Indian Gambling Regulator Blasted But Official Says Agency Hurt By Lack Of Congressional Funds

A Nevada senator characterized the government’s top regulator of Indian gambling as a cheerleader for the industry and demanded his resignation.

Harold Monteau, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, “has demonstrated a convincing inability to carry out his regulatory responsibilities,” Sen. Harry Reid said Wednesday at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Monteau, a member of the Chippewa Cree tribe appointed to the commission in 1994, defended his activities and brushed off the resignation demand.

Monteau has come under criticism for ignoring objections of fellow commissioners to expedite approval of a Connecticut tribe’s casino plans and for failing to seek closure of illegal casinos in California and Florida.

In addition, Reid alleged Wednesday that Monteau was routinely absent from his office and punished commission employees for disagreeing with him.

Monteau’s response to the complaints was that his agency is hamstrung by Congress’ failure to give the commission funds enough to do its work.

Reid, D-Nev., is former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission and a longtime critic of the $4.5 billion-a-year Indian gambling industry. He alleged the tribal casinos are ripe for a major scandal, which could embarrass the entire U.S. gambling industry because of the commission’s “hands-off” regulation.