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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1995)
Page 4 October 1, 1995 SMOKE SIGNALS Gaming Commission hears licensing application At I p.m. on Friday, Septem ber 29, the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission was scheduled to re view the licensing application for Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. In order to obtain the gaming license, the Casino has to be ap proved by the Gaming Commis sion, a board of five people ap pointed by the Grand Ronde Tribal Council. The board, whose members include prominent indi viduals with business, govern ment and non-profit experience, consists of three tribal members and two non-tribal members. Day-to-day operations are con ducted by a staff of one part-time and four full-time employees, in cluding a director, an investigative auditor and an enforcement agent. "Although both the Commis sion and the Casino are under the support of the Tribe," notes Joe Smith, Commission Director, "we are an independent agency work ing under a clearly defined gam ing ordinance adopted by the Tribe and approved by the Na tional Indian Gaming Commis sion." The Grand Ronde Gaming Commission's role, he adds, is to promote integrity at the Casino by interpreting, enacting and enforc ing those regulations and stan dards. Licensing the Casino is only one of the functions the Commis sion performs. Another is to con duct background investigations on all potential employees and to is sue gaming licenses for those Spirit Mountain Outfitters offers Tammy Cook notes Tammy Cook, Retail Manager, "including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, mugs, watches, key chains, golf ac cessories and more." Other fun merchandise includes I r-. . i , f. m...,..,., ...IB i L ..II i i ii i - - i- I iivi i .I.,,..,!, 1.1 i rnmniiHtn i hi rii n. IT T , ll Spirit Mountain Gaming Commission from left: Leonette Galligher, Bill Miles, Bob Watson, Lynn Hillman, and Gene Davidson. hired by Spirit Mountain. In or der to work at the Casino, all ap plicants must undergo security and financial history checks, the intensity of which is determined by their role at the Casino. The most extensive checks are done on primary management em ployees, those involved in the stra tegic and financial decisions of the Casino, and on high security em ployees, those who have direct contact with gaming and with money, including dealers and cashiers. Other employees not directly involved with gaming are considered low security and are subject to less intense background checks. Vendors whose busi nesses involve gaming, such as manufacturers of video lottery ter Spirit Mountain Casino's own specialty shop, Spirit Mountain Outfitters, will offer customers a variety of fun and colorful me mentos of their visit to the gaming center. "We'll be featuring a large variety of items in all price ranges," minals, are also subject to back ground investigations. "We look for any criminal con victions, gambling offenses, po-. tential links to organized crime, financial difficulties and other problem indicators," Smith points out "Just failing to disclose a past criminal offense is enough to po tentially fail the security check." Once the Casino is open, the Commission also performs two other important roles. The first is an auditing function, verifying the Casino is in compliance with the Commission's regulations and standards. In addition to a com plete annual compliance audit, the Commission's investigative audi tor also will perform regular un announced audits. "The unan flannel boxer shorts and denim jackets, both very popu lar apparel items. "All of the clothing is of the highest quality material we could find," Cook adds. Many items will feature the Casino's popular logo, fea turing the coyote leaping over Spirit Mountain. The logo symbolizes the positive economic changes the facility will bring the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community. The design of the store, which is only about 350 square feet in size, is modeled after the popular Hard Rock Cafe stores, where items are displayed along a wall, instead of on racks and shelves. "People will be able to see an item, such as a polo shirt, displayed on the wall or on a mannequin, and then request it in the size they want from nounced audits are compliance audits, not financial," Smith stresses. "For example, we will , make sure the proper procedures governing currency transactions are being used to prevent any il legal activities, such as money laundering." The final function involves an enforcement agent who works with the Oregon State Police on the employee and vendor back ground investigations. The agent also performs unannounced tests on the Casino floor, looking for employee infractions of the gam ing regulations and standards. "The enforcement agent will be looking for procedural violations, most of which will be isolated in cidents or practices requiring re a variety of the store clerk," notes Cook. Future merchandise being considered for the store in cludes high quality hand-crafted Native American,items by Grand Ronde Tribal members or members of other tribes. Cook says she is also considering carrying other specialty items during the holiday season. A 5 discount will be available for customers whose purchase is between $50 and $99, and a 10 discount will be available for customers whose purchase totals over $100. Spirit Mountain Outfitters is located just inside the main Casino entrance and will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight every Friday and Saturday. medial training," notes Smith. "We may assist in internal inves tigations, for example if a dealer or player is suspected of cheat ing." When procedural violations are found, he adds, the Commis sion will send the Casino a viola tion letter and follow-up to make sure remedial action has been taken. Smith, who worked for several years for the Nevada State Gam ing Control Board in Las Vegas, admits that Gaming Commission plays a complex, yet essential, role. "Some people think of hunt ing animals when they hear our name," he laughs. "They're sur prised to see the scope of what we're involved with in the gam ing industry." products
