Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Commission

Licensing & suitability

• Conducts or causes background investigations to be conducted on, at a minimum, primary management official, key employees and service suppliers;
• Reviews and approves all investigative work conducted;
• Obtains and processes fingerprints;
• Makes suitability determinations;
• Issues gaming licenses to management officials and employees of the operation, and service suppliers consistent with the suitability determination;

Compliance & oversight

• Inspects, examines and monitors all gaming activities;
• Ensures compliance with all Tribal, State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding Indian gaming;
• Reports results of background investigations to the State and the NIGC as required by IGRA;

Enforcement & hearings

• Investigates any suspicion of wrong doing associated with any gaming activities;
• Holds hearings on patron and/or employee complaints;
• Promulgates and issues regulations necessary to comply with the NIGC’s Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS);
• Promulgates and issues regulations on the levying of fees associated with gaming license applications;
• Promulgates and issues regulations on the levying of fines and/or suspension or revocation of gaming licenses for violations of the gaming ordinance, or any other Tribal, Federal, or State, if applicable, gaming regulations;
• Promulgates and issues licensing regulations;
• Performs such other duties the Commission deems appropriate for the proper regulation of the Tribal gaming operation.

The Gaming Commission is the primary regulator for the gaming activities at the Tribe’s casino. Duties include:

• Administers gaming licenses
• Regulates gaming activities and assesses compliance with regulation
• Audits casino activities and compliance with internal controls
• Administers public barrings
• Conducts licensing, dispute resolution, and barring hearings
• Monitors and investigates potential wrong doing associated with gaming activities