License Name
California Tribal Gaming License
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Issuing Country/Region
United States / California
Regulatory Body
California Gambling Control Commission and Tribal Gaming Commissions
Types of Regulated Games
Class III casino games (slot machines, table games, poker, bingo), limited sports betting and lottery per compact
Market Coverage
Local (California Tribal Lands only)
Regulator's Reputation
Very Good
Legal Entity Requirements
License issued only to federally recognized tribal governments
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
Tribal regulatory agencies perform background checks; FBI and state also involved for key individuals
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
Subject to federal AML laws including Bank Secrecy Act; tribal casinos must have internal AML policies and file reports
Reporting Requirements
Mandatory compliance reporting to state and tribal authorities; frequency per compact terms
Audit Requirements
Annual independent auditing required; random audit by state also possible
Software Certification Requirements
Gaming devices must be certified by an independent test lab authorized by the state and tribal gaming agency
RNG Certification
Random number generators for slots and table games must be tested and certified
Server Location Requirements
Gaming servers must be located on tribal land
Legal Compliance Costs
Compliance costs depend on compact terms and gaming volume; regulatory fees specified in each compact
Background Checks
Mandatory FBI, state, and tribal background checks for key employees and vendors
License Scope Restrictions
License covers only Class III gaming on tribal land, with device and revenue share limits per compact
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
Tribes share gaming revenue with the state as stipulated by compact; no state tax, revenue share fund contributions
Player Data Storage Requirements
Sensitive player data must be securely stored according to federal and state standards
Compliance Officer Requirement
Tribal Gaming Commission acts as compliance authority for each casino
Local Partnership Requirements
License granted solely to tribal governments, not external corporate entities
Legal Dispute Resolution
Disputes addressed per tribal-state compact terms, often involving federal courts
License Transferability
License is non-transferable; applies to individual tribes only
Sub-Licensing Rules
No sub-licensing permitted
License Cost
Regulatory and application fees vary by tribal-state compact; often include device-based fees and fund contributions
Annual Fees
Annual fees tied to number of devices and revenue; paid to state and tribal regulatory bodies
Income Taxes
No state income tax on tribal gaming; tribal government shares revenue per compact terms
Player Winnings Taxes
Federal tax withholding applies when above IRS thresholds; casinos issue W-2G forms as required
Financial Reporting Requirements
Annual audited financial statements required; periodic financial reports per compact
Application Processing Time
Typically several months; background check duration varies
Required Documents
Government ID, pending job offer (for individuals), company paperwork for vendors, disclosure forms, fingerprints
Business Plan Requirements
Tribes must submit gaming plan to state and obtain compact approval
Internal Policy Requirements
Written policies for AML, KYC, responsible gaming required by regulatory bodies
Testing Requirements
All gaming equipment must be tested by approved independent test labs
Certification Requirements
Software and slot machines certified by recognized test labs
Physical Office Requirements
All operational activities and gaming servers must be located on tribal land
Marketing Restrictions
Must include responsible gaming messaging and helpline; no false/misleading claims
Responsible Gaming Measures
Required to fund state programs; responsible gaming materials and helpline on site
Self-Exclusion System
Must honor state self-exclusion lists and offer on-premise exclusion programs
Age Verification Procedures
Strict 21+ age limit, verified at entry
KYC Procedures
Customer identification at major payout or IRS reporting thresholds
Customer Support Standards
Multilingual support usually available at major tribal casinos
Complaint Handling Procedures
Player complaints handled by tribal commission, with appeal rights per compact
Player Funds Protection
Tribal compacts require secure handling; player balances segregated from operating funds
Permitted Games List
Casino-style games per Class III compact—slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, some lottery; sports betting limited
Betting Limits
Per compact and tribal casino rules; maximum set by each tribe
RTP Requirements
Minimum return-to-player and payout schedule as required by NIGC minimum internal control standards
Jackpot Regulations
Must comply with compact and federal rules; winnings subject to reporting
Live Game Requirements
Allowed per compact, subject to in-person regulation
Mobile App Compliance
Mobile gaming on-premise only, per compact; remote gaming not authorized
Security Standards
Security and surveillance procedures must comply with federal and compact requirements; NIGC MICS
Encryption Requirements
Sensitive data is transmitted and stored securely; encryption required
Backup Requirements
Data and systems must have redundancy and regular backup per regulation
Monitoring Systems
Real-time operation and compliance monitoring by tribal regulator
Operation Logging
Event logs maintained for sensitive gaming transactions
Anti-Fraud Systems
Standard anti-fraud detection and reporting systems required
Hosting Requirements
Servers must be physically located on tribal lands
Uptime Requirements
High service availability; monitored by tribal and state authorities
Technical Support Availability
24/7 technical support at major operations
License Duration
Compact terms typically 20 years; licensing within that period is renewable
Renewal Procedure
Regular renewal required, with updated documentation and background checks
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Significant fines, suspension, or revocation of gaming operations for violations
Ownership Change Rules
Any change in tribal casino management is subject to new suitability review
Staff Training Requirements
Ongoing training in responsible gaming, security, and compliance per compact
Official Address
California Gambling Control Commission, 2399 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95833, United States
Fax Number
(916) 263-0499
Work Hours
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Facebook URL
https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaGamblingControlCommission
Twitter/X URL
https://twitter.com/cagccommission
Departments
Licensing, Compliance, Legal, Administration, Audit, Information Technology, Enforcement
FAQ Question 1
What is California Tribal Gaming License?
FAQ Answer 1
The California Tribal Gaming License authorizes federally recognized tribes in California to operate regulated casino-style gaming under compacts with the state.
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues California Tribal Gaming License?
FAQ Answer 2
The license is issued by federally recognized California tribal governments in coordination with the California Gambling Control Commission.
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining California Tribal Gaming License?
FAQ Answer 3
License costs include regulatory and application fees, annual fees based on number of gaming devices, and revenue sharing as set in the tribal-state compact.
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for California Tribal Gaming License?
FAQ Answer 4
Main requirements are federal tribal recognition, state-tribal gaming compact, background checks, independent device certification, AML compliance, and regular audits.