Washington Tribe Issued Notice

Today, National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Chairman Phil Hogen issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians in the State of Washington for misallocation of net gaming revenues. The Chairman issued the NOV in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and NIGC's regulations. The NIGC Chairman may issue an NOV to any person for violation of any provision of IGRA, NIGC regulations, or any provision of a tribal gaming ordinance or resolution approved by the Chairman.

Earlier this year, NIGC investigators and auditors determined the Tribe was not in compliance with its Revenue Allocate Plan (RAP), which was approved by the Secretary of the Interior on April 28, 2003. The NIGC investigation revealed that the Tribe's per capita payments were significantly out of compliance with the Tribe's RAP, thereby constituting a misallocation of net gaming revenues in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. It was also discovered that the Tribe was not complying with other key provisions in the RAP.

The Chairman issued this NOV because these violations are serious obstacles to the long term financial health of the Tribe. Chairman Hogen commented, "Our primary goal in this case is to encourage the Tribe to come into compliance with the approved RAP. Once compliance is achieved, the Tribe will have the ability to provide funding for vital p

2006-06-13