In fact, Arizona was selected as the first site visit for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), specifically because we embody a model Tribal-State gaming compact agreement dating back to 1993, with a well-defined, in-depth regulatory structure.
We at the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) were proud to coordinate the GAO’s visit in February of 2014, to showcase our interactions with the Arizona Department of Gaming and the National Indian Gaming Commission, in conjunction with Tribal Gaming Commissions.
The presumption that the report was requested because of regulatory mismanagement by Tribal governments is erroneous. Rather, the report was requested by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and Senator McCain to determine how the implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was being carried out across the country after it’s 25 years in operation.
What the article did not mention is the fact that Tribal gaming is unparalleled in the amount of regulatory oversight and scrutiny it receives in relation to the gaming industry in total. With three levels of compliance, Tribal gaming is held to a much stricter standard. Moreover, Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compacts represent some of the highest level of oversight defined in a compact agreement.
And for good reason. If Tribal gaming in Arizona were an industry segment, it would be one of the top five employers in the state – not to mention the businesses operated as a result of diversification and employment with Tribal governments directly.
Tribal gaming plays a significant role in Arizona’s economy, with more than $1 billion contributed to Cities and Towns, Education, Trauma Care, Tourism and Wildlife Conservation since 2002. Arizonans deserve to know why our state was invited to participate in the report and we should be proud of how well our state performed in the GAO audit.
We at the AIGA support the report’s suggestions of training and measurable metrics, which will serve to further strengthen Tribal gaming and bolster our impressive track record of regulatory oversight and compliance.
Valerie Spicer
Executive Director
Arizona Indian Gaming Association
