Gaming Control Board

Gaming Control Board or "GCB" is a governmental body or agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, usually a state, and of enforcing gaming law in general. The official name of this regulatory body varies among jurisdictions. The most frequent variations include substituting the word "Gaming" for either "Gambling" or "Casino"; substituting the word "Board" for "Commission", and sometimes omitting the word "Control". Use of the word "Gaming" instead of "Gambling" or "Casino" is a relatively recent development as it is considered to have fewer negative connotations. Also, it is more appropriate than "Casino" in jurisdictions where authorized gaming activity is not necessarily limited to traditional casino-style buildings.

Rules and Regulations

Gaming Control Boards are usually responsible for promulgating rules and regulations that dictate how gaming activities are to be conducted within a jurisdiction. The rules and regulations stem from the jurisdiction's enabling act. Generally, the enabling act is passed by the legislature and sets forth the broad policy of the jurisdiction with regard to gaming; while the rules and regulations provide detailed requirements that must be satisfied by a gaming establishment, its owners, employees, and vendors. Typically, rules and regulations cover a broad range of activity, including licensing, accounting systems, rules of casino games, and auditing.

Licensing

Gaming Control Boards also have full authority to grant or deny licenses to gaming establishments, their ownership, employees, and vendors. Generally, in order to obtain a license, an applicant must demonstrate that they possess good character, honesty and integrity. License application forms typically require detailed personal information. Based upon the type of license being sought, an applicant may also be required to disclose details regarding previous business relationships, employment history, criminal records, and financial stability.

Generally, the gaming license application process and subsequent investigation is quite burdensome in comparison to the process of obtaining other government-issued licenses. The difficulty of the process is intended to dissuade participation by unsavory persons and organized crime.

Recently, in order to simplify the application process, various gaming control boards have collaborated on the design of "multi-jurisdictional" application forms. Persons or vendors who are involved in gaming in multiple jurisdictions may now complete one application form and submit copies to each jurisdiction.

Enforcement

In some cases, Gaming Control Boards are responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations that they create. In other cases, a separate body or a division of the Gaming Control Board carries out the enforcement function. Most Gaming Control Boards have full authority to hear and decide civil cases brought before them by the enforcement body and thus are considered to be quasi-judicial bodies.

Native American gaming control boards

In the United States, some Native American tribal nations have established their own gaming control boards for the purpose of regulating tribe-owned casinos located within reservations. Although the tribal nation also owns the casino, appointing an independent gaming control board to oversee regulatory activities provides tribal members with assurances that the casino is operated within expected standards and that tribal revenue is accurately collected and reported.

Federal oversight

Native American casinos are subject to the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which is administered by the National Indian Gaming Commission or (NIGC). The NIGC establishes minimum internal control standards and other requirements that each Native American gaming control board must follow. However, the NIGC does not have jurisdiction over state-regulated casinos.

External links

Gaming Control Boards in North America

* [http://www.gm.state.az.us/ Arizona Department of Gaming]
* [http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/ British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch]
* [http://www.cgcc.ca.gov/ California Gambling Control Commission]
**California Division of Gambling Control
* [http://www.revenue.state.co.us/Gaming/home.asp Colorado Division of Gaming]
* [http://www.ct.gov/dosr/site/ Connecticut Division of Special Revenue]
* [http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/gaming/index.shtml/ Delaware Gaming Control Board]
* [http://www.igb.state.il.us/ Illinois Gaming Board]
* [http://www.state.in.us/gaming/ Indiana Gaming Commission]
* [http://www.iowa.gov/irgc/ Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission]
* [http://www.accesskansas.org/krc/ Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission]
* [http://www.kahnawake.com/gamingcommission/ Kahnawake Gaming Commission]
* [http://www.dps.state.la.us/lgcb/ Louisiana Gaming Control Board]
* [http://www.state.me.us/dps/GambBoard/ Maine Gambling Control Board]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/ Michigan Gaming Control Board]
* [http://www.mgc.state.ms.us/ Mississippi Gaming Commission]
* [http://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/ Missouri Gaming Commission]
* National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)
* Nevada Gaming Commission [cite web |url=http://gaming.nv.gov/documents/pdf/gaming_regulation_nevada.pdf |title= Gaming Regulation in Nevada |accessdate=2007-08-17 |format= |work= ]
** Nevada Gaming Control Board
* New Jersey Casino Control Commission
* [http://www.nmgcb.org/ New Mexico Gaming Control Board]
* [http://www.agco.on.ca/ Ontario (Canada) Alcohol and Gaming Commission]
* Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
* [http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/reg/gaming/ South Dakota Commission on Gaming]
* Washington State Gambling Commission

Gaming Control Boards in Australia

* [http://www.casinocontrol.nsw.gov.au/ New South Wales (Australia) Casino Control Authority]
* [http://www.qogr.qld.gov.au/commission/queensland_gaming_commission.shtml Queensland (Australia) Gaming Commission]
* [http://www.qogr.qld.gov.au/ Queensland (Australia) Office of Gaming Regulation]
* Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation
* [http://www.iga.sa.gov.au/ South Australia (Australia)--Independent Gambling Authority]

Gaming Control Boards in Europe

* [http://www.gamblingcontrol.org/ Alderney Gambling Control Commission]
* Great Britain Gambling Commission
* [http://www.szf.hu/ Gaming Board of Hungary]
* Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
* [http://www.lga.org.mt/lga/home.asp Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta]
* [http://www.lotteritilsynet.no/ Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority]
* [http://www.lotteriinspektionen.se/ National Gaming Board of Sweden]
* [http://www.igjogos.pt/ Portuguese Gaming Board]
* [http://www.sigov.si/mf/angl/unpis/ Slovenia Office for Gaming Supervision]

Gaming Control Boards in Asia

* [http://www.dicj.gov.mo/ Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau]

Gaming Control Board associations

* [http://www.gref.net/introduction.html Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF)]
* [http://www.iagr.org/ International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)]
* [http://www.nagra.org/ North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA)]

References

See also

* Alcohol and Gaming Authority
* Gaming Tribunal of New South Wales