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.