Indian
Gaming Investigations/The Indian Gaming Working Group (IGWG)
The Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), enacted in 1988, provides the
FBI with federal criminal jurisdiction over acts directly
related to Indian gaming establishments, including those
located on reservations under state criminal jurisdiction.
Since the inception of IGRA, the FBI has devoted limited
investigative resources to Indian gaming violations. Meanwhile,
the Indian Gaming industry has grown from one that produced
nearly $100 million in total revenues in its first
year, to one that exceeds $14.5 billion annually;
a total that exceeds the combined gaming revenues of Las
Vegas and Atlantic City. This growth, coupled with confusing
jurisdictions and limited regulatory resources, has generated
great concern over the potential for large-scale criminal
activity and influence in the Indian gaming industry. Recent
allegations of large scale fraud and corruption have led
to extensive media scrutiny and inquiries from Congressional
leaders as to the FBI's response to these allegations. This
document provides information regarding Indian gaming and
the resources that are available to personnel investigating
criminal allegations associated with Indian gaming establishments
and/or tribal gaming operations.
The Indian Gaming Industry
The most
recent Indian gaming statistics, provided by the National
Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), indicate that there are
approximately 360 Indian gaming establishments in the United
States. These casinos are operated by approximately 220 federally
recognized tribes and offer Class I, Class II and Class III
gaming opportunities. The revenues generated in these establishments
can be substantial. Currently, the largest casino in the
United States, Foxwoods Casino, is owned by the Mashantucket
Pequot Tribe and located in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Tribal
casinos located in the eastern United States generated roughly
$3.8 billion in FY02. Those located in the Central
United States recorded gross revenues of approximately $5.9
billion, while those located in the Western United
States generated close to $4.8 billion. Most of the
revenues generated in the Indian gaming industry are from
Indian casinos located in, or near, large metropolitan areas.
Currently, 12% of Indian gaming establishments generate 65%
of Indian gaming revenues. Indian gaming operations located
in the populous areas of the West Coast (primarily California)
represent the fastest growing sector of the Indian gaming
industry.
It is
important to note that currently there are 562 federally
recognized tribes in the United States. While all tribes
will not seek to establish tribal gaming establishments,
it can be safely assumed that many more will. Additionally,
many of the non-federally recognized tribes are seeking federal
recognition so that they can gain access to Indian gaming
opportunities.
The
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and Regulatory Action
in the Indian Gaming Industry
The Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed by Congress in 1988.
Its purpose is to provide a statutory basis for the operation
of gaming by tribes to promote tribal economic development,
self sufficiency, and strong tribal governments. IGRA provides
a basis for the regulation of Indian gaming adequate to:
shield it from organized crime and corrupting influences;
ensure that the tribe is the primary beneficiary of gaming
revenues; and ensure Indian gaming operations are fair and
honest for the operator and the players. IGRA also establishes
an independent federal regulatory authority for gaming on
Indian lands, Federal standards for gaming on Indian lands,
and the creation of the NIGC.
NIGC's
headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. It is managed
by a chairman, appointed by the President of the United States,
and divided into five regions. NIGC Regional Headquarters
are located in Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California;
Phoenix, Arizona; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
NIGC auditors and investigators are responsible for ensuring
that Indian gaming establishments are complying with the
minimum gaming standards outlined in IGRA. To accomplish
this, NIGC auditors conduct yearly audits of gaming records
maintained by Indian gaming establishments and, when appropriate,
investigate regulatory matters. The NIGC has a large responsibility
in the growing Indian gaming industry and, based on its congressional
mandate, dependent on the FBI and/or other federal agencies
to investigate allegations of criminal activity in Indian
gaming establishments.
The
IGWG
In February
2003, in an effort to identify and direct resources to Indian
gaming matters, the FBI and NIGC created the IGWG. The IGWG's
purpose is to identify resources to address the most pressing
criminal violations in the area of Indian gaming. This group
consists of representatives from a variety of FBI subprograms
(i.e. Economic Crimes Unit, Money Laundering Unit, LCN/Organized
Crime Unit, Asian Organized Crime Unit, Public Corruption/Government
Fraud Unit, Cryptographic Racketeering Analysis Unit, and
Indian Country Special Jurisdiction Unit) and other federal
agencies, which include Department of Interior Office of
Inspector General (DOI-OIG), NIGC, Internal Revenue Service
Tribal Government Section (IRS-TGS), Department of Treasure
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), Department
of Justice (DOJ), and Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of
Law Enforcement Services (BIA-OLES). The IGWG meets monthly
to review Indian gaming cases deemed to have a significant
impact on the Indian gaming industry. As a result of these
meetings, several investigations have been initiated and
the IGWG, through its member agencies, has provided financial
resources, travel funds, liaison assistance, personnel resources,
coordination assistance and consultation.
The
IGWG works in the following manner:
1. If
suspected criminal activities are taking place in the Indian
gaming industry and the interested office/agency does not
have adequate resources to investigate this matter, the office/agency
contacts the Indian Country Special Jurisdiction Unit, FBIHQ,
at 202-324-3666. This contact may come from the FBI or an
outside source or agency.
2. A small
group of IGWG members will convene to determine if the alleged
criminal violation is a matter of "national importance" in
its effect(s) on the Indian gaming industry. If so, the IGWG
will invite representatives from the affected FBI division,
other federal agencies (if appropriate), the affected United
States Attorney's office, and IGWG member agencies to meet
and further review the case.
3. During
this review, the agency eliciting the support of the IGWG
will make a case presentation. Following a full review, the
IGWG will assist the requesting office/agency to identify
and obtain resources to assist in the investigation.
4. Throughout
the investigation, the IGWG will assist by providing "experts" to
assist in the investigation; allocating special funding (i.e.
facilitating TDY travel, Title III support, special forensic
examination, etc.); conducting liaison with other federal
agencies; facilitating the establishment of Indian gaming
task forces, and/or providing consultation.
In
order to properly detect the presence of illegal activity
in the Indian gaming industry law enforcement offices with
jurisdiction in Indian gaming violations should:
1. Identify
the Indian gaming establishments in their territory.
2. Establish
appropriate liaison with Tribal Gaming Commission (TGC) members,
State Gaming Commission Representatives, State Gaming Regulatory
Agency Representatives, and Casino Security Personnel.
3. Establish
liaison with representatives from the NIGC and regional Indian
gaming intelligence committees. Both will provide valuable
information on scams, allegations of criminal wrongdoing,
and other patterns of illegal activity.
4. Make
proactive attempts during crime surveys to identify criminal
activity in Indian gaming establishments.
5. Send
investigators and financial analysts to training which provides
them with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively
investigate criminal activity in Indian gaming establishments.
To contact
the IGWG with questions concerning Indian gaming matters,
contact the ICSJ Unit, FBIHQ, at 202-324-3666.