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Media Myths |
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Misrepresentation #3
Myth: Indian gambling is not regulated. IGRA instead "set up a powerless and underfunded watchdog and dispersed oversight responsibilities among a hopelessly conflicting hierarchy of local, state and federal agencies …" "With a budget capped at $8 million, the agency has 63 employees to monitor the $12.7 billion all-cash business in more than 300 casinos nationwide. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission, by contrast, has a $59 million budget and a staff of 720 to monitor 12 casinos in Atlantic City that produce one-third the revenue." Reality: Tribal gaming commissions, like State lottery and gaming commissions, serve as the day-to-day regulators. Tribes spend over $212 million annually on regulation: that’s over 3 times the $59 million spent by New Jersey. From this figure, Tribes spend over $164 million on self-regulation, including employment of over 2,800 regulatory personnel, with credentials from federal and State law enforcement and gaming regulatory agencies. Tribes also use state of the art technology in regulatory and surveillance equipment. By comparison, the Riverboat gaming industry employs 976 regulators, New Jersey employs 720 regulators, and Nevada employs 432 regulators. In addition, Tribes spend an additional $40 million for state regulation of tribal gaming, and yes, they fully fund the $8 million budget of the NIGC and its 63 employees. Congress increased the NIGA’s budget by 50% to $12 million annually through increased fees to be paid by tribal governments. No federal agency oversees State lotteries, or commercial casinos, or horse or dog tracks, or jai alai, or any other form of gambling. However, federal oversight of Indian gaming is extensive. In addition to working with the NIGC, Tribes work with the Interior Department, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the IRS within Treasury, and the FBI within the department of Justice. |
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