Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a)
Overview of Licensing Procedures. Applications for Owner's licenses shall be
subject to the following procedures prior to licensure:
1) Investigation of the applicant and
application;
2) Finding of
preliminary suitability;
3)
Assessment of the Riverboat Gaming Operation;
4) Final practice Gaming session;
5) Action of the Board; and
6) Different or additional licensing
procedures as required of an applicant by the Board.
b) Investigation of the Applicant and
Application. An applicant is responsible for compliance with all requests for
information, documents, or other materials relating to the applicant and the
applicant's application.
c) Finding
of Preliminary Suitability
1) An applicant
for an Owner's license shall present to the Board in a public meeting the
reasons it is suitable for licensing.
2) An applicant must satisfy the Board by
clear and convincing evidence that the applicant:
A) Has met those requirements of Section 7 of
the Act;
B) Is a person or entity
whose background, reputation and associations will not dishonor or harm the
reputation of, or result in adverse publicity for, the State of Illinois and
its Gaming industry;
C) Has
adequate business competence and experience to be a holder of an Owner's
license; and
D) Has demonstrated
that the proposed funding of the entire operation shall be adequate for the
nature of the proposed operation and be from a suitable source; and
E) Has satisfied the Board as to any other
information deemed necessary for licensure.
3) After presentation by the applicant, the
Board shall determine whether to find the applicant preliminarily suitable for
licensing.
4) If the Board finds
the applicant preliminarily suitable for licensing, it shall issue the
applicant a finding of preliminary suitability.
5) If the Board finds the applicant not
preliminarily suitable for licensing, it shall issue the applicant a Notice of
Denial.
d) Approval for
Proposed Changes
1) In addition to an
applicant's and licensee's duty under Section
3000.140 to
disclose information to the Board, an applicant or owner licensee must
immediately inform the Board and, except as provided in subsections (d)(2) and
(3) below, obtain prior formal Board approval thereof whenever a change is
proposed in the following areas:
A) Key
Persons;
B) Type of
entity;
C) Equity and debt
capitalization of entity;
D)
Investors and/or debt holders;
E)
Sources of funds;
F) Economic
development plans or proposals;
G)
Riverboat cruising schedules or routes, capacity or design change;
H) Gaming positions;
I) Anticipated economic impact; or
J) Agreements, oral or written, relating to
the acquisition or disposition of property (real or personal) of a value
greater than $1 million.
2) The Board may, by resolution, delegate to
the Administrator the authority to approve proposed changes listed in Section
3000.230(d)(1).
Such resolution shall specify the type and, where appropriate, level or amount
of the proposed changes that may be approved by the Administrator.
3) If the Administrator refuses to approve a
proposed change under subsection (d)(2), the Board shall review such proposal
and determine whether to grant or deny the change.
e) Assessment of the Riverboat Gaming
Operation
1) After an applicant is found
preliminarily suitable for licensing, the applicant's Riverboat Gaming
Operation shall be assessed to determine its effectiveness, integrity, and
compliance with law and Board standards.
A)
The matters to be assessed include:
i) The
Gaming Operations Manager;
ii)
Proposed Gaming Operations and use of Gaming equipment;
iii) The Riverboat, whether it is a
self-propelled excursion boat or permanently moored barge;
iv) Handicapped access;
v) Support Facilities;
vi) Internal controls and operating
procedures;
vii) Security
operations;
viii)
Staffing;
ix) Casualty and
liability insurance;
x) Affirmative
action hiring patterns;
xi) The
status of the financing commitments proposed in the applicant's
application;
xii) Information
received subsequent to the preliminary finding of suitability concerning the
applicant and the applicant's Key Persons;
xiii) Riverboat capacity and Gaming
positions;
xiv) Fulfillment of
economic development plans as submitted in the application; and
xv) Such other matters as the Board may
require.
B) The Board
may establish a schedule setting a timetable for the satisfactory compliance
for all operations to be assessed.
2) The Administrator shall report to the
Board concerning whether the applicant has satisfactorily complied with
subsection (e) of this Section.
3)
After receipt of the Administrator's report, the Board shall determine whether
to authorize a final practice Gaming excursion.
f) Final Practice Gaming Session
The Board may authorize the Administrator to conduct a final
practice Gaming session and to issue the applicant a Temporary Operating Permit
if the final practice Gaming session is successfully completed.
1) In determining whether a final practice
Gaming session has been successfully completed, the Administrator shall assess,
among other matters, the effectiveness, safety and security of the Riverboat
Gaming Operation as well as the matters listed in subsection (e)(1)(A)
above.
2) If the Administrator
determines that the final practice Gaming session has not been successfully
completed, he shall so report to the Board.
3) If the Administrator determines that the
final practice Gaming session has been successfully completed, he shall:
A) Upon delivery of the applicant's license
fee and a file stamped copy of the applicant's $200,000 bond to the State of
Illinois posted with the Board, issue the applicant a Temporary Operating
Permit; and
B) Report to the
Board.
4) A Temporary
Operating Permit allows the applicant to operate the Riverboat Gaming Operation
to which it pertains until it is withdrawn or the Board takes action on the
application.
5) A Temporary
Operating Permit may be withdrawn by the Administrator if he determines that
the Riverboat Gaming Operation to which it pertains is not suitable for
continued operation. If the Administrator withdraws a Temporary Operating
Permit, he shall so report to the Board.
g) Action of the Board
1) If the Board finds the applicant suitable
for licensing, it shall issue the applicant a license.
2) If the Board finds the applicant not
suitable for licensing, it shall:
A) Issue
the applicant a Notice of Denial by certified mail or personal delivery;
and
B) If the applicant has been
issued a Temporary Operating Permit, return the applicant's license
fee.
h)
Notice of Denial
1) An applicant served with
a Notice of Denial may request a hearing in accord with Section
3000.405.
2) If a hearing is not requested, the Notice
of Denial becomes the final order of the Board denying the applicant's
application.