Danielle Brashear, operates as the gaming commissioner for the Seneca-Cayuga Nation’s Grand Lake Casino. Her role is in overseeing the integrity of the operations, ensuring the casino is operating with accountability and within the federal guidelines. Before accepting the role of gaming commissioner, she worked as a tribal court clerk and  paralegal, handling both civil and criminal cases. She has spent over 15 years  regulating the gaming industry. During the past five years, Danielle has directed the efforts of our Seneca-Cayuga Nation Gaming Commission and also conducts training for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA). As a result, her work not only plays a critical role in protecting the assets of our tribe, she contributes in a meaningful way to other tribes by sharing best practices for their operations.  

Brashear joined the Seneca-Cayuga Nation as Gaming Commissioner in 2015. The gaming commissioners’ role is to lead regulatory oversight to protect the assets of the tribe through drafting of regulations and improving Tribal Internal Control Standards (TICS) for accountable operations. Federal law requires that each tribe be responsible for the security of their own assets within the casino. Brashear’s oversight of our casino’s compliance practices mitigates risk of violations and audit findings. This risk mitigation means our team members and guests  know they are engaging with a fair company that will always do what is fair and lawful..

In the day-to-day operation of every casino, the gaming commissioner is looked to for knowledge and guidance in the following areas: : 

1. Understanding the law: Risks & Liability
2. Ensuring federal (MICS) and tribal (TICS) regulatory compliance 
3. Validating policies and procedures for operating departments
4. Implementation of technologies for asset protection

Brashear shared: “We want to execute the casinos’ goals in a compliant and legal way that ensures our integrity is maintained. My role is to train, coach, and assist them in whatever way I can while holding them accountable to the standards of best practice.”

The commissioner licenses every individual on staff at the casino, holding them to a standard of internal controls thereby benefiting the overall health of the casino. Each employee must be licensed to operate there, regardless of their position.

Licensing brings accountability and security against potential fraudulent activity ensuring the eligibility of each employee to operate within the culture of the casino. Brashear shared: “It’s important to look at each individuals’ past on a case-by-case basis, never blanketing a specific outcome. Rather, seeking to understand by looking at the entire picture of the individual, not solely a piece of paper describing a timeline of events.” 

Brashear shared: “My first commitment is to employ SCN tribal members, if I am not able to, I seek to find tribal members from neighboring tribal communities.  We will work to do our best to license our tribal members. Keeping in mind the overarching mission of the casino is to offer greater opportunity to tribal members.”

The commissioner is responsible for approving any and all marketing and promotions activity and ensuring any and all games offered at the casino are fair. Every interaction with the gaming equipment is tested to ensure it delivers the potential promised to its players. If there is a malfunction within a machines’ operations, the gaming commission is responsible for executing those investigations. The department is able to pull software and other data from the operating systems, integrate that information to video reviews and can accurately determine whether any particular outcome was accurate, manipulated or a malfunction. This work is critical to making certain both the players and the business are protected from unethical behavior and technical equipment malfunctions. .  

Casino General Manager, Dusty Logan, shared the importance of exceptional regulatory oversight; “Working with Danielle is a benefit to all of our team leaders here at Grand Lake Casino. Gaming is the most regulated industry in North America and there is a lot to keep up with. Danielle makes certain we have all the practices and policies in place to protect the assets of the casino, our players, and our team members. I am very grateful for her partnership and we are better at our business because of her leadership for this organization.”

Brashear shared what makes her most proud in her role: “We as a team have changed the culture of GLC, operating with clearly cut goals. We’ve moved from a more adversarial relationship to now working towards common outcomes. They know I’m here to help them. I get to be proactive in our relationship pointing to risks before they are problems. The connection in our relationship with the casino has increased significantly due to heightened levels of both excellence and accountability!”