NIGC Notice on Information Collection Renewals
Summary
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is seeking public comment on the renewal of several information collections related to Indian gaming. These collections cover management contracts, fee payments, internal control standards, facility licenses, and technical standards for gaming systems. The comment period closes on November 24, 2025.
What changed
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has issued a notice seeking public comment on the renewal of five key information collections. These collections pertain to Indian gaming management contracts (OMB Control Number 3141-0004), fee payments (3141-0007), minimum internal control standards for Class II gaming (3141-0009), facility license requirements (3141-0012), and minimum technical standards for Class II gaming systems (3141-0014). The renewals are being conducted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
Regulated entities, primarily tribal nations involved in gaming, are invited to submit comments by November 24, 2025. Comments should address the necessity, accuracy of burden estimates, and clarity of the information collections. This is an opportunity to influence the ongoing regulatory framework for Indian gaming operations. While the notice itself does not impose new obligations, feedback is crucial for ensuring the continued relevance and accuracy of these information collection requirements.
What to do next
- Review NIGC notice regarding information collection renewals.
- Submit comments on the necessity, accuracy, and clarity of the specified information collections by November 24, 2025.
Source document (simplified)
Content
ACTION:
Notice of renewal of information collections; request for comment.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC or Commission) is
providing notice to, and seeking comments from, the general public about the renewal of information collections for the following
activities: Indian gaming management contract-related submissions, as authorized by Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Control Number 3141-0004 (expires on February 28, 2026); Indian gaming fee payments-related submissions, as authorized by
OMB Control Number 3141-0007 (expires on February 28, 2026); minimum internal control standards for class II gaming submission
and recordkeeping requirements, as authorized by OMB Control Number 3141-0009 (expires on November 30, 2025); facility license-related
submission and recordkeeping requirements, as authorized by OMB Control Number 3141-0012 (expires on December 31, 2025); and
minimum technical standards for class II gaming systems and equipment submission and recordkeeping requirements, as authorized
by OMB Control Number 3141-0014 (expires on December 31, 2025).
DATES:
Submit comments on or before November 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Comments should be directed to the attention of Tim Osumi, Privacy & Records Information Officer, National Indian Gaming Commission,
and may be mailed to 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop #1621, Washington, DC 20240; faxed to (202) 632-7066; or, electronically
transmitted to < info@nigc.gov >, subject: PRA information collections renewals.
It is the Commission's policy to make all comments available to the public for review at its headquarters, located at 550
12th Street SW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal
identifying information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your PII—may be made
publicly available at any time. While you may ask in your comment that the Commission withhold your PII from public review,
the Commission cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tim Osumi via email at tim.osumi@nigc.gov; telephone (202) 632-7054; fax (202) 632-7066 (not toll-free numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The gathering of this information is in keeping with the purposes of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA or the
Act), Public Law 100-497, 25 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., which include: providing a statutory basis for the operation of gaming by Indian tribes as a means of promoting tribal economic
development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments; ensuring that the Indian tribe is the primary beneficiary of
the gaming operation; and declaring that the establishment of independent federal regulatory authority for gaming on Indian
lands, the establishment of federal standards for gaming on Indian lands, and the establishment of the Commission are necessary
to meet congressional concerns regarding gaming and to protect such gaming as a means of generating tribal revenue. 25 U.S.C.
2702. The Act established the Commission and laid out a comprehensive framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands.
II. Request for Comments
You are invited to comment on these collections concerning: (i) whether the collections of information are necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (ii) the
accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burdens (including the hours and cost) of the proposed collections of information,
including the validity of the methodologies and assumptions used; (iii) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; (iv) ways to minimize the burdens of the information collections on those who are to respond,
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or forms of information
technology.
Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an individual need not respond to, a collection of information
unless it has a valid OMB control number.
III. Data
Title: Management Contract Provisions.
OMB Control Number: 3141-0004.
Brief Description of Collection: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA or the Act), Public Law 100-497, 25 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., established the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC or Commission) and laid out a comprehensive framework for the regulation
of gaming on Indian lands. Amongst other actions necessary to carry out the Commission's statutory duties, the Act requires
the NIGC Chairman to review and approve all management contracts for the operation and management of class II and/or class
III gaming activities, and to conduct background investigations of persons with direct or indirect financial interests in,
and management responsibility for,
management contracts. 25 U.S.C. 2710, 2711. The Commission is authorized to “promulgate such regulations and guidelines as
it deems appropriate to implement” IGRA. 25 U.S.C. 2706(b)(10). The Commission has promulgated parts 533, 535, and 537 of
title 25, Code of Federal Regulations, to implement these statutory requirements.
Section 533.2 requires a tribe or management contractor to submit a management contract for review within 60 days of execution,
and to submit all of the items specified in § 533.3. Section 535.1 requires a tribe to submit an amendment to a management
contract within 30 days of execution, and to submit all of the items specified in § 535.1(c). Section 535.2 requires a tribe
or a management contractor, upon execution, to submit the assignment by a management contractor of its rights under a previously
approved management contract. Section 537.1 requires a management contractor to submit all of the items specified in § 537.1(b),
(c) in order for the Commission to conduct background investigations on: Each person with management responsibility for a
management contract; each person who is a director of a corporation that is a party to a management contract; the ten persons
who have the greatest direct or indirect financial interest in a management contract; any entity with a financial interest
in a management contract; and any other person with a direct or indirect financial interest in a management contract, as otherwise
designated by the Commission. This collection is mandatory, and the benefit to the respondents is the approval of Indian gaming
management contracts, and any amendments thereto.
Respondents: Tribal governing bodies and management contractors.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 33.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 51 (submissions of contracts, contract amendments, contract assignments, and background investigation material).
Estimated Time per Response: Depending on the type of submission, the range of time can vary from 1 burden hour to 16 burden hours for one item.
Frequency of Responses: Usually no more than once per year.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours on Respondents: 620.
Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Cost Burden on Respondents: $125,271.
Title: Fees.
OMB Control Number: 3141-0007.
Brief Description of Collection: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA or the Act), 25 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., laid out a comprehensive framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands. Amongst other actions necessary to carry
out the Commission's statutory duties, the Act requires Indian tribes that conduct a class II and/or class III gaming activity
to pay annual fees to the Commission on the basis of the assessable gross revenues of each gaming operation using rates established
by the Commission. 25 U.S.C. 2717. The Commission is authorized to “promulgate such regulations and guidelines as it deems
appropriate to implement” IGRA. 25 U.S.C. 2706(b)(10). The Commission has promulgated part 514 of title 25, Code of Federal
Regulations, to implement these statutory requirements.
Section 514.6 requires a tribe to submit, along with its fee payments, quarterly fee statements (worksheets) showing its assessable
gross revenues for the previous fiscal year in order to support the computation of fees paid by each gaming operation. Section
514.7 requires a tribe to submit a notice within 30 days after a gaming operation changes its fiscal year. Section 514.15
allows a tribe to submit fingerprint cards to the Commission for processing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
along with a fee to cover the NIGC's and FBI's cost to process the fingerprint cards on behalf of the tribes. Part of this
collection is mandatory and the other part is voluntary. The required submission of the fee worksheets allows the Commission
to both set and adjust fee rates, and to support the computation of fees paid by each gaming operation. In addition, the voluntary
submission of fingerprint cards allows a tribe to conduct statutorily mandated background investigations on applicants for
key employee and primary management official positions.
Respondents: Indian gaming operations.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 708.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 52,451.
Estimated Time per Response: Depending on the type of submission, the range of time can vary from 0.5 burden hours to 3.0 burden hours for one item.
Frequency of Responses: Quarterly (for fee worksheets); varies (for fingerprint cards and fiscal year change notices).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours on Respondents: 31,098.
Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Cost Burden on Respondents: $1,648,255.
