Gaming control boards

A gaming control board (GCB), also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission) is a government 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.

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 people 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 enforced by the National Indian Gaming Commission (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.

North America

Arizona Department of Gaming
British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
California Gambling Control Commission
California Bureau of Gambling Control
Colorado Division of Gaming
Connecticut Division of Special Revenue
Delaware Gaming Control Board
Illinois Gaming Board
Indiana Gaming Commission
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission
Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Louisiana Gaming Control Board
Maine Gambling Control Board
Michigan Gaming Control Board
Mississippi Gaming Commission
Missouri Gaming Commission
National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)
Nevada Gaming Commission^[1]
Nevada Gaming Control Board
New Jersey Casino Control Commission
New Mexico Gaming Control Board
Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority
Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
South Dakota Commission on Gaming
Washington State Gambling Commission

Australia

New South Wales: New South Wales Casino Control Authority
Queensland: Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation/Queensland Gaming Commission
Victoria: Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation
South Australia: South Australia Independent Gambling Authority

Europe

Hungary: Gaming Board of Hungary
Malta: Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta
Norway: Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority - part of Ministry of Culture
Portugal: Inspectorate General on Gaming
Slovenia: Office for Gaming Supervision - part of the Ministry of Finance
Sweden: National Gaming Board
United Kingdom: Gambling Commission
Alderney: Alderney Gambling Control Commission
Isle of Man: Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission