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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1996)
SMOKE SIGNALS - March 1, 1996 Page 3 Fourth Quarter 1995: Report of regulatory activities During the fourth quarter of 1995, the Commission's workload has continued to be dominated by the performance of employee background investigations relating to the initial start-up phase of the casino. In the fourth quarter, the Commission acted on 633 gaming licensing agenda items, resulting in a grand total of 771 such actions being handled by the Commission in calendar. J995. Of ; the applications acted on, 694 have been approved and 3 denied. Of the approvals, 29 employees were approved with limitations andor conditions. It is also noteworthy that 7 individuals, whose appearances were waived by regulation, appealed the Commission's initial denial and requested another hearing. Upon reconsideration, the Commission sustained 5 denial and reversed 2, choosing to license with limitations and conditions. To address the heavy licensing demands during the fourth quarter, the Commission met at least twice monthly. In addition to agenda items pertaining to personnel licensing applications, the Commission's agenda also included the following items relating to the licensure of major, minor and sensitive procurement contractors: October 20. 1995 1) Paul-Son Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Approved Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until November 1 7, 1995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. 2) The New Portland Meadows, Inc., Portland, OR. Approved a Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until November 1 7, 1 995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. 3) Mikohn Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License with conditions until November 17, 1995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. 4) Zanotto Distributing Company, Vancouver, WA. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License until November 17, 1995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. 5) Summit Gaming Corporation, Colorado Springs, CO. Approved a Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until November 17, 1995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. 6) Aristocrat, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License until January 19, 1996 with conditions. November 17. 1995 1) Mikohn Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License with conditions until December 1 5, 1 995 pending resolution of issues relating to centralized accounting system. 2) Zanotto Distributing Company, Vancouver, WA. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License until the Commission's regularly scheduled meeting in October 1996, with conditions. 3) Paul-Son Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Approved a Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until the Commission's regularly scheduled meeting in October 1996, with conditions. 4) Summit Gaming Corporation, Colorado Springs, CO. Approved a Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until the Commission's regularly scheduled meeting in October 1 996, with conditions. 5) The New Portland Meadows, Inc., Portland, OR. Approved a Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until December 15, 1995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. 6) Sensormatic, Inc., Deerfield Beach, FL. Approved a Sensitive Procurement Contractors License until December 15, 1995 pending receipt of application and other documentation. December 15. 1996 1) The New Portland Meadows, Inc., Portland, OR. Denied licensure as a Sensitive Procurement Contractor. 2) Mikohn Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License with conditions until January 19, 1996 pending resolution of issues relating to centralized accounting system. 3) Sodak Gaming, Inc., Rapid City, SD. Approved a Major Procurement Contractors License until January 19, 1996 pending completion of an updated investigation by the State. REGULATION CHANGES: The Gaming Commission is continuing to work towards refining the Regulations. The following modifications, amend ments and additions were approved by the Commissioners during the fourth quarter of 1995: October 20. 1995 Ceneral Session Meeting: 3.030 Primary management official, high security employee and low security employee. 3.030.6(a) The Commissioners approved this amendment to said Regulation in order to clarify that high security employees could be hired on a temporary basis, and receive a temporary badge, seven days after submission of their application. This amendment also deleted the waiting period for low security employees. 4.030 Classification of licenses, and other Commission actions for which application must be made. 4.030.2(a) This modification to said Regulation clarified that the Director of Surveillance did not have to wear his badge so that it was visible. He does need to carry his badge on his person. 4.030 Classification of licenses, and other Commission actions for which application must be made. 4.030.2(b) This modification to said Regulation clarified that Surveillance personnel do not have to wear their badges so that they are visible. They do need to carry their badges on their person. 5.013 Gaming by persons licensed by the Commission. 5.013.1(a) This addition to the Regulation clarifies that persons licensed by the Commission but not hired by the gaming facility would be permitted to game. However, once the licensee is hired by the gaming facility, the gaming restriction shall apply. 