25.01.180 Specific Authority with Respect to Licenses; Enforcement Powers

(a) The Commission shall exercise its gaming oversight and shall issue, renew or disapprove any application, or limit, suspend or revoke gaming licenses and work permits every two years and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this title regarding licenses for "key employees" and "primary management officials" as defined by federal law, regulations, and the Tribal/State Compact for Class III gaming.

(b) Any license or work permit granted under this title is a revocable privilege, and no licensee or permittee holds any vested right to such license.

(c) The Commission is authorized to carry out investigations of all prospective and existing gaming licensees, to initiate hearings and to conduct or cause to be conducted announced or unannounced inspections of all gaming premises in order to ensure compliance with tribal and federal law. All licensees are obligated to comply immediately to such Commission requests for information and review of all licensee papers, books and records, or inspection of premises on an announced or unannounced basis,

(d) In connection with the issuance or denial of any license, the Commission may hold hearings, take testimony, receive evidence, and administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission in accordance with procedural rules to be adopted by the Commission.

(e) The Commission regulations shall not restrict the Tribal Council or the Tribal Chairman from exercising contractual rights to terminate any gaming management contract or exercise other contractual remedies due to default or breach of the management contract by the management contractor.

(f) The Commission shall, when its investigations of gaming indicate a violation of federal or tribal laws or regulations, provide information of indicated violations to appropriate law enforcement officials.

(g) It is hereby recognized that theft from gaming establishments on Indian lands and thefts by officers or employees of such gaming establishments are punishable by substantial fines and imprisonments pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sections 1167 and 1168; and that tribal operators and management contractors may be separately fined up to twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) per violation of this title or the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission.