PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

An Indian tribe may hire a manager to run certain Class II gaming, but the Chairman must approve the management contract first and gather key facts about anyone with a big money stake or management role. The Chairman must get names, addresses, background info, past gaming experience and licensing contacts, and full financial statements, and may ask those people questions. “Management contract” also includes any related side agreements. The Chairman can only approve the deal if it gives the tribe monthly, verifiable accounting and access to daily operations and revenue; a guaranteed payment to the tribe that comes before repaying development costs; a limit on repayment of those costs; a term no longer than 5 years (up to 7 years if justified); and clear ways to end the contract (termination itself does not need Commission approval). Fees based on net revenue normally cannot exceed 30%, but may be 30–40% if justified. The Chairman must decide within 180 days (plus one 90-day extension with written reason). The Chairman must refuse approval for certain disqualifying people or misconduct, can later require changes or void the contract after a hearing, cannot transfer land interest without specific law and written notice, and may require the contractor to pay the cost of background checks.

Title 25, §2711

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Class II gaming activity; information on operators

(1)Subject to the approval of the Chairman, an Indian tribe may enter into a management contract for the operation and management of a class II gaming activity that the Indian tribe may engage in under section 2710(b)(1) of this title, but, before approving such contract, the Chairman shall require and obtain the following information:

(A)the name, address, and other additional pertinent background information on each person or entity (including individuals comprising such entity) having a direct financial interest in, or management responsibility for, such contract, and, in the case of a corporation, those individuals who serve on the board of directors of such corporation and each of its stockholders who hold (directly or indirectly) 10 percent or more of its issued and outstanding stock;

(B)a description of any previous experience that each person listed pursuant to subparagraph (A) has had with other gaming contracts with Indian tribes or with the gaming industry generally, including specifically the name and address of any licensing or regulatory agency with which such person has had a contract relating to gaming; and

(C)a complete financial statement of each person listed pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(2)Any person listed pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) shall be required to respond to such written or oral questions that the Chairman may propound in accordance with his responsibilities under this section.

(3)For purposes of this chapter, any reference to the management contract described in paragraph (1) shall be considered to include all collateral agreements to such contract that relate to the gaming activity.

(b)Approval

The Chairman may approve any management contract entered into pursuant to this section only if he determines that it provides at least—

(1)for adequate accounting procedures that are maintained, and for verifiable financial reports that are prepared, by or for the tribal governing body on a monthly basis;

(2)for access to the daily operations of the gaming to appropriate tribal officials who shall also have a right to verify the daily gross revenues and income made from any such tribal gaming activity;

(3)for a minimum guaranteed payment to the Indian tribe that has preference over the retirement of development and construction costs;

(4)for an agreed ceiling for the repayment of development and construction costs;

(5)for a contract term not to exceed five years, except that, upon the request of an Indian tribe, the Chairman may authorize a contract term that exceeds five years but does not exceed seven years if the Chairman is satisfied that the capital investment required, and the income projections, for the particular gaming activity require the additional time; and

(6)for grounds and mechanisms for terminating such contract, but actual contract termination shall not require the approval of the Commission.

(c)Fee based on percentage of net revenues

(1)The Chairman may approve a management contract providing for a fee based upon a percentage of the net revenues of a tribal gaming activity if the Chairman determines that such percentage fee is reasonable in light of surrounding circumstances. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, such fee shall not exceed 30 percent of the net revenues.

(2)Upon the request of an Indian tribe, the Chairman may approve a management contract providing for a fee based upon a percentage of the net revenues of a tribal gaming activity that exceeds 30 percent but not 40 percent of the net revenues if the Chairman is satisfied that the capital investment required, and income projections, for such tribal gaming activity require the additional fee requested by the Indian tribe.

(d)Period for approval; extension

By no later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which a management contract is submitted to the Chairman for approval, the Chairman shall approve or disapprove such contract on its merits. The Chairman may extend the 180-day period by not more than 90 days if the Chairman notifies the Indian tribe in writing of the reason for the extension. The Indian tribe may bring an action in a United States district court to compel action by the Chairman if a contract has not been approved or disapproved within the period required by this subsection.

(e)Disapproval

The Chairman shall not approve any contract if the Chairman determines that—

(1)any person listed pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section—

(A)is an elected member of the governing body of the Indian tribe which is the party to the management contract;

(B)has been or subsequently is convicted of any felony or gaming offense;

(C)has knowingly and willfully provided materially important false statements or information to the Commission or the Indian tribe pursuant to this chapter or has refused to respond to questions propounded pursuant to subsection (a)(2); or

(D)has been determined to be a person whose prior activities, criminal record if any, or reputation, habits, and associations pose a threat to the public interest or to the effective regulation and control of gaming, or create or enhance the dangers of unsuitable, unfair, or illegal practices, methods, and activities in the conduct of gaming or the carrying on of the business and financial arrangements incidental thereto;

(2)the management contractor has, or has attempted to, unduly interfere or influence for its gain or advantage any decision or process of tribal government relating to the gaming activity;

(3)the management contractor has deliberately or substantially failed to comply with the terms of the management contract or the tribal gaming ordinance or resolution adopted and approved pursuant to this chapter; or

(4)a trustee, exercising the skill and diligence that a trustee is commonly held to, would not approve the contract.

(f)Modification or voiding

The Chairman, after notice and hearing, shall have the authority to require appropriate contract modifications or may void any contract if he subsequently determines that any of the provisions of this section have been violated.

(g)Interest in land (h) Authority

No management contract for the operation and management of a gaming activity regulated by this chapter shall transfer or, in any other manner, convey any interest in land or other real property, unless specific statutory authority exists and unless clearly specified in writing in said contract.

(i)Investigation fee

The Commission shall require a potential contractor to pay a fee to cover the cost of the investigation necessary to reach a determination required in subsection (e) of this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(3), (e)(1)(C), (3), (g), and (h), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 100–497, Oct. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 2467, known as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2701 of this title and Tables.

§2711 Management Contracts