Introduction
The Navajo Gaming Regulatory Office (NGRO) was established as an autonomous body, on behalf of the Navajo Nation, for the purposes of Regulating Gaming on its lands. The NGRO is part of the Legislative and Executive Branch of Government, with direct supervision from the Office of the President/Vice-President and Legislative Oversight by the Resources & Development Committee of the Navajo Nation Council. The NGRO office was established in November 2005 with the main office located in Window Rock, AZ.
The NGRO will regulate and enforce all Tribal, State, and Federal Gaming Laws in the Nation's gaming activities. The laws include, but are not limited to the Navajo Nation Tribal Gaming Ordinance, Arizona and New Mexico State Gaming Compacts and the National Indian Gaming Commission Minimum Internal Control Standards and Regulations.
NGRO is comprised of the following Departments:
- Administrative
- Investigations/Licensing
- Audit
- Slot Compliance
- Gaming Enforcement
- Surveillance
The NGRO carries out the Navajo Gaming Ordinance in accomplishing the following purposes:
- Maintenance of the highest standards of honesty and integrity in the operation of any and all gaming activities with the Navajo Nation;
- Maintenance of public confidence and trust in the honesty and integrity of such gaming activities, and in the persons engaged in such activities;
- That the maximum reasonable economic return to the Navajo Nation as the owner of gaming facilities within the Nation are consistent with the fair and reasonable expectations of patrons of such activities and the assurance of their safety and comfort in participating in gaming activities;
- That all of the Nation’s establishments where gaming is conducted and all persons holding positions of responsibility with respect to any such activity, are licensed and their activities monitored, to assure that the public health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Nation and the patrons of its gaming facilities are fully protected and so as to assure the economic success of gaming activities within the Nation; and
- Compliance with all applicable laws of the Navajo Nation and the United States of America.