NTGCR

The National Tribal Gaming Commissioners/Regulators (NTGC/R) Organization began to evolve in the early 1990's. Many Tribal Regulators found that they were present at conventions and trade shows sponsored by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), and decided that it would be advantageous to take these opportunities to meet, network, and share information among themselves. With the assistance and support of NIGA, free meeting room space was provided to the Tribal Regulators to meet and confer at these NIGA events.

The initial group started with only a dozen or so Tribes represented, and as time went on and word spread, the group began (and continues) to grow. The group agreed it should formally organize. Some deserving credit belongs to the early organizers and organizational officers, which include: Jeff Metoxen of the Wisconsin Oneida Tribe, Norman (Tinker) Ford of the Spokane Tribe, Paula Gonzales of Gila River, Edie Greenheck from Pechanga, and Norm DesRosiers with the San Carlos Apache Tribe at the time. There was also strong support from Eddie Gibson of the Mississippi Choctaw and Mike Brown from the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut.

Due to the nature of the business, with officers volunteering their services and the frequent turnover of Tribal Commissioners due to their not getting reappointed or re-elected by their Tribes, the organization went somewhat dormant for several years because of a lack of consistent and stable leadership.

In 1998, Geri Thomas, a Commissioner from Gila River, is credited for reviving the organization. Ms. Thomas, with the support of Sandra Main from Warm Springs, Norm DesRosiers from Viejas, Mike Brown from Mohegan, the Acoma Gaming Commission and the Hill Group (a conference organizing service) started hosting national conferences once again.

In May 1999, after considerable work, the organization adopted formal By-Laws, and Mike Brown applied for and obtained the organization’s non-profit recognition of 501 (c)(6) status from the Internal Revenue Service. The By-Laws underwent an extensive review and revision in 2003, and amendments were adopted on March 9, 2004.

The purpose of the NTGCR as set forth in the By-Laws reads as follows:

Article II - Purpose

Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the NTGCR is to:

• Promote cooperative relationships among the commissioners & regulators of Tribal gaming enterprises and other organizations;

• Promote exchange of thoughts, information and ideas which foster regulatory standards and enforcement that lead to consistent regulatory practices and methods of operations among the NTGCR members;

• Promote educational seminars, which include commission/regulatory training, and other related activities;and

• The NTGCR may act as a gaming regulatory advisory group to Tribal gaming organizations and others.

Since the year 2000, NTGCR under its present leadership and with the assistance of numerous hard-working committee members has held two national conferences a year (spring and fall).

The focus of the conferences is regulatory education. Nationally known figures in Tribal gaming provide informative general session presentations, and an extensive agenda of specialized quality training seminars are conducted by highly competent and experienced instructors.

Starting with the fall conference in 2004, an annual trade show was added. This trade show is limited to providers of goods and services to the regulatory community; which includes practitioners of Indian Law, CPA firms, background investigation services, machine testing equipment, test labs, surveillance, and digital fingerprint technology, etc.

The NTGCR is a strong, financially sound organization. Recent conferences typically have had approximately 200 Tribal regulators in attendance, representing fifty or more Tribal regulatory agencies from coast to coast.

Membership is not required for attendance at NTGCR conferences. All Tribal regulators, as well as Tribal leaders, are encouraged to attend and obtain an education in all areas concerning the regulation of Tribal gaming.

NTGC/R invites you to its future conferences and encourages your membership in this growing, one of a kind, organization.