National Indian Gaming Commission

National Indian Gaming Commission
Seal of the National Indian Gaming Commission
Agency overview
FormedOctober 18, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-10-18)
JurisdictionFederal government of the United States
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Employees135 (2024)
Annual budget>US$31 million (2024)
Agency executives
  • Vacant, Chairman
  • Jeannie Hovland, Vice Chair
  • Sharon Avery, Associate Commissioner
Websitewww.nigc.gov

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC; /nɪɡˈs/) is a United States federal regulatory agency within the Department of the Interior. Congress established the agency pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988.[1]

The commission is the only federal agency focused solely on the regulation of gambling, though it has many counterpart state and tribal regulatory agencies. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior also have responsibilities related to gaming and Indian gaming, respectively.

The commission is an independent regulatory agency, but works closely with the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior on matters of game classification and Indian lands questions.[2] In addition, it is represented in litigation in court by the Department of Justice. Thus, its independence has some practical limits related to cooperation with Executive Branch agencies.

  1. ^ "Casino Gaming Regulation: Roles of Five States and the National Indian Gaming Commission" (PDF). 15 May 1998. OCLC 39350646.
  2. ^ Washburn, Kevin K. (4 July 2009). "Agency Culture and Conflict: Federal Implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by the National Indian Gaming Commission, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Department of Justice".