Gaming approval in California jurisdictions

Hi everyone.
I'm trying to get gaming approvals in California jurisdictions. Anyone who has experience or is familiar with the process and can provide some advice and info, I would really appreciate it. Thanks

What type of game? How far are you in the process?

Thank you for replying. This is a poker game. The math is done and currently working on the patent. Just trying to figure out the next steps. I remember reading from one of the posts on this site and someone mentioned some casinos wouldn't look at a game unless it's been approved by the gaming authority from that jurisdiction.

You might want to check California Penal Code section 337J. The way I read it, it implies that California's Department of Justice maintains some list of "legal" poker games (see subsection E1 of section 337J).

I suppose this is a table game and not a video poker, right? If so, I don't have a clue. You might want to try to shop your idea to distributors such as DEQ, Galaxy, or Shufflemaster.

Yes, exactly.
For an independent game developer to navagate the approval processes in many gaming jurisdictions - or even just ONE - is hugely expensive and time-consuming without the weight and experience of a major distributor. In this regard, basically one of the "Big Three" are in a position to make game approved, and thereby "come to life."

For an independent game designer to try to tackle both the approvals and the distribution is like trying to become a famous author like John Grisham or Tom Clancy by starting up your own paper mill and book printing factory. Better to let a major publishing company handle the marketing, approval, fine-tuning and distribution details, in order that the product actually makes it to the public consumption.

By the way, Paigowdan knows what he's talking about. He's one of the successful game inventors on this board.

I once asked the question and got the following reply from the DoJ:

===
In California each Tribal Gaming Agency (TGA) of a Tribal Casino licenses consultants in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. In addition the TGA must adhere to the requirements as noted in the California Tribal-State Gaming Compact (Compact).

In Section 6.4.5. of the Compact "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, or who has
received at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in any consecutive 12-month
period within the 24-month period immediately preceding application, shall be licensed
by the Tribal Gaming Agency 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."

Gaming Resources are defined as "any goods or services provided or used in
connection with Class III Gaming Activities, whether exclusively or otherwise, including,
but not limited to, equipment, furniture, gambling devices and ancillary equipment,
implements of gaming activities such as playing cards and dice, furniture designed
primarily for Class III gaming activities, maintenance or security equipment and services,
and Class III gaming consulting services."

Section 6.5.6 of the Compact also states "the Tribal Gaming Agency shall require the applicant also to file an application with the State Gaming Agency, prior to issuance of a temporary or permanent tribal gaming license, for a determination of suitability for licensure under the California Gambling Control Act."

More information on the Gaming Resources Supplier application please go to the web site of the California Gambling Control Commission (www.ccgc.ca.gov).

You can also find more information on the approval of games in non-tribal casinos on the Office of the Attorney General's Web site (www.ag.ca.gov) under Gambling Control.
===

Quote: MathExtremist

I once asked the question and got the following reply from the DoJ:

===
In California each Tribal Gaming Agency (TGA) of a Tribal Casino licenses consultants in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. In addition the TGA must adhere to the requirements as noted in the California Tribal-State Gaming Compact (Compact).

In Section 6.4.5. of the Compact "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, or who has
received at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in any consecutive 12-month
period within the 24-month period immediately preceding application, shall be licensed
by the Tribal Gaming Agency 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."

Gaming Resources are defined as "any goods or services provided or used in
connection with Class III Gaming Activities, whether exclusively or otherwise, including,
but not limited to, equipment, furniture, gambling devices and ancillary equipment,
implements of gaming activities such as playing cards and dice, furniture designed
primarily for Class III gaming activities, maintenance or security equipment and services,
and Class III gaming consulting services."

Section 6.5.6 of the Compact also states "the Tribal Gaming Agency shall require the applicant also to file an application with the State Gaming Agency, prior to issuance of a temporary or permanent tribal gaming license, for a determination of suitability for licensure under the California Gambling Control Act."

More information on the Gaming Resources Supplier application please go to the web site of the California Gambling Control Commission (www.ccgc.ca.gov).

You can also find more information on the approval of games in non-tribal casinos on the Office of the Attorney General's Web site (www.ag.ca.gov) under Gambling Control.
===

Does the Class III reference only apply to slot machines? I thought table games in California have to be "player vs. player", so they are not true player vs. house, nor player vs. paytable games.

