Montie Deer Talks About Indian Gaming
Monte Deer (right) with Dean Concannon
The Honorable Montie Deer, Chair of the Federal Indian Gaming Commission since November 1998, spoke in Robinson Courtroom on Monday, April 8, 2001.
During his talk, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Indian Gaming, but Were Afraid to Ask," Judge Deer reviewed the creation, mission and responsibilities of the National Indian Gaming Commission. In the United States, there are almost two hundred gaming tribes running over three hundred gaming operations. Tribal gaming revenue in 1999 was more than $9.6 billion, an increase of more than $4 billion in the past 5 years. NIGC works to shield Indian gaming from organized crime and other corrupting influences, tries to ensure that the Indian tribe is the primary beneficiary of the gaming operation, and assures that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both the operator and player.
In order to combat fraud, the Commission published Minimum Internal Control Standards (25 CFR Part 542) in January 1999. These Standards aim to minimize fraud and abuse in Indian gaming so that tribes may realize maximum benefits from gaming operations. The Commission has also recently proposed rules to ensure that tribal gaming facilities are constructed, maintained, and operated in a manner that adequately protects the environment, public health, and safety.
Judge Deer is a December 1971 graduate of Washburn University School of Law and served as District Judge for the 18th Judicial District in Wichita from 1983-1994. He is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, for which he served as special tribal court judge.
Monte Deer (far right) speaking in Robinson Courtroom
