Diné amend gaming regs for Arizona

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Intergovernmental Relations Committee passed a resolution at its meeting Monday to approve and accept amendments to the Navajo Nation’s gaming compact with the state of Arizona.

According to the resolution, the Navajo Nation had extensive negotiations over the past year with the governor’s office through the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. The discussions dealt with proposed changes to the Arizona gaming compact of 2003 “that shall be favorable to the Navajo Nation as the Nation develops its gaming capacity under the Compact ... ”

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires a compact negotiated by the tribe and state for tribes to be able to conduct Class III gaming on tribal lands.

Amendments were proposed for sections of the compact dealing with definition of “gaming facility,” vendor licensing and certification, employee licensing and certification, wager limitations, transfer pools, contribution schedule, contract compliance review, transfer audits and reporting to state gaming agency.

The amendments will raise wager limitations on blackjack, poker and other card game tables.

The definition for “gaming facility” is proposed to state that at sites where there are multiple buildings or structures for Class III gaming, the buildings or structures will be considered part of a single gaming facility.

Another of the proposed changes will allow for the tribal gaming office and the state gaming agency to waive the requirement that vendors be certified and/or licensed if both agree that it is not necessary to protect public interest.

Several documents attached as exhibits were included with the resolution to approve and accept the amendments to the compact including two memoranda of understanding and an interagency agreement.

The memorandum of understanding between Navajo and the state Department of Gaming will allow for the tribe and the department to share information regarding investigative and licensing information. A second memorandum of understanding — this time regarding poker — was also included with the resolution.

An interagency agreement by the Navajo Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department of Gaming is also intended to share information “pertaining to criminal activity that may threaten patrons, employees or assets of the Tribal Gaming Facility ... ”

The amended gaming compact must also be approved by the secretary of Interior and published in the federal register.