Friday, February 22, 2008

Step-by-step Gaming License Instructions

Preface

The two primary concerns of gaming license applicants are usually, "Will bad credit prevent me from getting a gaming license" and "Will an arrest prevent me from getting a gaming license?" In most cases the answer is "No." If bad credit and minor arrests prevented the approval of gaming licenses there would be no casinos.

As a gaming commission investigator once said, "If you didn't have bad credit, you wouldn't be American." Typical bad credit will not prevent you from getting a gaming license. Gaming license applications ask if the applicant has ever filed bankruptcy. If the answer is "yes" supporting documentation must be provided. So, even bankruptcy should not prevent an applicant from obtaining a license.

The type of bad credit that will prevent someone from being approved for a license is that which is the result of fraud, lying, cheating and stealing or defaulting on a student loan. Honesty is the issue.

Having a criminal record does not necessarily mean you will not get a license either. Some offenses which may cause the denial of a license do have time limits applied which vary and range from 1 year, to 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on the offense. The standards from jurisdiction to jurisdiction are similar, but, can have specific significant differences. It is highly likely that a felony record will mean no license. However, there are exceptions even to that general rule of thumb.

In Louisiana, You Probably Won't Get A License If RS 14:2 B Applies to You.

Usually, misdemeanors will not prevent the approval of a gaming license. Typically, what really matters is the nature of the offense. Any offense related to gaming/gambling, theft, fraud, larceny, perjury/lying, deception, forgery or conspiracy/organized crime will guarantee denial of the application.

If you have any doubt or concerns about your ability to obtain a gaming license you should contact the enforcement agency with whom you would be applying and explain your situation to an investigator before you even attempt to gather your background information. Don't worry, you will not be arrested for being honest about your situation, unless you are currently wanted by law enforcement.

Every case is handled on an individual basis. Exceptions to black and white rules do occur. Honesty and courtesy go a long way.

References

The Application

Print a copy of the Louisiana Non-Key Gaming Employee Permit Application, (other Gaming License Applications Available Online). Read the application instructions carefully before entering any information. Fill it out as complete and accurately as possible, according to the instructions. Louisiana applications must be completed in blue ink only. All jurisdictions require the use of either blue or black ink. No other color ink is ever appropriate.

DO NOT get your Louisiana license application notarized until after you get hired, but, before your licensing session with the State Police gaming commission.

DO NOT date or initial your Louisiana license application until your licensing session with the State Police gaming commission.

Any gaming license application is a sworn statement.

"Any false statement made in this application is a felony and is punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison or a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both. Furthermore, failure to reveal requested information or the submission of false or misleading information may result in denial of this application."

The Louisiana application says to provide a recent photo, however, the gaming commission officer will take a digital picture of you during your gaming license session. For other state or Indian gaming license applications it is always better to have and not need, then to need and not have, photos and information.

Although no one should need to be told the obvious, experience dictates that it is necessary to warn applicants to always be nice and polite to those whose assistance you need to gather your application information records.

Gaming Commissions' Contact Information & License Applications Available Online

  1. California Gaming Control Commission
    • California Application for Initial Regular and Work Permit/ Temporary Work Permit
  2. Colorado Gaming Commission
    • Support Gaming License Application
  3. Delaware Gaming Control Board
    • Forms
  4. Indiana Gaming Commission
    • Occupational License Level 2 Form 46781
  5. Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC)
    • License Application
  6. Louisiana Gaming Control Board
    • Non-Key Gaming Employee Permit Application
  7. Michigan Gaming Control Board
    • Occupational License Level 2 or 3 Application
  8. Mississippi Gaming Commission
    • Work Permit Application Packets
  9. Missouri Gaming Commission
    • License Level II Application Form
  10. Nevada Gaming Commission
    • Employee Registration Application
  11. New Jersey Casino Control Commission
    • Personal History Disclosure Form – 2A
  12. New Mexico Gaming Control Board
    • Work Permit Application
  13. South Dakota Gaming Commission
    • Support Employee License Application

Residence History

If you do not know your 10 years of residence history you can obtain it one of several ways or all.

First, your credit report will include addresses at which you received bills.

"You are entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This free credit report can be requested through this website [AnnualCreditReport.com], by phone [1-877-322-8228] or by mail."

You can also get a free copy of your credit report at FreeCreditReport.com.

Note:

"When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 7-day trial period, you will be billed $14.95 for each month that you continue your membership."