Title: Minimum Internal Control Standards for Class II Gaming.
OMB Control Number: 3141-0009.
Brief Description of Collection: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA or the Act), 25 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., laid out a comprehensive framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands. Amongst other actions necessary to carry
out the Commission's statutory duties, the Act directs the Commission to monitor class II gaming conducted on Indian lands
on a continuing basis in order to adequately shield Indian gaming from organized crime and other corrupting influences, to
ensure that the Indian tribe is the primary beneficiary of the gaming operation, and to ensure that gaming is conducted fairly
and honestly by both the operator and players. 25 U.S.C. 2702(2), 2706(b)(1). The Commission is also authorized to “promulgate
such regulations and guidelines as it deems appropriate to implement” IGRA. 25 U.S.C. 2706(b)(10). The Commission has promulgated
part 543 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations, to aid it in monitoring class II gaming on a continuing basis.
Section 543.3 requires a tribal gaming regulatory authority (TGRA) to submit to the Commission a notice requesting an extension
to the deadline (by an additional six months) to achieve compliance with the requirements of the new tier after a gaming operation
has moved from one tier to another. Section 543.5 requires a TGRA to submit a detailed report after the TGRA has approved
an alternate standard to any of the NIGC's minimum internal control standards, and the report must contain all of the items
specified in 543.5(a)(2). Section 543.23(c) requires a tribe to maintain internal audit reports and to make such reports available
to the Commission upon request. Section 543.23(d) requires a tribe to submit two copies of the agreed-upon procedures (AUP)
report within 120 days of the gaming operation's fiscal year end. This collection is mandatory and allows the NIGC to confirm
tribal compliance with the minimum internal control standards in the AUP reports.
Respondents: Tribal governing bodies.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 412.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 840.
Estimated Time per Response: Depending on the tier level of the gaming facility, the range of time can vary from 1 burden hour to 7 burden hours for one
AUP audit report.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours on Respondents: 252.
Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Cost Burden on Respondents: $3,866,060.
Title: Facility License Notifications and Submissions.
OMB Control Number: 3141-0012.
Brief Description of Collection: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA or the Act), 25 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., laid out a comprehensive framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands. Amongst other actions necessary to carry
out the Commission's statutory duties, the Act requires Indian tribes that conduct class II and/or class III gaming to issue
“a separate license . . . for each place, facility, or location on Indian lands at which class II [and class III] gaming is
conducted,” 25 U.S.C. 2710(b)(1), (d)(1), and to ensure that “the construction and maintenance of the gaming facilities, and
the operation of that gaming is conducted in a manner which adequately protects the environment and public health and safety.”
25 U.S.C. 2710(b)(2)(E). The Commission is authorized to “promulgate such regulations and guidelines as it deems appropriate
to implement” IGRA. 25 U.S.C. 2706(b)(10). The Commission has promulgated part 559 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations,
to implement these requirements.
Section 559.2 requires a tribe to submit a notice (that a facility license is under consideration for issuance) at least 120
days before opening any new facility on Indian lands where class II and/or class III gaming will occur, with the notice containing
all of the items specified in § 559.2(b). Section 559.3 requires a tribe to submit a copy of each newly issued or renewed
facility license within 30 days of issuance. Section 559.4 requires a tribe to submit an attestation certifying that by issuing
the facility license, the tribe has determined that the construction, maintenance, and operation of that gaming facility is
conducted in a manner that adequately protects the environment and the public health and safety. Section 559.5 requires a
tribe to submit a notice within 30 days if a facility license is terminated or expires or if a gaming operation closes or
reopens. Section 559.6 requires a tribe to maintain and provide applicable and available Indian lands or environmental and
public health and safety documentation, if requested by the NIGC. This collection is mandatory and enables the Commission
to perform its statutory duty by ensuring that tribal gaming facilities on Indian lands are properly licensed by the tribes.
Respondents: Indian tribal gaming operations.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 336.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 679.
