Jonodev Chaudhuri has resigned as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission effective on May 15 after serving since 2013.
Chaudhuri issued this statement: “It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve Indian country and the general public in my capacity as Chairman, a role I have had the pleasure of fulfilling since 2013. During my time as Chairman, the Commission worked hard at every turn to stress strong partnerships and consistent communication with tribal gaming operations to achieve compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Commission works with tribes to ensure they have the tools necessary to effectively regulate their operations and meet IGRA’s requirements.”
He added, “As I reflect on the initiatives of NIGC during my time at NIGC, we have been able to protect the integrity of Indian gaming, expand outreach, and develop new services that support gaming operations and its staff.”
One of Chaudhuri’s initiatives in the commission’s 2018-2011 Strategic Plan was
“protecting against gamesmanship on the backs of tribes” i.e. prevent those who are not tribal members from taking advantage of tribes by manipulation and exploiting relationships.
Another of his initiatives stressed reaching out to tribes that have small rural gaming operations to give them assistance through training, including onsite training.
He also stressed the importance of staying on top of the latest gaming technology, especially those that threaten gaming integrity. This led to the creation in 2015 of the NIGC’s Technology Division.
Through it all he promoted tribal self-determination and economic development.
The outgoing chairman said, “I sincerely appreciate having had the opportunity to work at NIGC. I would like to thank my fellow Commissioners, the hard working NIGC staff, and Indian country for the support, guidance, and encouragement provided to me during my time at NIGC. Even though I will deeply miss my colleagues and time serving as the Chairman, I am looking forward to starting a new phase of my career.”
