Licensing

For a national overview of licensing, please visit Casino City’s Vendor Licensing guide at:
gamingregulation.com/vendor-licensing-overview/

For a comprehensive and in-depth explanation of Michigan supplier licensing and compliance click below:
A Practical Guide To Casino Supplier Licensing in Michigan

The state of Michigan has a very extensive process for licensing gaming and non-gaming suppliers that conduct business with the three Detroit casinos. The rules related to this process are outlined in detail in the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act (“Act”), and the Michigan Gaming Control Board Administrative Rules (“Rules”). In addition, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (“Board”) has adopted Board Resolution 2009-1 to further clarify the licensing process. The Board has also adopted several other resolutions that provide clarification to matters involving political contributions, third party providers, license suspensions and other licensing related matters. Also, the Michigan Attorney General has issued several opinions that provide clarification to the Act concerning political contributions by licensees and their key qualifiers.

In Michigan, supplier licenses are non-transferable, and are only issued by the state after an entity has demonstrated its suitability to the Board through an application and an investigative process.

All providers of gaming related products and services are required to obtain a gaming related supplier’s license. Michigan also requires licensing of certain non-gaming suppliers. The state determines the licensing of non-gaming suppliers based on the dollar amount of business that the company anticipates conducting, or has conducted with the Detroit casinos.

The Board has developed a process for issuing temporary licenses to gaming and non-gaming suppliers. Businesses whose dollar amounts with the casinos are below certain dollar thresholds, are allowed to obtain a vendor identification number which permits the casinos to begin conducting commerce with these businesses.

Michigan also has rules that allow certain businesses to be exempt from the licensing process if the Board determines that licensing is not necessary to protect the public’s interest.

Michigan’s Native American casinos are not regulated by the Board. Rather, they are governed by their respective tribal governments and the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). For information on the licensing process of each Michigan Tribal casino, we suggest that you contact the respective gaming commission.

RMC Ventures recommends that businesses new to the gaming industry have a “Michigan Supplier License Analysis” completed in advance of initiating the licensing process. The analysis will prepare the business for the licensing process, and also help to educate owners and management about what they can expect once the licensing process is initiated. In addition, because the Michigan process is unique, RMC Ventures encourages experienced gaming suppliers to review the Board’s Web site, Act and Rules before initiating the process.