For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Mark Gaston
(202) 632-7003
P (602) 771-4263. F (602) 255-3883. Phoenix, AZ 85007. All other games are Class III, except for certain social or traditional forms of gaming. Dice city rules. Class III games include, but are not limited to the following: baccarat, chemin de fer, blackjack, slot machines, and electronic or electromechanical facsimiles of any game of chance.
NIGC Announces the Approval of Guidance on the Class III Minimum Internal Control Standards
WASHINGTON, DC August 14, 2018 – Today the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) announced the approval of non-binding guidance on Class III Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS).
The NIGC's Class III MICS were promulgated in 1999 and last substantively revised in 2005. In 2006, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals held in the case Colorado River Indian Tribes v. Nat'l Indian Gaming Comm'n that NIGC lacked authority to enforce or promulgate Class III MICS. Since that time, the Class III MICS have remained untouched. Nonetheless, we recognize that numerous tribes look to our Class III MICS for guidance and, in many cases, reference the MICS in their compacts and ordinances. We also recognize that technology has advanced rapidly; making some standards obsolete and introducing new areas of risk not contemplated by the outdated standards. This non-binding guidance will provide updated standards that address today's gaming industry. And, because the updated MICS will be guidance instead of regulations, it will allow the NIGC to quickly adapt the MICS to changing technology and provide up-to-date training and technical assistance.
'The Commission is proud to provide this guidance as a service to tribal nations and Indian gaming stakeholders. Issuance of this guidance is in keeping with our on-going commitment to support tribal nations – as the primary regulators of Indian gaming – in their continuing efforts to safeguard the integrity of Indian gaming for the purpose of generating critical governmental revenue that supports countless jobs, programs, and services to tribal citizens and surrounding communities,' said NIGC Chairman Jonodev O. Chaudhuri.
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Class Iii Gaming License New York
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act created the National Indian Gaming Commission to support tribal self-sufficiency and the integrity of Indian gaming. The NIGC has developed four initiatives to support its mission including (1) To protect against anything that amounts to gamesmanship on the backs of tribes; (2) To stay ahead of the Technology Curve; (3) Rural outreach; and (4) To maintain a strong workforce within NIGC and with its tribal regulatory partners. NIGC oversees the efficient regulation of 506 gaming establishments operated by 246 tribes across 29 states. The Commission's dedication to compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ensures the integrity of the growing $32.4 billion Indian gaming industry. To learn more, visit www.nigc.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Download the PDF here.Introduction to Legal Gaming Classifications
Accepted legal gaming classifications are available to state gaming boards to restrict which class of slot machines can be used in a casino or other gaming area, specifically Class I thru III.
All 3 classifications are in limited use by states for non-tribal casino operators but are fully in use at all Indian gambling establishments.
At this time, only Hawaii and Utah continue to prohibit all three classifications of gaming.
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Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)
The first federal gaming structure for Indian gaming was established in 1988 with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, enacted as a U.S. federal law. The stated purposes of the Act include:
- Providing a legislative basis for the operation/regulation of Indian gaming
- Protecting gaming as a means of generating revenue for the tribes
- Encouraging economic development of these tribes
- Protecting the enterprises from negative influences, such as organized crime
The Act establishes three classes of games with a different regulatory scheme for each:
Class I Gaming
Class I gaming is defined as
- Traditional Indian gaming as part of tribal ceremonies and celebrations
- Social gaming for minimal prizes
Regulatory authority over this class of gaming falls to Tribal governments and is not otherwise subject to IGRA's requirements.
Class II Gaming
Class II gaming is defined as the game of chance known as bingo, aided or not aided by any electronics, and other games similar to bingo if played at the same location.
It also applies to games played exclusively against another player rather than against the house or a player acting as a bank.
Tribal governments are the primary legal entity responsible for regulating Class II games on its lands, as long as
- The state in which the Tribe has located permits such gaming for any purpose
- The Tribal government adopts a gaming ordinance approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission
Class 2 Gaming
Tribal governments are responsible for regulating class II gaming with Commission oversight. The Act specifically excludes slot machines or electronic facsimiles of any game of chance from the definition of class II games.
Class III Gaming
Class III gaming is generally referred to as casino-style gaming. It has a broad definition and includes all forms of gaming not specifically called out as Class I or II.
Games commonly played at casinos clearly fall into the Class III category, including
- slot machines
- blackjack
- craps
- roulette
- wagering games
- electronic facsimiles of any game of chance
As restricted by the IGRA, before a Tribe can lawfully conduct Class III gaming, these conditions must be met:
- The particular form of Class III gaming the Tribe wants to conduct must be permitted in the state the Tribe is located.
- The Tribe and state must have negotiated a compact approved by the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary must have approved regulatory procedures, a so-called Tribal-State Compact.
- The Tribe must have adopted a Tribal gaming ordinance approved by the Chairman of the Commission.
The regulatory scheme for Class III gaming is complex, with key functions for approval authority resting with several organizations at the federal, state, Commission, and Tribal levels.
Summary of Legal Gaming Classifications
Accepted legal gaming classifications are available to state gaming boards to restrict which class of slot machines can be used in a casino or other gaming area, specifically Class I (tribal ceremonies), Class II (bingo), and Class III (everything else). Here's a list of specifically-named games with their associated Class.
All three classifications are in limited use by states for non-tribal casino operators but are fully in use at all Indian gambling establishments. At this time, only Hawaii and Utah continue to prohibit all three classifications of gaming.
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