Even though gambling has been around for many centuries, it has become very popular in the last few decades. More and more people are interested in it, which means that casinos are just popping up all around the USA. Taking into consideration that we live in the 21st century, and that each country has its own set of rules that have to be followed, just like numerous other establishments, these have to be overseen, and the way they conduct their business must be controlled by the regulatory body. This is when gaming commissions come in.
As you know, each state has a gaming control board of its own. It means that each of these is in charge of the casinos within their area, usually the state lines. Depending on the state, some gaming commissions consist of numerous organizations and companies that control and manage different aspects of the industry. Well, in this article, we will introduce you to these regulatory bodies and tell you some facts you maybe don’t know.
1. They manage the games
The first task of every gaming commission is to follow a series of rules and regulations to ensure that all gaming activities are carried out legally and responsibly. These regulations are basically a set of rules every gaming establishment must meet in order to proceed with their business.
We are talking about the games and the rules regarding them, accounting systems, security of both casinos and players, employees and owner’s responsibilities and jobs, etc. Their main goal is also to ensure fair play and take the schemes down to the minimum. In addition, these also get to decide which types of betting and gambling are legal, i.e., allowed, and which are not.
2. They deal with licenses
As you know, every gaming establishment needs to possess a license. They cannot start their business without possessing it. If they try to do it despite not having a license, they will soon be shut down. A gaming control board is an organization that grants or denies these.
Naturally, there is a set of requirements casinos have to meet in order to get this document. These can slightly differ between the states, but some of the general requirements include details regarding the personal information of the casino’s owner or vendor, the way they will conduct the business, and so on.
There are numerous types of licenses, so depending on the one people apply for, they may have to disclose information regarding their previous employment, financial stability, and even criminal record.
The process of being granted is quite complicated and can take a lot of time. The reason for this is that gaming commissions have to do a thorough check of every application and prevent organized crime.
3. They have the power to resolve all issues
Naturally, just like with any other type of organization, multiple problems arise in the world of gaming and casinos. The owners and vendor are required to include control boards in solving these. The type of issue doesn’t really matter. It can be the smallest inconsistency in the way casinos manage their work. Gaming commissions do not only have to be informed about every little detail, but they are also the ones who have the final word.
It means that they get to determine the consequences and may even choose to close down an establishment for a limited period of time, or on the other hand, revoke their license.
Furthermore, for example, right now, due to the coronavirus pandemic, each state’s regulatory body determines how these establishments will operate. Once again, since they can also make a decision on their own, without having to coordinate it with other countries, some casinos are closed, others work only part-time, while some of the work just as they used to before the pandemic.
4. They make the rules
We have already discussed that the gaming world must follow a strict set of rules. Every time they don’t comply with one of these, they have to bear the consequences. Well, in addition to ensuring that everything functions perfectly, gaming commissions also have the power to adopt new laws and regulations.
Since every state has a commission of its own, these regulations are introduced separately. Basically, one state can adopt a new draft while the other doesn’t. Basically, let’s go back to 2018 when states like Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island were among the first ones prepared to start the process of legalizing sports betting. Today, sports betting is legal in 20 states.
Still, there is another interesting fact. Even though sports betting is legal in these states, a control board of each one of them has to power to create, draft, and adopt rules and laws on how this type of betting is conducted. This includes some main guidelines that must be followed, but also the type of bet people have at their disposal.
5. They analyze the industry
One of the most important tasks the gaming commissions have to do is ensure that every establishment is functioning perfectly and to investigate its effects. So, how do they do this? Well, by conducting different types of research on the gaming industry in their state. Not only this, but they also have to be familiar with the impact it has on the community, but also all the employees within the industry.
The goal is to ensure that all establishments and companies support their community. But besides this, they also have to make sure that every single task is concluded responsibly, without any consequences that can harm the others.
Conclusion
To sum up, we are all aware of the existence of gaming commissions, but a lot of people aren’t really certain what their job is, especially if they have never stepped a foot onto a casino floor. We, in this text, we discussed some aspect of their work. As already stated, they are the regulatory body that oversees the work of every single gambling establishment in their area.