Estimated Time per Response: Depending on the type of submission, the range of time can vary from 1 burden hours to 3 burden hours for one item.
Frequency of Responses: Varies.
Estimated Total Annual Hourly Burden on Respondents: 1,429.
Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Cost Burden on Respondents: $0.
Title: Minimum Technical Standards for Class II Gaming Systems and Equipment.
OMB Control Number: 3141-0014.
Brief Description of Collection: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA or the Act), 25 U.S.C. 2701, et seq., laid out a comprehensive framework for the regulation of gaming on Indian lands. Amongst other actions necessary to carry
out the Commission's statutory duties, the Act directs the Commission to monitor class II gaming conducted on Indian lands
on a continuing basis in order to adequately shield Indian gaming from organized crime and other corrupting influences, to
ensure that the Indian tribe is the primary beneficiary of the gaming operation, and to ensure that gaming is conducted fairly
and honestly by both the operator and players. 25 U.S.C. 2702(2), 2706(b)(1). The Act allows Indian tribes to use “electronic,
computer, or other technologic aids” to conduct class II gaming activities. 25 U.S.C. 2703(7)(A). The Commission is authorized
to “promulgate such regulations and guidelines as it deems appropriate to implement” IGRA. 25 U.S.C. 2706(b)(10). The Commission
has promulgated part 547 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations, to aid it in monitoring class II gaming facilities that
are using electronic, computer, or other technologic aids to conduct class II gaming.
Section 547.5(a)(2) requires that, for any grandfathered class II gaming system made available for use at any tribal gaming
operation, the tribal gaming regulatory authority (TGRA): Must retain copies of the gaming system's testing laboratory report,
the TGRA's compliance certificate, and the TGRA's approval of its use; and must maintain records identifying these grandfathered
class II gaming systems and their components. Section 547.5(b)(2) requires that, for any class II gaming system generally,
the TGRA must retain a copy of the system's testing laboratory report, and maintain records identifying the system and its
components. As long as a class II gaming system is available to the public for play, section 547.5(c)(3) requires a TGRA to
maintain records of any modification to such gaming system and a copy of its testing laboratory report. Section 547.5(d)(3)
requires a TGRA to maintain records of approved emergency hardware and software modifications to a class II gaming system
(and a copy of the testing laboratory report) so long as the gaming system remains available to the public for play, and must
make the records available to the Commission upon request. Section 547.5(f) requires a TGRA to maintain records of its following
determinations: (i) Regarding a testing laboratory's (that is owned or operated or affiliated with a tribe) independence from
the manufacturer and gaming operator for whom it is providing the testing, evaluating, and reporting functions; (ii) regarding
a testing laboratory's suitability determination based upon standards no less stringent than those set out in 25 CFR 533.6(b)(1)(ii)
through (v) and based upon no less information than that required by 25 CFR 537.1; and/or (iii) the TGRA's acceptance of a
testing laboratory's suitability determination made by any other gaming regulatory authority in the United States. The TGRA
must maintain said records for a minimum of three years and must make the records available to the Commission upon request.
Section 547.17 requires a TGRA to submit a detailed report for each enumerated standard for which the TGRA approves an alternate
standard, and the report must include: (i) an explanation of how the alternate standard achieves a level of security and integrity
sufficient to accomplish the purpose of the standard it is to replace; and (ii) the alternate standard as approved and the
record on which the approval is based. This collection is mandatory and allows the NIGC to confirm tribal compliance with
NIGC regulations on “electronic, computer, or other technologic aids” to conduct class II gaming activities.
Respondents: Tribal governing bodies.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 811.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 811.
Estimated Time per Response: Depending on the type of submission, the range of time can vary from 1.0 burden hours to 17.0 burden hours for one item.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours on Respondents: 8,897.
Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Cost Burden on Respondents: $0.
Dated: September 18, 2025. Sharon M. Avery, Chairwoman (Acting). [FR Doc. 2025-18385 Filed 9-22-25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7565-01-P
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