Law	and	Policy	Program.	I	have	practiced	law	in	Indian	Country	working	

with	Indian	Nations,	Indian	Nation	owned	businesses	and	not-for	profits	for	the	past	15	years.	My	upbringing,	my	education	

and	my	work	in	Indian	Country	have	all	taught	me	that	what	I	do	is	not	for	myself,	but	for	the	generations	after	me.	I	look	at	

my	work	with	the	NIGC	team	and	the	amazing	Tribal	regulators	in	Indian	Country	as	an	extension	of	those	values.

In	my	career	as	an	attorney	for	Indian	Nations,	I	have	had	the	privilege	of	seeing	how	Tribal	governments	utilize	gaming	

revenue	for	the	health	and	welfare	of	their	citizens.	As	in	house	and	outside	counsel	for	Indian	Nations,	I	have	worked	on

housing,	healthcare,	children	and	family	matters,	tribal	courts,	energy,	environmental	and	cultural	resource	programs;	I	have	

assisted	Tribes	that	have	not	been	presently	acknowledged	by	the	U.S.,	worked	on	treaty	rights	and	land	rights	issues,	and	was	

appointed	by	Secretary	Sally	Jewell	to	the	Native	American	Graves	Protection	and	Repatriation	Act	Review	Committee.		My	

experience	on	the	ground	in	Indian	Country	and	my	hands	on	approach	with	Tribal	representatives	and	stakeholders,	I	believe,	

support	everything	I	will	do	with	the	NIGC.		

In	fact,	Chairman	Jonodev	O.	Chaudhuri	hand	picked	me	to	serve	as	his	Chief	of	Staff	to	assist	the	Commission	with	continued	

development	of	Chairman	Chaudhuri’s	initiatives	that	support	the	integrity	of	Indian	gaming	and	do	away	with	gamesmanship	

on	the	backs	of	Tribes.	Tribal	gaming	revenue	–	unlike	non-Indian	gaming	–	is	heavily	regulated,	purposed	specifically	for	Tribal	

governmental	services	to	benefit	Indian	Nation	citizens.		I	hope	that	my	work	at	NIGC	will	support	Tribal	regulators	to	make	

sure	that	Indian	people	will	always	be	the	beneficiaries	of	gaming	revenue.					

2.	What	are	the	key	responsibilities	you	have	in	your	new	role	as	Chief	of	Staff?

In	my	role	as	Chief	of	Staff,	I	will	work	closely	with	the	Commission	and	Chairman	Chaudhuri	to	provide	support	in	

implementing	the	Commission’s	priorities.	These	priorities focus	my	efforts	on addressing	and	mitigating	activities	that	

jeopardize	the	integrity	of	Indian	gaming	and	the	valuable	self-determination	tool	that	it	represents;	acting	effectively	and	

quickly	on	anything	that	jeopardizes	the	health	and	safety	of	the	public	at	gaming	establishments,	including	employees	and	

patrons;	engaging	in	sound	regulation	without	unnecessarily	stymieing	the	entrepreneurial	spirit	of	Tribes;	and	protecting	

against	anything	that	amounts	to	gamesmanship	on	the	backs	of	tribes. I	will	further	lead	the	day-to-day	management	of	the	

Commission	operations,	including	compliance,	finance,	public	affairs	and	the	recently	created	technology	divisions.		So,	I’m	

keeping	busy!
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3.	What	do	you	believe	are	the	most	critical	issues	NIGC	faces	in	facilitating	their	Indian	gaming	regulatory	mission?

If	it	ain’t	broke,	don’t	fix	it!		There	are	many	things	that	NIGC	does	well	and	Tribes	and	Tribal	regulators	tell	us	so,	and	we	are

grateful	for	those	successes.	We	have	also	listened	to	how	we	can	improve	our	regulatory	and	enforcement	functions to	

enhance	compliance	with	IGRA. The	agency	is	currently	working	to	develop	a	comprehensive	approach	to	technology	within	

the	agency	and	in	the	gaming	industry.	Earlier	this	year,	we	announced	the	formation	of	a	new	technology	division	focused	on	

enhancing	our	regulatory	mission.	

I	am	particularly	excited	about	the	new	IT	vulnerability	assessment	testing	we	are	offering	to	tribes	and	TGRAs	at	no	cost,	

which	has	the	potential	of	saving	a	tribe	thousands	of	dollars. The	new	service	provides	tribes	with	a	more	complete	

vulnerability	analysis	of	their	IT	system.	This	new	service	also	augments	our	Internal	Control	Assessments	which	we	have	been	

conducting	for	tribal	gaming	facilities	for	the	last	several	months.	I	encourage	tribes	and	TGRAs	to	contact	us	if	either	of	these	

new	services	can	be	beneficial	to	their	operation.	

NIGC	has	been	consulting	with	Tribes	about	whether	NEPA	compliance	is	necessary	for	agency	approval	of	management	

contracts	and	implementing	the	Buy	Indian	Act	within	the	agency.	These	are	important	issues	that	came	directly	from	Tribes	

and	Tribal	regulators.	

I	think	the	most	critical	issue	is	how	NIGC	will	carry	forward	Chairman	Chaudhuri’s	principles	that	support	the	integrity	of	

Indian	gaming	and	enforce	against	gamesmanship	on	the	backs	of	Tribes.	The	agency	is	currently	reviewing	its	processes	on	

how	it	reviews	sole	proprietary	interests,	management	contracts,	and	other	statute	and	regulatory	obligations.		Stay	tuned!	

4.	What	is	the	most	important	message	you	have	for	the	Tribal	Gaming	Regulators	you	will	be	working	with	in	your	role	as	

Chief	of	Staff?	

NIGC,	Tribes	and	Tribal	regulators	have	a	shared	goal	of	ensuring	compliance	and	strengthening	Indian	gaming	so	that	it	

continues	to	be	an	economic	engine	for	Tribes.	I	would	ask	that	Tribal	Regulators	–	as	well	as	Tribes	–	let	us	know	how	we	are	

doing	and	how	we	can	do	better.	Under	this	Administration,	we	have	a	renewed	commitment	to	consultation,	training	and	

technical	assistance	and	we	remain	committed	to	working	with	the	over	5,400	tribal	regulatory	partners.	I	am	confident	with	

the	ongoing	and	collaborative	efforts	among	tribes,	tribal	regulators	and	the	NIGC,	that	we	together	are	helping	to	achieve	

compliance	and	protecting	the	Indian	gaming	industry,	which	has	become	a	vital	economic	development	tool	for	so	many	

tribes.

5.	Can	you	share	with	our	readers	a	bit	about	Shannon?

I	am	grateful	for	my	grandmother	who	always	told	me	to	go	to	school	and	“be	of	use	to	our	people.” Without	her	love	and	

attention,	I’m	not	sure	my	journey	would	be	in	the	same	wonderful	place	that	it	is	today.	I	do	my	best	to	focus	everyday	on	

how	I	can	best	be	of	service	to	my	family,	my	workplace	and	Indian	Country.		Oh	–	and	I	love	bacon	on	everything!