Edit: Additional information, including regulations regarding manufacture and licensing (mainly concerned with slots, but applies to other games too) in California can be found at the California Gambling Control Commission website here.

Table Games are player vs. player in the commerical card rooms but are player vs. house in the tribal properties. We have sort of a dual set of rules in CA depending on if your casino is sittling on CA land or Sovereign Tribal Land.

Quote: CrystalMath

By the way, Paigowdan knows what he's talking about. He's one of the successful game inventors on this board.

Indeed.

Quote: Paradigm

Table Games are player vs. player in the commerical card rooms but are player vs. house in the tribal properties. We have sort of a dual set of rules in CA depending on if your casino is sittling on CA land or Sovereign Tribal Land.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but...

(a) Doesn't each tribe have to specify what table games it can run in its Tribal Compact with the state?

(b) Aren't table games limited to card games (and Pai Gow with tiles), although I am under the impression that some casinos have gotten around this by modifying roulette and craps to have the numbers generated by cards?

(Here's one I do know for sure: Tribal casinos cannot have sports books in states where they are otherwise illegal, although I don't know if any have satellite horse race betting like they have at some of California's tracks - it may be limited to the tracks, which might explain why Solano County Fairgrounds still has its track even though it has had only five or six days of racing in the past three years, and none in the past two.)

Not sure about the specifics of (a) but do know that Money$uit31 is trialing his first game at a CA tribal property early next year. He told me that getting his card game approved for trial at that single property was relatively quick (i.e. less that 6 weeks).

On (b) you are indeed correct, card games only with Roulette and Craps being modified to "Mystery Card Roulette" and "Card Craps".

I did see a "new to me" version of card craps on my last visit to Pechanga. They are using six red backed cards and six blue backed cards to simulate the dice. Each packed of six cards is fed into an auto shuffler that kicks out one of the six as the die roll and then kicks out the other five as the non-roll cards. It goes through this process twice, relatively quickly and the boxman counts the five discarded cards to ensure they are present in both colors and then turns over the two selected cards for the die roll. Appears they are combatting any card counting of the old shoes full of Aces to Six cards that they used to use several years ago.

I want to thank everyone for their time and participation. All the advice and comments are very much appreciated. Thanks.

Quote: Paradigm

Not sure about the specifics of (a) but do know that Money$uit31 is trialing his first game at a CA tribal property early next year. He told me that getting his card game approved for trial at that single property was relatively quick (i.e. less that 6 weeks).

Here is what the compact between the state and the tribe that runs the casino where Money$uit31 is being trialed says:

Quote:

Sec. 4.1. Authorized and Permitted Class III gaming.
The Tribe is hereby authorized and permitted to operate the following Gaming Activities under the terms and conditions set forth in this Gaming Compact:
(a) The operation of Gaming Devices.
(b) Any banking or percentage card game.
(c) The operation of any devices or games that are authorized under state law to the California State Lottery, provided that the Tribe will not offer such games through use of the Internet unless others in the state are permitted to do so under state and federal law.
(e) (sic - there is no (d)) Nothing herein shall be construed to preclude negotiation of a separate compact governing the conduct of off-track wagering at the Tribe's Gaming Facility.

For those of you interested, here is a link to the page containing all of California's tribal gaming compacts.

Note that the definition of "gaming device" appears to include things like electronic roulette and craps, even though "physical" versions of those games are not allowed (unless converted to card games).
Also, off-track betting on horse/mule (but not greyhound, especially as it is prohibited in California) racing is allowed in Tribal casinos, under separate specified conditions.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Correct me if I'm wrong, but...

(a) Doesn't each tribe have to specify what table games it can run in its Tribal Compact with the state?

(b) Aren't table games limited to card games (and Pai Gow with tiles), although I am under the impression that some casinos have gotten around this by modifying roulette and craps to have the numbers generated by cards?

Think of it as each Tribe acting as its own jurisdiction with the overall state as the higher up you need to answer to, if you become successful enough. The way it works as far as approval is gaining your gaming licenses and approval directly from the tribe that has agreed to run the game. Then if you ever do more than $25,000 of business with any individual tribe you need to then get licensed through the state commission(which is expensive, but at that point theoretically you are already profiting...)

I hope that answers your question.

My game will be launching January 6th at the Augustine...