Gaming changes may be near

WASHINGTON — The head of the National Indian Gaming Commission said Thursday that he's determined to act on a controversial change involving electronic bingo machines, despite widespread complaints from Indian tribes that they haven't had enough input.

Philip Hogen, chairman of the regulatory commission, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that it's past time to draw a "bright line” between Class II and Class III gaming.

"I've got to get this done,” said Hogen, who also told the committee he thinks nearly 60 percent of tribes' electronic bingo machines are unlawful.

Under the commission's proposal, "one-touch” bingo machines would be shut down after a five-year "grandfather” period for the machines currently in use, Hogen said.

Technological advances have blurred the line between Class II electronic bingo machines and the Class III casino-type slot machines that are subject to state agreements — and a state cut of the profits.

J.R. Mathews, vice chairman of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, said the tribes had only a month to respond to four proposed changes.

"When you have so many tribes in Indian country who are against what they're doing and how they're doing it, there have to be some red flags thrown up there,” Mathews told the committee.