Tribal Gaming Agency

The Tribal Gaming Agency (TGA) ordinance was established by the Me-Wuk Tribal Community Council on April 18, 2001 to regulate, license, investigate and monitor all gaming activities on Tribal lands, which includes Black Oak Casino Resort.

The Tribal Gaming Agency is comprised of three Commissioners, each of whom is selected by the Community Council. The position of Gaming Commissioner serves for indefinite term, and it is not a requirement to be a Tribal member.

The Tribal Gaming Agency also includes a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary/Treasurer. The Chairperson presides over all TGA meetings. The Vice Chairperson presides over meetings in absence of the Chairperson, and the Secretary/Treasurer maintains all regulatory requirements, implementation and maintenance.

The Tribal Gaming Agency is funded by the Me-Wuk Tribe to assure that the Agency can effectively regulate the Tribe’s gaming activities, and to assure the Tribal Gaming Agency remains financially accountable to the Tribal Council.

The Tribal Gaming Agency has the power and duty, with the primary responsibility to carry out the Tribe’s regulatory responsibilities under federal or Tribal law and the State Gaming Compact, to enforce those requirements and to protect the integrity of the gaming activities and the reputation of the Tribe and the gaming operation for honesty, fairness and confidence of patrons.

Other duties and responsibilities include:

• Inspect, examine and monitor gaming activities.
• Prepare reports and monitor compliance.
• Investigate any suspicion of wrongdoing in connection with the gaming facility or related gaming activity, including imposing fines or other sanctions against licensees or other persons who interfere with or violate the Tribe’s gaming regulatory requirements under applicable federal, Tribal law or the State Gaming Compact.
• Conduct background investigations regarding any person or entity in any way connected with any gaming activity and issue licenses and identification badges to, at a minimum, all key employees, primary management officials and gaming resource suppliers.

The Tribal Gaming Agency is required to enforce all relevant laws and rules with respect to the gaming operation and gaming facility, and conduct investigations and hold hearings regarding enforcement and other matters within the Tribal Gaming Agency jurisdiction, as well as protect the physical safety of gaming patrons, employees and others in the gaming facility.

Gaming Commissioner and Chairperson
Lori oversees the development, implementation and maintenance of all regulatory requirements. She ensures that Tribal gaming operations are free of any criminal activity, and that games are played fairly and honestly by both players and owners. Lori assures that there is sufficient regulatory staff within the gaming facility to provide direct oversight on all gaming activity in accordance with all federal, state and Tribal regulations and ordinances. Protecting the assets of the Tribe, Lori personally oversees all background investigations of employees and vendors who work or do business with Black Oak Casino Resort. Lori instructs her staff on the issuance of gaming identification cards to authorized individuals for a proper level of security access throughout the casino. Both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson share in the daily leadership over the Surveillance Department. They specify the type of surveillance equipment and ensures that it is the latest technology available in the industry.

Gaming Commissioner and Secretary/Treasurer
Edewaa oversees the development, implementation and maintenance of all regulatory requirements. He ensures that Tribal gaming operations are free of any criminal activity, and that games are played fairly and honestly by both players and owners. Edewaa assures that there is sufficient regulatory staff within the gaming facility to provide direct oversight on all gaming activity in accordance with federal, state and Tribal regulations and ordinances. Protecting the assets of the Tribe, Edewaa oversees the Compliance Department as well as the Internal Audit Department. It is his role to oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of all regulatory requirements. Both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson share in the daily leadership over the Surveillance Department. They specify the type of surveillance equipment and ensures that it is the latest technology available in the industry.

Director of Surveillance
Patrick oversees the Surveillance Department, which consists of a group of well-rounded agents from all walks of life with gaming experience, military and security backgrounds. Patrick is responsible for video evidence, advising casino management of problematic situations and violations, training surveillance agents, and helping design and expand the current surveillance system. He also assists in the daily activity of the Surveillance Department alongside his three surveillance supervisors. Patrick guides the department with the main focus of protecting all Tribal assets and gaming activities on Tribal land, as well as providing a safe environment for gaming, dining and family fun.

Director of Internal Audit
Julie ensures that the casino is in compliance with Tribal Internal Control Standards, the National Indian Gaming Commission, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and all casino policies and procedures. The Internal Audit Department also performs special investigations, independent reviews of casino operational and administrative controls throughout the year. In addition, the Internal Audit Department processes all casino policies and procedures.

Information Systems Coordinator
Dave leads the tech team in upgrading and installing TGA’s surveillance system, licensing system, reporting system and all computer applications. In addition, Dave and his team have a regular maintenance schedule for each of TGA’s systems.

19400 Tuolumne Rd. N, 3rd Floor
Tuolumne, CA 95379
Phone: 209.928.9440
Fax: 209.928.9449
Email: tga@tmtga.net