Which States require license(s) to lease (sell) table games?

I understand NV does not require a game inventor to be licensed to sell his / her games in NV. On the other hand, AZ and WA require the owner of the game to be licensed. How about other States? Which one requires and which one does not? Where could I find this type of information? I hope I don;t have to go to every State's web site to find out.

Quote: UCivan

I understand NV does not require a game inventor to be licensed to sell his / her games in NV. On the other hand, AZ and WA require the owner of the game to be licensed. How about other States? Which one requires and which one does not? Where could I find this type of information? I hope I don;t have to go to every State's web site to find out.

New Jersey does, and Mississippi, and I assume just about all other states require an expensive license. This is why self-distributing a game is so prohibitively expensive, and why going with a distributor may make sense. I do not know of any multi-state cross-licensing arrangements.

If you are signed with a distributor, the ONLY "Game inventor's license" required is by Washington State, called a supplier's license ($700/year), even if you are with a distributor also approved in Washington State.

Some game inventors self-distributed their games for a while; I think Switch did this prior to signing with SHFL, along with Hop Bet Inc (the craps Fire bet people).

One guy who distributes a Blackjack side bet is approved in NJ, and also has his game approved in NV, and does very respectably. Two MAJOR gambling states can make you, if you get enough installs in these states.

Generally, to have a game that is of an "approvable" status, you'll need a math report from either GLI or BMM, the big corporate gaming math laboratories. Many states do NOT take math reports from independent mathematicians anymore, unless as "approved math suppliers" by that state, unfortunately. This includes Nevada now.

Edit: I wouldn't consider spending for game math and game approval without a solid patent and go-ahead from a patent lawyer.

Quote: Paigowdan

If you are signed with a distributor, the ONLY "Game inventor's license" required is by Washington State, called a supplier's license ($700/year), even if you are with a distributor also approved in Washington State.

Are you sure its only $700 / year ?

I think I've taken my Poker For Roulette idea as far as I can, short of getting a distributor. Everyone I've talked to, wants to know if it's been field trialed yet, so I guess that's my next step.

I get the feeling that there would be less red tape involved if I field trial in Nevada. However, since I live in Northern New Jersey, it might be more economical to bite the bullet and get licensed in NJ, PA or CT and then get a relatively local casino to do the field trial.


Is there any license requred to sell a game to indian casinos? (Obviously, the only indian casinos I'd be thinking about are Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.)

You may want to check the NJ regulations as they have recently changed their requirements and are less stringent as to what is required.

I suspected as much, and I HAVE been trying to read NJ's regs. Unfortunately, I'm not fluent in Legaleze.

I'm heading to Mohegan Sun for Christmas, and would be curious to know the CT / Indian rules before I attempt to get a meeting with someone there....

DJ, I think that you have to apply individually to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods - you may also have to get approval in CT as well. This is what happens in California but I've never applied to CT before.