1. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
NACOG
April 14, 2017

2. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Speakers
Raymond C. Etcitty
General Counsel
Brian Parrish
Chief Operating Officer
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

3. Mission Statement & Purpose
“Growing a Navajo Gaming and Hospitality Economy”
Purpose
Create jobs
Generate revenues
Provide a fair return to the Navajo Nation
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

4. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
A business entity of the Navajo Nation created to conduct gaming.
Created to make business decisions.
Created to be separate from the Navajo Nation government.
Created to operate independently from the Navajo Nation government.
Not a government division, department of program.
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

5. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
The Enterprise was created in accordance with federal and Navajo laws and compacts.
Indian Gaming within the Navajo Nation regulated by Indian Gaming Regulatory Act:
Federal Government
NIGC, IRC, federal Indian law
Navajo Nation
Gaming Ordinance and other Navajo laws, etc.
State Compacts
New Mexico and Arizona compacts
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

6. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Created by Navajo Nation on September 27, 2006
June 2007 (3 employees, no office)
June 2014 (1,300+ employees; 4 casinos)
4 Navajo casinos
Fire Rock Navajo Casino (Gallup, NM)
Flowing Water Navajo Casino (Shiprock, NM)
Northern Edge Navajo Casino (Farmington, NM)
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino (Flagstaff, AZ)
Others!!
April 14, 2017
Navajo Gaming

7. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Board of Directors (9 total positions)
Appointed by Navajo President; Council confirms
Board members (5 positions filled)
Maureen Curley (Chairman)
Jack Jackson, Jr. (Vice-Chairman)
Martha King (Secretary/Treasurer)
Martin Liebermann
Danielle Her Many Horses
CEO Derrick Watchman
Executive management team
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

8. Navajo Gaming Ordinance
The Navajo Gaming Ordinance is Navajo law explaining how gaming will be conducted
The Ordinance requires 2 entities:
Navajo Gaming Regulatory Office
Regulate (much like a gaming police)
Issues gaming licenses
Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Operates casinos
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

9. Navajo Gaming Ordinance
Public officials and employees of the Navajo Nation shall not have any role in the management of the gaming facility
5 NNC § Relation to Gaming Management.
Neither the Executive Director of the Gaming Regulatory Office nor any other public official or public employee of the Nation (individually or collectively) shall have any role in the management of any licensed gaming establishment.
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

10. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Enterprise Structure
Enterprise (Typical corporation structure)
1. Board of Directors
2. Corporate Officers
3. Shareholders (i.e. Navajo Nation)
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

11. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Enterprise Structure
Board of Directors
The board of directors "directs" the corporation's affairs and business path. The board has ultimate legal responsibility for the actions of the corporation, officers, employees, and agents. The Board’s duties and responsibilities are typical of Board of Director.
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

12. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Officers
Officers
They oversee the daily operations, and in their different roles they are given legal authority to act on the corporation's behalf in almost all lawful business-related activities:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or President.
Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

13. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Shareholder
Shareholder
Navajo Nation, as shareholder, has wholly owns the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Approves the plan of operation (i.e. charter)
Confirms the Board of Directors
Receives dividends (i.e. gaming revenues)
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

14. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
General Managers
Each of the four casinos has its own General Manager
Fire Rock Navajo Casino – Bryce Warren
Flowing Water Navajo Casino – Rawlin Jacobs
Northern Edge Navajo Casino – Gloria West
Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort – Brian Parish
Each casino has its own casino management and staff
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

15. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Community Relations
The Navajo casinos:
Have agreements with local fire departments, ambulance service, law enforcement services.
Work with local Chamber of Commerce
Conduct local job fairs
Work with and contracts with local vendors
Contracts, maintenance, marketing efforts
Voluntarily respect local laws and ordinances (Flagstaff dark skies, alcohol restrictions, etc.)
Provide employee payrolls
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

16. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Use of Gaming Revenues
Gaming revenues are governed by IGRA:
To fund tribal government operations or programs
To provide for the general welfare of the Indian tribe and its members
To promote tribal economic development
To donate to charitable organizations
To help fund operations of local government agencies
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

17. Navajo Gaming History 1990s 2001
Early 1990s, Navajo gaming ordinance drafted
1994, Gaming ordinance given to Navajo Nation Council
1994, Navajo gaming referendum (FAILED)
1995, Navajo Nation contracted for a Navajo Gaming Study
1997, Navajo referendum (FAILED)
April 1998, Navajo Nation Local Governance Act approved
2001
October 16, Navajo Gaming Ordinance approved by Navajo Nation
Arizona Prop 202
Allow Arizona leasing/pooling slot allocations
Ordinance submitted to NIGC, who wanted changes
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Navajo Gaming

18. Navajo Gaming History
2002
April - NN approve tech amendment to the Gaming Ordinance
December – Council approve Navajo Nation/Arizona Gaming Compact
2003
January - President Kelsey Begaye signs Navajo Nation/Arizona Gaming Compact
July - Council approves Navajo Nation/New Mexico Gaming Compact (Tohajilee Chapter)
September - President Joe Shirley, Jr. signs Navajo Nation/New Mexico Gaming Compact
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Navajo Gaming

19. Navajo Gaming History
2004
July - the Navajo Nation amends criminal code to decriminalize gaming if host chapters authorize gaming
November - Navajo gaming referendum (PASSED)
2005
Navajo Nation begins search for Executive Director for the Navajo Gaming Regulatory Office
November - Edward Lockett selected as Executive Director of Navajo Gaming Regulatory Office
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Navajo Gaming

20. Navajo Gaming History
2006
Spring - Navajo Nation approve MOAs with NIGC and ADOG
July - Navajo Gaming Regulations approved
July - Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise plan of operation is developed
September - Navajo Nation Council approves the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE)
October - Navajo Nation searches for NNGE Board of Directors and NNGE Chief Executive Officer
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Navajo Gaming

21. Navajo Gaming History 2007 April - Robert Winter selected as CEO
Summer - CEO Robert Winter conducts following activities:
Hires staff, and obtains office space, etc.
Meets with standing committees, chapters, developers, etc.
Negotiates a business site lease for the Church Rock
Negotiates gaming line of credit
October to January - Navajo Nation Council confirmed NNGE Board of Directors
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Navajo Gaming

22. Navajo Gaming History
2008
January - the Navajo Nation amends criminal law to authorize alcohol sales within the Navajo casino if host Navajo chapter authorizes alcohol sales
March - the Navajo Nation approves loan for Fire Rock Navajo Casino (FRNC)
June – FRNC groundbreaking
June to November – FRNC construction
November - FRNC opening.
December - Navajo Liquor Regulation/Ordinance approved by DOI (published in Federal Register)
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Navajo Gaming

23. Navajo Gaming History
2009
Finance negotiations with Navajo Nation
2010
September - Navajo Nation approves loan for Flowing Water Navajo Casino (FWNC)
October – FWNC opening
2011
February - Northern Edge Navajo Casino (NENC) groundbreaking
March - Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort (TANCR) groundbreaking
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Navajo Gaming

24. Navajo Gaming History
2011
April to September – The Nation approves loans (NENC/TANCR)
May to January 2012 – NENC construction
September – TANCR construction begins
2012
January 16, 2012 – NENC opened
2013
January – Derrick Watchman, NNGE CEO
May 24, 2013 – TANCR opening (90 room hotel)
2014
TANCR – remaining hotel rooms complete (210 rooms)
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Navajo Gaming

25. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise
Questions & Answers
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Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise