National News
Elaborate background checks underway for Sullivan casino license
March 30, 2015 posted by Steve Brownstein
Sullivan County waited nearly a half century for a casino, but folks in the show-me county are already wondering what’s taking so long for the state to issue a license to the Montreign Resort Casino at Adelaar.
Never mind that it’s only been three months since the state chose Montreign – or that the Gaming Commission has to complete background checks on the people and businesses behind the casino at the old Concord Resort property outside Monticello.
Some folks are getting antsy - especially because, they say, the team behind Montreign has already gone through those checks, since they own the Monticello Raceway and Casino.
It turns out, three months is just a drop in the background-check bucket, according to a casino industry expert who’s conducted those checks for New Jersey and his current company, Spectrum Gaming.
“Three months certainly isn’t unreasonable. Six to nine months is certainly the norm, and New Jersey, it can take nine to 15 months,” says Fredric Gushin, managing director of Spectrum, who for 13 years was the assistant director and assistant attorney general for the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
A spokesman for the New York State Gaming Commission would only say “we’re moving as expeditiously as possible.”
Gushin notes that many background checks are based on a form from the International Association of Gaming Regulators.
A quick glimpse at the 66-page form for individuals reveals just how thorough the investigation may be.
Not only do you have to say whether you’re known by any other names – such as maiden, aliases, nicknames – you also have to list and show your scars and tattoos.
If you’ve been married more than once, you have to name your former spouses – and your former in-laws, with all their addresses – along with providing divorce records.
If you’ve ever applied for a license to promote boxing, fly a plane or race horses or dogs, you’ve got to provide it.
Ever been a party to a lawsuit? Got a loan of more than $25,000? Handled more than $10,000 in cash?
The state wants to know.