The last chairperson of the National Indian Gaming Commission stepped down from the role in January. Tribal gambling brought in a record $46 billion in 2025, nearly triple the annual casino revenue of gambling powerhouse Nevada. But Steven Light, an expert in tribal gambling law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the lack of enforcement power could discourage investment in tribal gambling and slow business growth. (AP Photo/Brittany Bendabout)“Every dollar generated by Indian gaming goes to fund healthcare for our people, education for our children, housing for our elders,” said David Bean, chairman of the Indian Gaming Association and a citizen of the Puyallup Tribe. The commission chairperson typically serves as an advocate for the tribal gambling industry in Washington, according to former commissioners and staffers.