Seminole operators to fulfill NIGC’s formalities

Although there is not a deadline for the final presentation, the tribe will show its arrangements within the next weeks.

US.- Seminole native tribe is making a series of changes in its casinos to meet the orders required by the national Indian authorities. The Seminole Nation Casino in Seminole, the Trading Post in Wewoka and the River Mist Casino in Konawa –regulated by Seminole Nation Gaming Commission– are committed to prevent the dismissal of 160 employees.

Recently, the principal chief responsible of the tribal operations, Leonard Harjo, was notified about the foul in the casino activities that have impaired their position in front of the National Indian Gaming Commission –NIGC–. The regulators sent him a letter issuing the options they now have: temporal closure of the three casinos, paying another fine or comply the requirements. Nevertheless, Willis Deatherage, chairman of Seminole Nation Gaming Commission is confident they’ll reach an agreement with the regulators, as neither of them want to harm the nation’s economy. “The NIGC realizes that it would affect the whole town of Seminole, so the last thing they want to do is shut someone down,” Deatherage added.

Seminole tribe was fined with US$1.4 million in 2003 for operating casino games without authorisation, they still haven’t paid the money to the NIGC. As they were trying to avoid the payment, the NIGC decided to investigate their gaming operations to analyse whether to forgive the fine or impose it again. In September 2015, the regulators denied the tribal waiver of the payment, as they noticed various irregularities –employee’s lack of training, for example– and they ask Seminoles to fulfill further formalities.

The Seminole Nation Gaming Agency, composed by 40 employees, was trying to deal with the legal situation, but the NIGC’d rather the tribe to be the direct responsible of the casino’s changes. “They are giving us one last opportunity to make those changes,” expressed the chairman.