New Gaming Systems, Inc. v. National Indian Gaming Commission

896 F. Supp. 2d 1093, 2012 WL 4052546, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130734
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedSeptember 13, 2012
DocketNo. CIV-08-0698-HE
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 896 F. Supp. 2d 1093 (New Gaming Systems, Inc. v. National Indian Gaming Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New Gaming Systems, Inc. v. National Indian Gaming Commission, 896 F. Supp. 2d 1093, 2012 WL 4052546, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130734 (W.D. Okla. 2012).

Opinion

ORDER

JOE HEATON, District Judge.

Plaintiff New Gaming Systems, Inc. (“NGS”) filed this action against the National Indian Gaming Commission (“NIGC”), its chairman and vice chairman, the Sac and Fox Nation (“Nation”) and the Sac & Fox Business Enterprise (“Enterprise”), seeking judicial review of a final decision of the NIGC under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706. The dispute arises out of an equipment lease and promissory note NGS, the Nation and the Enterprise executed in conjunction with the construction and operation of a casino. The controversy over the validity of the lease and note has resulted in proceedings in three different forums. After considering the Administrative Record and the parties’ briefs, the court concludes the agency’s decision should be affirmed.

Background1

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA” or “Act”), 25 U.S.C. §§ 2701-2721, establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for gaming activities on Indian lands to “promot[e] tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments,” while simultaneously “shielding tribes] from organized crime and other corrupting influences [and] ensuring] that ... Indian tribe[s are] the primary beneficiarles] of ... gaming operations.” 25 U.S.C. § 2702; First American Kickapoo Operations, L.L.C. v. Multimedia Games, Inc., 412 F.3d 1166, 1167 (10th Cir.2005). The Act “effects these goals in part by providing for federal oversight of contracts between tribes and non-tribal entities for the management of tribal gaming operations.” Id. at 1167-68; Casino Res. Corp. v. Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., 243 F.3d 435, 438 n. 3 (8th Cir.2001) (“IGRA recognizes a tribe’s authority to enter into contracts for the management [1096]*1096and operation of an Indian gaming facility by an entity other than the tribe or its employees, so long as certain requirements are satisfied and subject to approval by the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission.”). Approval of the NIGC Chairman is required if a tribe enters into a management contract for a gaming operation. 25 U.S.C. § 2711(a)(1); First American, 412 F.3d at 1168. An unapproved management contract is void, 25 C.F.R. § 533.7, and a gaming operation that violates any provision of the IGRA may be closed and fined. 25 U.S.C. § 2713.

The Nation decided in 2003 to build a new casino in Oklahoma and selected NGS to provide financing and equipment for the project. Admin. R. at 2. The dispute in this action arises out of a gaming machine equipment lease and promissory note2 NGS, the Nation and Enterprise executed on August 8, 2003, in conjunction with the construction and operation of the casino, which is owned and operated by the Enterprise for the Nation. On August 14, 2003, the Nation sent the lease and note to the NIGC for review,3 seeking an opinion on whether the two documents constituted a management agreement within the meaning of the IGRA, 25 U.S.C. § 2711, which required the NIGC Chairman’s approval.4 Admin.R. at 2-3, 961,992-93. The Nation resubmitted the lease and note for review on or about May 6, 2004. Admin.R. 180.

The Sac & Fox Casino opened approximately August 1, 2004, with NGS supplying the gaming machines. On August 11, 2004, NIGC’s acting general counsel, Penny J. Coleman, responded to the Nation’s request of a year earlier for an opinion regarding the lease and note the parties had executed. She concluded the agreements constituted a management contract that, under IGRA, required the approval of the Chairman of the NIGC. She asked the Nation to submit the information and documents that, pursuant to 25 C.F.R. § 533.3, must accompany a request for approval of a management contract within twenty days. She advised the Nation that “an unapproved gaming management contract is void and no action should be taken under it,” and also noted that the NIGC had “serious concerns” regarding the classification of the gaming devices leased by NGS. Admin.R. at 964. She “reminded” the Nation “that operation of Class III gaming without benefit of a Tribal-State compact is a violation of the IGRA and grounds for closure of the operation.” Id. Upon receipt of the letter, the Nation — by this time under different tribal leadership than was in place in 2003 — terminated the agreements with NGS and demanded that it remove its gaming machines from the [1097]*1097casino.5 Neither party provided the requested documents to the NIGC or, at that time, requested a formal ruling from the NIGC.

In 2005, NGS sued the Nation and Business Enterprise in the Sac and Fox tribal court for breach of the lease and note.6 A key issue in that litigation was the validity of the agreements. Two years later, while that action was pending, the Nation requested a final agency determination as to whether the lease and note comprised a management agreement under IGRA. Admin.R. at 666. The Nation asked the NIGC to “[p]lease note” that it was “not requesting that [the NIGC] approve such Contracts as a management contract....” Admin.R. at 285. The NIGC told the Nation to “submit the Agreements, together with all submission requirements set forth in 25 C.F.R. § 533.3” and “invitefd] NGS to submit any information it wish[ed].” Admin.R. at 416. The Nation submitted the lease and note, but did not submit the documents required by 25 C.F.R. § 533.3. Id. at 84. NGS submitted an expert report and the deposition testimony of its president, two members of the Board of Directors for the Business Enterprise and Chief Rhoads, and requested a hearing on the issue of whether the lease constituted a management contract.

The Chairman of the NIGC issued an opinion dated March 26, 2008. He denied NGS’s request for a hearing, concluding there is no right to a hearing prior to a decision by the Commission approving or disapproving a management contract. See 25 C.F.R. § 539. The Chairman concurred with, and adopted, the Office of General Counsel’s opinion that the lease and note were a management contract. He then disapproved the contract, finding the lease and note did not “satisfy the standards of 25 C.F.R. Part 531 and § 533.3.” Admin.R. at 85.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
896 F. Supp. 2d 1093, 2012 WL 4052546, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130734, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-gaming-systems-inc-v-national-indian-gaming-commission-okwd-2012.