Current through September 18, 2024
Authority: IC 4-33-4; IC 4-35-4
Affected: IC 4-33-6-1; IC 4-35; IC 5-3
Sec. 5.
(a) Except
to the extent the commission may require different or additional procedures, an
applicant for a casino owner's license shall be subject to the following
procedures prior to licensing:
(1)
Application.
(2) Background
investigation, including economic development analysis of the applicant by the
commission.
(3) Public
hearing.
(4) Action by the
commission.
(5) Issuance of
certificate of suitability.
(6)
Interim compliance period.
(7)
Issuance of casino owner's license.
(b) Requirements for a public hearing and
action by the commission shall be as follows:
(1) After the appropriate background
investigations by the commission have been completed, the commission shall
conduct a public hearing.
(2) The
commission shall publish the date, time, and place of the public hearing in the
following manner:
(A) Notice of the public
hearing shall be posted at the commission office in Indianapolis, Indiana at
least two (2) weeks prior to the public hearing.
(B) Notice of the public hearing shall be
published in appropriate newspapers under IC 5-3 at least two (2) times, at
least one (1) week apart, and with the second publication being made at least
two (2) days before the event.
(3) The public hearing shall be conducted in
the following manner:
(A) The chair shall
establish the order of the presentations and announce the amount of time that
each applicant will be allotted. The order of presentation and other
information may be published with the notice setting the date, time, and place
of the public hearing.
(B) The
appropriate applicant shall present its proposal for a casino gambling
operation in the appropriate county or city within the time period
established.
(C) The commission may
question the applicant on any aspect of its application and presentation that
the commission determines to be relevant to the issue of licensure.
(D) An applicant may be recalled by the
commission at any time during the public hearing.
(E) After all of the applicants have made
presentations, the commission shall allow a reasonable time to hear comments
about the applicants and proposals from governmental entities, agencies, and
the public at large. The chair shall announce the manner in which these
comments may be presented prior to the initiation of this section of the public
hearing.
(F) The commission may, at
its discretion, discuss the applications, presentations, reports, and other
materials, deliberate, and issue its decision immediately after the conclusion
of the presentations and public comments or it may recess and reconvene to
deliberate and issue its decision after the hearing has been transcribed and
the transcriptions received by the commission.
(G) The decision of the commission shall be
reduced to writing and signed by the commission members. The commission shall
direct the executive director to notify the appropriate applicants, in writing,
of the decision reached by the commission.
(H) No riverboat application shall be denied
until the final license for that county or city has been issued under IC
4-33-6-1. Once the final riverboat license for a county or city has been
issued, the commission shall direct the executive director to issue notices of
denial to the applicant or applicants not chosen for riverboat
licensure.
(4) The public
hearing shall be recorded, at the direction of the commission, stenographically
or by other means as to adequately ensure the preservation of the commission's
public hearing. A transcript completed by a reporter or stenographer hired by
the commission is the official record of the commission's public
hearing.
(c) The
applicant must present evidence that it meets or possesses the following
standards, qualifications, or criteria to be issued a casino owner's license:
(1) The applicant must possess the
qualifications set forth in IC 4-33 and IC 4-35.
(2) The applicant or the applicant's
substantial owner must possess a level of skill, experience, or knowledge
necessary to conduct a casino gambling operation.
(3) The positive economic impact that the
applicant's plan will have on the entire state of Indiana.
(4) The positive impact of any endorsements
made by the local government entities.
(5) The criminal history of the applicant and
the applicant's substantial owners.
(6) The applicant and the applicant's
substantial owners must be of good moral character and reputation.
(7) Whether the applicant or the applicant's
substantial owners has had a gaming or other license revoked, suspended,
restricted, or terminated or if renewal of a license was denied.
(8) The applicant and the applicant's
substantial owners must be in substantial compliance with state and federal tax
laws.
(9) Any other standard the
commission determines is necessary to ensure the applicant meets the criteria
for licensure set forth in IC 4-33, IC 4-35, and this title.
(d) The certificate of suitability
shall be issued as follows:
(1) The commission
shall direct the executive director to issue a certificate of suitability after
a decision has been issued in accordance with subsection (b).
(2) The certificate of suitability is valid
for one hundred eighty (180) days unless extended by the commission.
(3) A prospective licensee must direct a
request for an extension of the certificate of suitability in a letter directed
to the executive director.
(e) During the interim compliance period, the
prospective casino licensee shall do the following:
(1) If necessary, obtain a permit to develop
the riverboat gambling operation from the United States Army Corps of
Engineers.
(2) If necessary, obtain
a valid certificate of inspection from the United States Coast Guard or the
commission's marine certification contractor for the vessel on which the
riverboat gambling operation will be conducted temporarily or
permanently.
(3) Apply for and
receive the appropriate permit or certificate from the Indiana alcohol and
tobacco commission and other appropriate state and federal agencies.
(4) Receive all permits, certificates, and
approvals for the casino and support facilities necessary to develop and
conduct the casino gambling operation, including, but not limited to:
(A) fire marshal;
(B) health;
(C) building; and
(D) zoning; permits. Permits for long-term
developments that are part of the casino support facilities do not have to be
obtained.
(5) Close the
financing necessary to complete the development of the casino gambling
operation.
(6) Post a bond in
accordance with section 7 of this rule.
(7) Obtain the insurance deemed necessary by
the commission under section 8 of this rule.
(8) Receive licensure for electronic gaming
devices and other gaming equipment under 68 IAC 2-6.
(9) Submit an emergency response plan under
68 IAC 8-2.
(10) Take any other
action the commission deems necessary to ensure the prospective casino licensee
will be able to conduct a casino gambling operation that complies with IC 4-33,
IC 4-35, and this title.
(f) Requirements for the issuance of a
permanent casino owner's license shall be as follows:
(1) The casino licensee shall advise the
commission in writing once it has complied with subsection (e).
(2) When the commission is satisfied that the
casino licensee has complied with subsection (e), it shall direct the executive
director to issue a permanent casino owner's license.
(3) The permanent casino owner's license
shall meet the specifications set forth in section 6 of this rule.
(4) The commission may place restrictions,
conditions, or requirements on the permanent casino owner's license. These
restrictions, conditions, or requirements may include, but are not limited to,
the following:
(A) That the casino licensee
comply with aspects of its proposal within specific time frames.
(B) If the casino is a docked riverboat, the
riverboat licensee begin operation at a permanent dock within a specified
period, not to exceed one (1) year.
(C) That the casino licensee posts a new or
additional bond in accordance with section 7 of this rule, if
necessary.
(D) That the casino
gambling operation undergo and successfully complete the appropriate number and
type of practice gaming tests during a forty-eight (48) hour period to ensure
that the casino gambling operation is conducted within the parameters of IC
4-33, IC 4-35, and this title. The executive director may determine that the
casino gambling operation undergo additional practice gaming tests.
(5) The casino licensee shall post
a bond in accordance with section 7 of this rule.