 Seal of the National Indian Gaming Commission | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 18, 1988; 37 years ago (1988-10-18) |
| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Employees | 113 (2025) |
| Annual budget | >US$31 million (2025) |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | www.nigc.gov |
TheNational Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC;/nɪɡˈsiː/) is aUnited Statesfederal regulatory agency within theDepartment of the Interior.Congress established the agency pursuant to theIndian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988.[1]
The commission is the only federal agency focused solely on the regulation of gambling, though it has many counterpart state and tribal regulatory agencies. TheU.S. Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior also have responsibilities related to gaming and Indian gaming, respectively.
The commission is an independent regulatory agency, but works closely with the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior on matters of game classification and Indian lands questions.[2] In addition, it is represented in litigation in court by the Department of Justice. Thus, its independence has some practical limits related to cooperation with Executive Branch agencies.
TheIndian Gaming Regulatory Act was enacted to support and promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments through the operation of gaming on Indian lands. The act provides a regulatory framework to shield Indian gaming from corruption, and to ensure that the games offered are fair and honest and that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of gaming operations. The act created the commission to protect tribal gaming as a means of generating revenue for tribal communities. IGRA placed the commission within the Department of the Interior (DOI), but also provided it with independent federal regulatory authority. The commission monitors tribal gaming activity, inspects gaming premises, conducts background investigations and audits ofClass II gaming operations (andClass III gaming operations, upon request or as provided by applicable law, such as tribal gaming ordinances and tribal-state compacts). The commission also provides technical assistance and training to tribal gaming commissions and operations and, when appropriate, undertakes enforcement actions.
Because the National Indian Gaming Commission is subject to theGovernment Performance and Results Act of 1993, they submitted in 2022 a strategic plan to Congress, which covers the fiscal years 2022 to 2026. NIGC's annual report is availablehere.
The commission comprises a chair and two commissioners, each of whom serves on a full-time basis for a three-year term. The chair is appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate. The Secretary of the Interior appoints the other two commissioners. Under the act, at least two of the three commissioners must be enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe, and no more than two members may be of the same political party. The commission also has ageneral counsel, who supervises the legal staff and advises the commission on its work. The current acting general counsel is Rea Cisneros.[3]
The commission fulfills its responsibilities under IGRA by:
The Commission provides Federal oversight to more than 520 tribal-licensed gaming establishments on Indian lands in 29 states. The Commission maintains its headquarters in Washington, DC, and has eight regions. The Commission staff is assigned to headquarters in Washington, DC, with the remaining staff assigned to regions located in Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Phoenix, Arizona; St. Paul, Minnesota; Rapid City, South Dakota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The commission established its regions to improve the level and quality of services it provides to tribes, and to enhance its ability to communicate, collaborate, and interact with tribes located within each region's geographic region. These regions are vital to carrying out the statutory responsibilities of the commission. By having auditors and compliance officers close to tribal gaming facilities, the commission seeks to facilitate compliance with the act and better relationships with tribal leaders, officials, and regulatory personnel. In addition to auditing and investigative activities, the field staff provides technical assistance and training to promote a better understanding of gaming controls within the regulated industry and to enhance cooperation and compliance to ensure the integrity of gaming operations.
The following persons served as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission:[4]
| No. | Image | Commission chairs | Term start | Term end | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Anthony J. Hope | January 1990 | October 1994 | |
| 2 |  | Harold Monteau | October 1994 | January 1997 | |
| Acting |  | Ada Deer | January 1997 | May 1997 | |
| Acting |  | Tom Foley | May 1997 | September 1997 | |
| Acting |  | Tadd Johnson | September 1997 | October 1998 | |
| 3 |  | Montie Deer | November 1998 | September 2002 | |
| 4 |  | Philip N. Hogen | December 2002 | October 2009 | |
| Acting | George Skibine | October 2009 | June 2010 | ||
| 5 |  | Tracie Stevens | June 30, 2010 | August 2013 | [5][6] |
| Acting |  | Jonodev O. Chaudhuri | October 2013 | May 13, 2015 | |
| 6 | May 13, 2015 | May 15, 2019 | [7][8] | ||
| 7 | .jpg) | E. Sequoyah Simermeyer | November 2019 | February 2024 | [9][10] |
| Acting |  | Sharon Avery | May 15, 2024 | January 12, 2026 | [11] |
| Commissioners | tenure |
|---|---|
| Joel M. Frank | November 1990 to November 1993 |
| Jana M. McKeag | April 1991 to December 1995 |
| Lacy Thornburg | August 1994 to March 1995 |
| Tom Foley | September 1995 to March 1998 |
| Phil Hogen | December 1995 to June 1999 |
| Elizabeth Lohah Homer | July 1999 to July 2002 |
| Teresa E. Poust | June 1999 to December 2002 |
| Nelson W. Westrin | December 2002 to December 2005 |
| Cloyce V. Choney | December 2002 to December 2007 |
| Norman H. DesRosiers | January 2007 to January 2010 |
| Steffani A. Cochran | January 2010 to January 2013 |
| Daniel J. Little | April 2010 to June 2015 |
| Kathryn Isom-Clause | March 2016 to July 2021 |
| Jeannie Hovland | January 2021 to present |
| Sharon Avery | May 2024 to present |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
