Compliance Updates
NIGC Announces Departure of Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) announced the resignation of E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, as the chairman of NIGC, effective Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
Simermeyer, confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2019, led the Agency through unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic. During this time, the Agency helped set the regulatory conditions for a multi-year, post-pandemic recovery, where Indian gaming gross revenues rose to a record $40.9B last year. Prior to his tenure as chairman, Simermeyer served with NIGC as associate commissioner and director of the Office of Self-Regulation since 2015.
Reflecting on his time at the Agency, Simermeyer said, “I’ve witnessed firsthand how tribes across the Indian gaming industry have pursued economic sustainability through gaming by relying on – and cultivating – the robust regulatory reputation for which Indian gaming is well known, and made better when supported by effective and efficient measures by Indian gaming’s regulators. I’m proud of the integral part this Agency has played in meeting the challenges of an evolving industry, and encouraged that NIGC’s strong cadre of professionals will continue to work hand-in-hand with gaming operations to ensure tribal gaming remains primarily for the benefit of its citizens as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) mandated 35 years ago.”
From day one, Simermeyer established industry integrity, preparedness, outreach, and Agency accountability as strategic goals for the Agency, leading NIGC through a period of growth and expansion of programs and services available to gaming tribes.
Under Simermeyer’s leadership, the Agency took steps to grow its capacity to provide outreach, training and technical assistance to gaming tribes, notably formalizing its Environmental Public Health and Safely (EPHS) program to assist tribes with overall operational preparedness, and expanding the Agency’s ability to provide cybersecurity technical assistance as the industry faced emerging threats from cybercrimes, including NIGC’s first Chief Information Security Officer. His “3 for 35” campaign for workforce preparedness, aimed at building regulatory capacity to future-proof tribal gaming, was also an Agency signature outreach effort during his tenure.
NIGC’s efficient and effective approach to regulation was driven by its formalized, collaborative tribal consultation process, where over the past three years, the Agency published eight final rules to keep pace with changing regulatory conditions and industry best practices, while allowing tribes the maximum flexibility allowed under IGRA to pursue efficiencies intended to help operations grow and thrive. To further strengthen its compliance and oversight functions, the Agency also rolled out the “Report a Violation” tool on its website to allow for reporting suspected IGRA violations. NIGC also provided important clarity in the wake of industry-wide questions arising from emerging topics such as significant court decisions on sports betting, the impact of cannabis on licensing and the use of gaming revenue, and the independence of tribal gaming regulatory bodies.
Simermeyer also positioned the Agency as a lead collaborator with federal agencies and organizations similarly dedicated to the success of tribal gaming. NIGC’s annual multiagency Cybersecurity Symposium, Anti-Money Laundering/Banking Security Act (Title 31) regulatory training conference and ongoing partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign to prevent human trafficking, are all examples. He also led the Agency to pursue memoranda of understanding with federal agencies like the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, to promote a shared interest in researching the impacts of lending to tribes engaged in gaming and facilitating tribal access to capital.
Focusing on Agency operations, Simermeyer led the Agency through a multi-year IT security modernization plan to improve NIGC’s internal cybersecurity and resilience. Additionally, he transformed the Agency’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Audit program to better align with FBI requirements. As another step towards transparency and accountability, the Agency reimagined its fiscal annual report to better tell the story of its commitment to preserve and protect Indian gaming under IGRA, and the stories of the employees behind it. Perhaps most important, under Simermeyer’s leadership, the Agency achieved a 91% employee satisfaction rating on the 2023 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), making the NIGC one of the best places to work in the federal government.
On transitioning to the next stage of his career, Simermeyer is grateful for his nearly nine years with the Agency. “My time with NIGC has been some of the most memorable and impactful years of my career. As a Native person, I’m truly blessed to have been surrounded by experts dedicated to protecting and preserving the valuable resource Indian gaming represents for our communities. I’m thankful for the advice and counsel of my fellow commissioners and NIGC staff, and the support and hard work of the nearly 5,000 tribal regulators who work alongside NIGC day-in and day-out to keep Indian gaming strong now, and for the next 35 years,” said Simermeyer.
Additional details regarding the transition will be forthcoming.
BETER has secured a license in Kentucky, expanding the availability of its Setka Cup table tennis and ESportsBattle betting content to a ninth US state. The approval was granted by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming (KHRG), the state regulator.
The Kentucky approval adds to BETER’s existing US footprint in Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, and Illinois. The license allows BETER to supply operators in Kentucky with live data and live streams from Setka Cup and ESportsBattle tournaments.
BETER said the content is already live for Kentucky bettors through bet365, which it described as a long-standing operator partner.
Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, said: “Kentucky is a state with a deep sporting heritage, and we’re excited to bring our exclusive Setka Cup and ESportsBattle content to operators and bettors there. Reaching nine US states is an important milestone that reflects the growing appetite for fast-betting content across the country.
“The US market is evolving rapidly, and players are increasingly seeking round-the-clock, high-quality betting experiences. BETER is built to meet that demand, and each new state we enter strengthens our position as the go-to provider of fast-betting content worldwide.”
Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Receiving both approval and license is the result of sustained and meticulous regulatory and compliance work by our team. The US licensing landscape is uniquely complex, with each state operating under its own distinct framework, and we take great pride in meeting those requirements wherever we operate.
“With nine states now approved, the US continues to be a cornerstone of BETER’s global strategy. We are actively pursuing approvals in additional key states and remain fully committed to expanding our footprint across the country and beyond.”
The post BETER secures Kentucky license, bringing Setka Cup and ESportsBattle to ninth US state appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETER, the award-winning provider of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports, has further strengthened its US presence after its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis and ESportsBattle content was added to the Sports Wagering catalog and licensed in the State of Kentucky.
The approval and license were granted by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming (KHRG), the independent municipal corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth responsible for regulating horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering, sports wagering, breed integrity and development, and charitable gaming in the state.
Kentucky is the ninth US state where BETER’s exclusive content is now available, joining Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, and Illinois.
The approval allows BETER to supply operators in Kentucky with live data and live streams from both its Setka Cup table tennis and ESportsBattle tournaments for the first time.
All content is already live for local bettors via bet365, BETER’s long-standing operator partner, reinforcing the demand for fast-paced betting content from operators in the space.
BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide. The company offers up to 50 markets per event and helps operators achieve an average margin of 7.5%+. Its esports portfolio includes ESportsBattle, featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, while its sports portfolio includes Setka Cup table tennis and the BSKT Cup basketball league.
All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, as well as sports federations.
Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, said: “Kentucky is a state with a deep sporting heritage, and we’re excited to bring our exclusive Setka Cup and ESportsBattle content to operators and bettors there. Reaching nine US states is an important milestone that reflects the growing appetite for fast-betting content across the country.
“The US market is evolving rapidly, and players are increasingly seeking round-the-clock, high-quality betting experiences. BETER is built to meet that demand, and each new state we enter strengthens our position as the go-to provider of fast-betting content worldwide.”
Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Receiving both approval and license is the result of sustained and meticulous regulatory and compliance work by our team. The US licensing landscape is uniquely complex, with each state operating under its own distinct framework, and we take great pride in meeting those requirements wherever we operate.
“With nine states now approved, the US continues to be a cornerstone of BETER’s global strategy. We are actively pursuing approvals in additional key states and remain fully committed to expanding our footprint across the country and beyond.”
The post BETER reaches ninth US state with the acquisition of a Kentucky license appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
KingMidas Games, a leading iGaming provider, announced that 24 of its game titles have successfully obtained certification for Peru, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion strategy and its ongoing commitment to technical excellence.
The certification, formally titled “Certificate of Compliance for gaming programs, game modalities and/or components related to remote gaming and/or sports betting”, has been issued following systematic testing conducted by Global Lab. As part of this process, KingMidas Games has also secured Random Number Generator (RNG) and security certifications, ensuring that its games comply with regulatory technical standards.
Further reinforcing the credibility of this achievement, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru (MINCETUR) has officially registered and approved the certified games for operation in the country, solidifying Peru as a key market in KingMidas Games’ Latin American growth strategy.
As part of its broader compliance roadmap, KingMidas Games is actively working with multiple accredited testing laboratories to secure additional certifications across key jurisdictions. This multi-lab approach enables the brand to accelerate speed to market while maintaining the highest standards of quality, performance, and regulatory compliance across its portfolio.
This milestone represents a pivotal step in KingMidas Games’ mission to expand its global footprint and deliver premium, localised gaming experiences to players worldwide. With Peru emerging as one of the fastest-growing iGaming markets in Latin America, KingMidas Games is well-positioned to support operators seeking differentiated and high-performance content tailored to local audiences.
Sean Auret, Global Head at KingMidas Games, said: “Achieving certification in Peru is a significant milestone for KingMidas Games and a testament to the high standards we uphold across our portfolio. We have undergone extensive testing and compliance processes to ensure our games meet the regulatory benchmarks, and we are proud to bring our next-generation experiences to Peru. Our ambition is to continue expanding across key global markets such as Latin America, delivering innovative and high-quality content that empowers operators and supercharges the player experience across the region.”
With a growing portfolio of cutting-edge titles and a strong focus on compliance, KingMidas Games continues to position itself as a trusted partner for operators looking to unlock new opportunities in Peru.
The post KingMidas Games Secures Peru Certification appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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