What you need to know

• Vendors must be licensed or registered by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission prior to conducting business with a gaming establishment or sports wagering operator.
• The purpose of the licensing and registration process is to ensure that those doing business with the gaming and sports wagering industries meet the statutory requirements of good character, honesty and integrity.
• Casino vendor licensing and registration falls into three categories: Non-Gaming Vendor, Gaming Vendor – Secondary, and Gaming Vendor – Primary
• Sports Wagering Vendor licensing falls into two categories: Sports Wagering Vendor and Sports Wagering Registrant.

Non-Gaming Vendor

A Non-Gaming Vendor is a business that offers to a gaming establishment or gaming licensee goods and/or services which are not directly related to gaming.

Some examples of Non-Gaming Vendors are: food purveyors, linen suppliers, garbage handlers, limousine service companies, and suppliers of alcoholic beverages.

Prior to conducting business with a Massachusetts casino, Non-Gaming Vendors must submit:

1. Non-Gaming Vendor Registration Form
2. Statement of Business Relationship from the casino
3. Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue
4. Articles of Incorporation from the business
5. $100 Registration Fee payable to Commonwealth of Massachusetts
6. Diversity Certification if applicable

Once a registration issues, it is valid for a period of five years and must be renewed at least 30 days prior to expiration.

Gaming Vendor – Secondary

After a Non-Gaming Vendor registration issues, the Commission may later designate a vendor that regularly conducts significant business with a gaming establishment as a Gaming Vendor – Secondary.

Gaming Vendors – Secondary must participate in a scope of licensing discussion with MGC staff to determine which individuals and affiliated entities of the business must qualify. Then, the following application materials must be submitted:

• B.E.D. Disclosure Form – Gaming Vendor – Secondary
• Gaming Employee License Form (for Natural Person Qualifiers)
• Subcontractor Information Form
• Veteran Business Enterprise Form 
• Waiver for Institutional Investors – Gaming Vendors Form
• Waiver for Qualifiers

Gaming Vendor – Primary

A person who conducts business with a gaming establishment which directly relates to gaming as defined by M.G.L. c. 23K, § 2, including, but not limited to a person who manufactures, sells, leases, supplies or distributes devices, machines, equipment designed for use in the gaming area, for use in simulcast wagering, used in connection with a gaming or have the capacity to affect the calculation, storage, collection, electronic security on control of gaming revenues from a gaming establishment must submit an application for a Gaming Vendor – Primary license.

To initiate the process of becoming a Gaming Vendor – Primary, an applicant must first submit a Letter of Intent indicating which gaming licensee the applicant intends to work with. MGC requires applicants for a Gaming Vendor license to first have an initial “scope of licensing” discussion with MGC staff to determine which individuals and affiliated entities are required to qualify for licensure. Interested parties are required to contact the Division of Licensing at mgcvendorlicensing@massgaming.gov to initiate this discussion. This step must occur before submission of the following application materials:

• B.E.D. Disclosure Form – Gaming Vendor – Primary
• Key Gaming Employee Standard Form (for Natural Person Qualifiers)
• Subcontractor Information Form
• Veteran Business Enterprise Form
• Waiver for Qualifiers
• Waiver for Institutional Investors – Vendors Form
• Commonwealth Terms and Conditions
• W-9

Please note that an application for licensure will not be accepted and processed without the appropriate application fee. Application fees are non-refundable. Once an application is accepted by the Commission, it becomes property of the Commission and may not be withdrawn without permission of the Commission.

Temporary Licensing

Because the background investigative process for gaming vendors can be lengthy, a temporary licensing process is available for gaming vendors. In order to obtain a temporary license, vendors must first file a completed application. Second, the gaming establishment must file a written petition requesting that a temporary (six months) license issue to the vendor. At least two to four weeks are needed after the application is complete and the petition is filed for the background investigation of the vendor before a temporary license will issue.

Sports Wagering Vendor

A person or entity who conducts business with a sports wagering operator and provides goods or services which directly relate to sports wagering as defined by 205 CMR 202 must be licensed as a Sports Wagering Vendor. Such goods and services include, but are not limited to: platform design, operation, and maintenance; lines and odds setting; risk management; geolocation; customer verification; integrity monitoring; sports betting kiosks; and sportsbook data.

To initiate the process of becoming a Sports Wagering Vendor, an applicant must first either have, or be in the process of finalizing, a relationship with a Sports Wagering Operator. Then the Vendor Applicant must submit a Scoping Survey so that MGC staff may determine which individuals and affiliated entities are required to qualify for licensure. Interested parties should send the Scoping Survey to the Division of Licensing at mgcvendorlicensing@massgaming.gov to initiate this discussion. This step must occur before submission of any application materials.

• Scoping Survey
• B.E.D. Disclosure Form – Gaming Vendor – Primary
• Vendor Attestation Regarding Suitability
• Key Gaming Employee Standard Form (for Natural Person Qualifiers)
• Subcontractor Information Form
• Waiver for Qualifiers
• Waiver for Institutional Investors – Vendors Form
• Commonwealth Terms and Conditions
• W-9

Please be advised that these forms were originally generated as part of the casino (gaming) licensing process and have been repurposed for sports wagering. Please interpret any reference to a Gaming License as a reference to a Sports Wagering License.

Sports Wagering Registrant

Any person or entity who conducts business with a Sports Wagering Operator or Sports Wagering Vendor that does not meet the definition of “Sports Wagering Vendor” may be required to apply for a Sports Wagering Registration. These businesses should complete a “Request for Determination on Sports Wagering Registration” form and submit it to mgcvendorlicensing@massgaming.gov.

Marketing affiliates, data centers, and payment processors must submit a Sports Wagering Registration Form and application fee, and do not need to submit a Request for Determination form.

• Request for Determination on Sports Wagering Registration
• Sports Wagering Registration Form
• Confirmation of Business Relationship from the Operator
• Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, or a letter indicating that the entity is not a business with Massachusetts taxable income, and is not filing other Massachusetts taxes on a regular basis.
• Articles of Incorporation from the business
• $5,000 Registration Fee payable to Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Diversity Certification, if applicable

Renewals

For information regarding the renewal process, please contact the Division of Licensing at 617.979.8400, or mgcvendorlicensing@massgaming.gov

Duty of disclosure

During the term of registration or licensure, vendors are required to update MGC about any financial or legal matters which may impact their suitability.

A registration or license may be subsequently revoked if it is deemed that the applicant is disqualified or unsuitable.

Diverse business enterprises

Casinos have established goals for doing business with certified Minority, Veteran, and Women Business Enterprises. Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) can receive certification from The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council. Veteran Business Enterprises (VBE) can receive certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Women Business Enterprises (WBE) can receive certification from either The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council or Center for Women & Enterprise.

Additionally, any business can get diversity certification from the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office.