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