Tribal Vendors

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Any Gaming Resource Supplier who, directly or indirectly, provides, has provided, or is deemed likely to provide at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in Gaming Resources in any 12-month period shall be licensed by the TGA prior to the sale, lease, or distribution, or further sale, lease, or distribution, of any such Gaming Resources to or in connection with the Tribe's Operation or Facility. In addition, any person extending financing directly or indirectly to the TGA or gaming operation, or any management contractor, must be licensed by the TGA.

Once licensed by the TGA, these Gaming Resource Suppliers, Financial Sources, and Management Contractors must submit an application for a Finding of Suitability to the Bureau of Gambling Control (Bureau). The Bureau will conduct the investigation and provide a recommendation to the California Gambling Control Commission for the issuance of a finding of suitability for the vendor to do business with the Tribes.

Who Must Apply for a Finding of Suitability:

  • Any person extending financing (financial source) directly or indirectly to the Tribal Gaming Agency or gaming operation.
  • Each business entity (vendor) and their parent company.
  • All officers, directors, principal management employees; including any Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers and managers; all owners or partners of an unincorporated business as well as each shareholder who owns more than 10 percent of the shares of a corporation.

Each applicant and business entity must complete and submit to the Bureau an application for a Finding of Suitability along with a $500 non-refundable application fee. In addition, the Bureau requires supplemental forms and/or documents from each applicant and business entity. These forms and/or documents must be completed and submitted to the Bureau along with a sum of money that, in the judgment of the Bureau Chief, will be adequate to pay anticipated investigation and processing costs, in accordance with Business and Professions Code Section 19867.

NOTICE TO VENDOR APPLICANTS

Authority: The California Tribal-State Gaming Compact (Compact), and the Gambling Control Act (Act), Business & Professions Code section 19800 et seq.

Purpose: To protect the public safety by ensuring that gambling establishments are free from criminal and corruptive elements. The required information is used to determine the suitability of the applicant to be associated with a Tribal Gaming Agency.

Burden of Proof: An applicant is seeking the granting of a privilege. The burden of proving his/her qualifications is at all times on the applicant.

Disclosure of Information: An applicant may be denied a Finding of Suitability for failing to provide all information, documentation and assurances as required by the Compact, Act, or by the Bureau. Failure to reveal any material facts, or providing misleading or untrue information as to a material fact is also grounds for denial.

Waiver of Claim for Damages: An applicant accepts any risk of adverse reaction, financial loss, or public notice which may result from any action taken with respect to an application. By filing an application, an applicant expressly waives any claim for damages as a result of any action taken with respect to that application.

Withdrawal of an Application: An application may not be withdrawn without the permission of the California Gambling Control Commission.

Privacy Notification: As required by the Act, the California Gambling Control Commission shall maintain a file of all applications for a Finding of Suitability, together with a record of all action taken with respect to those applications. The file and record shall be open for public inspection. The Bureau is authorized by law to disclose certain confidential applicant information to local law enforcement agencies or other governmental agencies.

License Fees: Full payment of all fees for a Finding of Suitability shall be assessed against the Gambling Resource Supplier. Such fees must be received by the Bureau prior to a Finding of Suitability.

Fingerprints: California residents must take the attached Request for Live Scan Service form to one of the specified locations whereupon fingerprints will be processed via Live Scan. Contact the Live Scan facility to determine if an appointment for fingerprinting is required and their preferred method of payment for the rolling fee. Once you have been fingerprinted, you must return the second copy of the Request for Live Scan Service form to the Bureau with your application package.


Non-California Residents: Out of state applicants must utilize the fingerprint cards provided in the Application for Finding of Suitability. Both cards must be taken to the local law enforcement agency where rolled fingerprints will be processed. Both fingerprint cards must be returned with the application package.


Applicant’s Responsibility: As an applicant for a Finding of Suitability, it is your responsibility to ensure that you thoroughly understand the questions in this application. If you do not understand the questions, it is your responsibility to obtain appropriate, competent assistance in order to fully and accurately complete the application.


After the Application and/or Finding of Suitability packet has been completed and submitted to the Bureau, it is the responsibility of the applicant and/or Gaming Resource Supplier (Vendor) to notify the Bureau of any changes that would alter or delay the background investigation process. For example, the Bureau should be notified immediately of any changes to business entities as it relates to Section 6.4.7 of the California Tribal-State Gaming Compact; change of address and/or telephone number; submission of applications with Tribal Gaming Agencies or other state gaming agencies that were not previously reported to the Bureau.


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