5.060 Access to premises and production of records. 5.060.3 This Regulation modification grants access to gaming areas and records by members or agents of the Commission as long as they display a Gaming Commission identification badge. 5.070 Remodel andor Expansion of the Gaming Facility. 5.070 This addition to the Regulations states that the gaming facility is required to notify the Commission of any major or substantial remodeling that would affect the gaming areas and or expand the gaming facility beyond the original footprint of the building. 23 Card Games. 23.020.1 This Regulation addition added the definition of a "card game." 23.065.8 & .9 This Regulation addition added that the issuance of shill funds must be approved by the supervisor and that replenishment of shill funds be documented. 23.090 This Regulation addition states the playing cards and chips are to be maintained in a secure location. 26 Pari-Mutuel Rules - In General. The Commissioners approved several word corrections to the above Regulation. 26A Off-Track Pari-Mutuel Wagering. 26A.020 The Commissioners approved several word cor rections to the definitions contained within this Regulation. 26A.1 10 The Commissioners amended this Regulation to add that the gaming facility is to provide the rules of pari-mutuel wagering to the patrons. November 17. 1995 General Session Meeting: 4.040 Applications, notices, statements and reports; contents; amendments; incorporation by reference; pro ceedings not to have substantive implications. 4.040.8 The Commissioners approved the amendment to the Regulation that clarifies that an applicant may appeal a determination to Tribal Court on Tribal Constitutional grounds only. Said appeal must be made no later than the fourteenth day following receipt of the Commission's written determination. 5.015 Gaming by persons under the age of twenty-one (21) prohibited. 5.015 The Commissioners approved this addition to the Regulations stating that no person under twenty-one years of age shall game; and except for Regulation 5.016, no person under twenty-one shall be permitted in the immediate area where gaming is being conducted. This approval by the Commission was subject to concurrence by the Oregon State Police. 5.016 Licensee's under the age of twenty-one (21). 5.016 The Commissions approved this addition to the Reg ulations stating that employees aged eighteen or older may be allowed access to the gaming floor for the purpose of carrying out their duties. No employees under age twenty-one shall have access to gaming terminals, gaming cash, gaming wagers or other gaming supplies. This approval by the Commission was subject to concurrence by the Oregon State Police. December 15. 1995 General Session Meeting: 24.050 Maximum table bet limits. 24.050.1(d) The Commission approved the addition to this Regulation that states that the gaming facility shall report monthly on those individuals who have met the training andor experience requirements required to deal blackjack. 5.160 Surveillance systems. 5.160 The Commission approved a modification to this Reg ulation to establish a subcommittee to review surveillance standards and make recommendation regarding the gaming facility's compliance. OTHER REGULATORY ISSUES: Eighteen to Twenty Year Old Working in Gaming Areas. The Director and the State were in disagreement on the prohibition contained in the Compact relating to minors in the immediate area of gambling. It was the Director's position that such prohibition did not apply to employees performing the duties of their job, such as food and beverage employees and housekeeping. Upon review by the Attorney General's Office, the Director's position was upheld. Oregon Association of Gaming Commissions. During the fourth quarter, representatives from the Com mission continued to meet with other tribes in formulating an association. By laws have been adopted and the association is progressing towards development of procedures to facilitate the sharing of information pertaining to unsuitable applicants and other regulatory issues. In summation, the Commission is on the verge of finishing the initial licensure of low and high security employee applications filed in conjunction with the start up phase of the casino. It is anticipated about three hundred applications remain and they should be handled in January 1 996. Thereafter, Commission staff will be devoting more attention to interim testing and monitoring activities which have had to be deferred over the past few months. In conjunction with stepped up monitoring will come additional training for Commissioners and staff. In January, the Director plans to attend a NIGA conference on Internal Controls and Cheating Scams. Although the initial Regulation review and rewrite has been accomplished, a detailed analysis to ensure congruity between the Gaming Ordinance, State Compact and Regulations will also be started in the next quarter. Over the next two quarters, staff expects to complete the background investigations of the Primary Management Officials. Finally, the Director has been charged by the Commissioners to develop personnel policies and procedures more relevant to a regulatory agency. The Commission's relationship with the State Indian Gaming Section continues to evolve and, as the Commission proves itself to be a truly independent and effectively regulatory agency, the State's involvement in regulating the Tribes casino should diminish.
