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The Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission (CNGC), as codified in Title 4 of the Cherokee Nation Code Annotated, was established as the independent tribal regulatory body charged with overseeing the conduct of gaming by authorized Tribal entities. Further, the Gaming Commission is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C., § 2701 et. seq.), the regulations of the National Indian Gaming Commission, and the provisions of the Tribal-State compact entered into between the Cherokee Nation and the State of Oklahoma.
The mission of the CNGC is, through effective regulation and oversight, to protect tribal assets, promote integrity, and to ensure a sense of fairness between the public and Cherokee gaming operations.
The CNGC consists of five (5) Gaming Commissioners that are appointed by the Principal Chief and confirmed by the Tribal Council for a term of three (3) years. The CNGC meets monthly, at a minimum. The current meeting schedule is listed under “2009 Commission Meeting Schedule”. The current Commissioners are:
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Dennis Springwater, Chairman
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Shannon Fisher, Commissioner
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Jason Soper, Commissioner
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Jennifer Barger-Johnson, Commissioner
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Vacant, Commissioner
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The CNGC employs forty-six (46) staff members in the following areas to carry out its duties and responsibilities on a daily basis:
Administration – Director, Administrative Officer, Administrative Assistant, Gaming Systems Analyst
Compliance – Compliance Manager, Gaming Agent Supervisor, Compliance Officers, Compliance Monitor, Gaming Agents, Licensing Agents, File Clerk
Internal Audit – Internal Audit Manager, Audit Supervisor, Senior Gaming Auditors, Gaming Auditors, Gaming Audit Clerk
The rules & regulations through which the CNGC provides regulatory oversight of Cherokee Nation's gaming enterprises are listed under “Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission Rules & Regulations”. As new rules and regulations, or modifications to existing rules and regulations, are approved they are listed under “Public Announcements” for comment before becoming final. All referenced documents are maintained on the main tribal website at www.cherokee.org.
In order to ensure that all gaming is conducted fairly and honestly, the CNGC conducts background investigations and licenses all employees working in the gaming facilities. Gaming and other vendors are also licensed in the CNGC's continuing efforts to provide for the protection of Tribal assets. Currently, the CNGC licenses over 3,400 employees and 65 vendors.
The CNGC also reviews and approves all electronic, card, and table games played at the gaming facilities. All games are evaluated against the appropriate federal and/or Tribal-State compact requirements for allowable games. There are over 5,000 gaming machines and over 100 card or table games operating across all Cherokee gaming facilities. Further, the CNGC reviews and approves all tournaments and promotions offered by the various facilities.
The CNGC currently oversees gaming activity in eight (8) gaming facilities residing on trust land. Gaming facilities are located in Roland, Catoosa, West Siloam Springs, Tahlequah, Sallisaw and Fort Gibson, with additional smoke shop locations in Catoosa and West Siloam Springs. The CNGC also has jurisdictional oversight over Will Rogers Downs, a horse-racing track that is also overseen by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission. All gaming facilities are owned and operated by Cherokee Nation Entertainment, a wholly-owned Tribal corporation.
Boards & Commissions are independent of the Service Core Program although they depend on common services provided to all programs. They provide oversight, regulatory and management authority of various enterprises and functions related to the Cherokee Nation, depending on the respective legislative authority chartering the activities or business enterprise. This is NOT a service offered to the general public.
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