Second, you can get an Advanced Background Check at USSearch.com for $59.95 (view sample) or call 1-800-US-SEARCH (1-800-877-3272). US Search is offering FREE 1 hour rush delivery for phone orders. Internet orders have to pay a fee for 1 hour delivery. The Advanced Background Check includes a one state criminal background check. However, it is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate and a Louisiana criminal background check is not available at US Search. If you have lived in another state choose that state for your criminal background check. Some criminal background check is better than no criminal background check at all. Background information provided by US Search, including previous addresses, only goes back as far as 18 years of age.

Work History

If you do not know your 10 years of work history you can obtain an Itemized Statement of Earnings (Includes the names and addresses of employers) for $91.00, as of this writing, through the Social Security Administration. Use the Social Security Administration Office Locator to find an office near you. Some local offices will give it to you immediately in office. Unfortunately, other offices incorrectly tell you they cannot give you an Itemized Statement of Earnings and you must complete Form SSA-7050-F4 and mail it in to:

Social Security Administration
Division of Earnings Record Operations
P.O. Box 33003
Baltimore Maryland 21290-3003

"You should allow 4 months from the date that you submit form SSA-7050 for a response."

Always call the office you plan to visit to verify whether or not you need to bring Form SSA-7050-F4 with you and the current price of the statement.

Social Security at 1616 Joe Yenni in Kenner, LA, will give you your work history immediately, with a $35 check or money order. NO CASH.

Military Service

If you ever served in the military you will need to provide DD Form 214, Discharge Papers and Separation Documents. This is a process which takes time and therefore should be acted upon quickly.

Criminal, Investigatory and Civil Proceedings

Criminal Background

Read Page 6 carefully and provide all requested documentation.

If you have "ever been detained, issued a summons or citation, arrested, charged, indicted or forfeited bail for any criminal offense or violation for any reason whatsoever" you will need to supply supporting documentation. The sooner you start working on this information the better. Gathering criminal background documents is likely to be the most time consuming of all information required in any gaming license application.

Do not make the mistake to believe that your arrest was so long ago that the gaming commission won't find it or that they don't care because it was trivial. Where the application asks if you have "ever" been arrested it means ever. Failure to provide or withholding of requested information can result in at least postponing the approval of your license or result in arrest and/or fines of up to $10,000.00.

Contact the parish or county Clerk of Courts where the offense occurred and ask for certified court disposition papers. If disposition papers do not exist for whatever reason obtain something in writing proving your effort to obtain the required documents.

Civil Proceedings

If you have ever been to court or used an attorney for any reason you probably will need to "Attach certified copies of documents relating to each matter to this application."

Tax Clearance

Page 11 of the Louisiana Non-Key Gaming Employee Permit Application is a Louisiana Tax Clearance form which needs to be signed and stamped by the Louisiana Department of Revenue. It is a good idea to obtain your tax clearance sooner rather than later. If you are not able to be cleared it could take a significant amount of time to straighten out your tax issue.

In New Orleans, the Louisiana Department of Revenue office is located at 1555 Poydras St Suite 2100. Exit the elevator on the 21st floor and take a left.

In lieu of driving around trying to park on the street, the closest garage parking is available on Freret across from 1555 Poydras. The entrance to the garage looks as if you will be driving into the building.

Federal Tax Returns

If not for a new gaming license, you will need the last three years of your Federal income tax returns to renew your gaming license.

To find the local office nearest you visit the IRS' Contact My Local Office page.

Naturalization Papers

If you are a naturalized citizen you must bring a copy of your naturalization certificate.

Visiting The Office

In order to visit this office or to speak with an Immigration Information Officer, you must have an appointment scheduled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or you must schedule an INFOPASS appointment, on the USCIS web site.

PLEASE NOTE: This office is CLOSED on Fridays.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office is located at:

Metairie Centre, Suite 300 (Third Floor)
2424 Edenborn Avenue
Metairie, LA 70001

Driving directions to 2424 Edenborn Avenue Metairie, LA.

USCIS Service and Office Locator

Summary

  1. Louisiana Non-Key Gaming Employee Permit Application
  2. Advanced Background Check at USSearch.com
  3. Social Security Administration
  4. DD Form 214, Discharge Papers and Separation Documents
  5. Louisiana Department of Revenue
  6. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The new licensee often asks, "How long will it take to get a Louisiana Non-Key Gaming License?" Several factors can effect how long it takes, but, generally it takes from one to three weeks. However, in some cases it can take more than a month.

If there happens to be a larger than usual number of applications to process, that will obviously make it take longer. If your application is not filled out completely and accurately, with all required accompanying documentation, that will cause your license to take longer. An inaccurate application could also possibly cause your application to be denied. Even worse, you could be arrested and/or fined for providing misleading or false information.

The longer it takes you to gather the necessary information, the longer it will be before you start working.

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