Like other Indian gaming resorts, Foxwoods and The Fox Tower are subject to more regulation and oversight than non-Indian casinos.
Indian gaming is similar in many respects to a state lottery: they are both operated by governments to fund essential governmental services. However, Indian gaming, or tribal governmental gaming, is actually more heavily regulated because there is involvement on the Tribal, Federal and State levels.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has an established governmental agency called the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Commission (the “Gaming Commission”) solely devoted to protecting the integrity of the gaming operations by enforcing the Standards of Operation and Management which are based on industry standards and federal minimum internal controls established by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC).
The Gaming Commission is made up of six members, led by a Chairman and five commissioners, and includes a local team of more than 30 full-time personnel. All members of the commission are appointed to staggered three-year terms by the Tribal Council.
The Gaming Commission has the authority to investigate any aspect of the gaming operations to protect the public interest in the integrity of the gaming activities and to prevent improper or unlawful conduct, and further has the authority to issue fines, and deny, suspend or revoke employee licenses as appropriate.
These regulatory checks and balances are all in addition to the independent on-site surveillance performed by the Tribal Nation at Foxwoods and The Fox Tower. Strict gaming authority and oversight is required in the increasingly competitive casino marketplace.
All casinos have a business incentive to hold their operations to the highest standards. Players have more choices in gaming than ever before. Gaming regulation is not only a good business practice, it is critical for the growth and success of gaming.