Federal Regulations to Impact Tribal Casinos' Electronic Bingo

New federal regulations designed to bring more clarity and integrity to electronic bingo games will cost tribal casinos millions of dollars more than a flawed economic study predicted, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association warned.

OIGA Chairman David Qualls also charged the regulations were one more last-ditch effort by a lame-duck National Indian Gaming Commission to act on Class II gaming without congressional oversight.

The gaming commission's regulations, the culmination of a years-long effort, also drew strongly worded criticism from U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.

"I am deeply concerned about the NIGC's ongoing reliance on flawed and incomplete data to justify irresponsible and unnecessary regulations on Indian tribes,'' said Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

"I look forward to a new commission being appointed and I sincerely hope they do not exhibit the same hostility towards the Indian gaming industry that is the legacy of the current commission.''

U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., agrees with the OIGA that the economic impact on the industry will be far greater than the gaming commission states.

"While I understand the need for proper technical standards and oversight,'' Boren said, "I am concerned by the lack of consultation from NIGC with Oklahoma's tribes.''

For the complete story, please see Jim Myers, New casino rules deemed costly, Tulsa World, November 14, 2008.