(a)
(1) All casino service industries offering goods or services which directly relate to casino or gaming activity, including gaming, internet gaming and internet gambling and simulcast wagering equipment manufacturers, suppliers and repairers, schools teaching gaming and either playing or dealing techniques, and casino security services, shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter prior to conducting any business whatsoever with a casino applicant or licensee, its employees or agents, and in the case of a school, prior to enrollment of any students or offering of any courses to the public whether for compensation or not; provided, however, that upon a showing of good cause by a casino applicant or licensee for each business transaction, the Commission may permit an applicant for a casino service industry license to conduct business transactions with such casino applicant or licensee prior to the licensure of that service industry applicant under this subsection.
(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, any casino service industry intending to manufacture, sell, distribute or repair slot machines within the Virgin Islands, other than slot machines manufactured prior to 1941 shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter prior to engaging in any such activities; provided, however, that upon a showing of good cause by a casino applicant or licensee for each business transaction, the Commission may permit an applicant for a casino service industry license to conduct business transactions with the casino applicant or licensee prior to the licensure of that service industry applicant under this subsection; and provided further, however, that upon a showing of good cause by an applicant required to be licensed as a casino service industry pursuant to this paragraph, the Commission may permit the service industry applicant to initiate the manufacture of slot machines or engage in the sale, distribution or repair of slot machines with any person other than a casino applicant or licensee, its employees or agents, prior to the licensure of that service industry applicant under this subsection.
(b) Each casino service industry in subsection (a) of this section, as well as its owners, management and supervisory personnel and other principal employees must qualify under the standards, except residency, established for qualification of a casino key employee under this chapter. In addition, if the business or enterprise is a school teaching gaming and either playing or dealing techniques, each resident director, instructor, principal employee, and sales representative employed thereby shall be licensed under the standards established for qualification of a casino employee under this chapter; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to require, in the case of a public school district or a public institution of higher education, the licensure or qualification of any individuals except those instructors and other principal employees responsible for teaching of playing or dealing techniques. The Commission, in its discretion, may issue a temporary license to an applicant for an instructor's license upon a finding that the applicant meets the educational and experiential requirements for such license, that the issuance of a permanent license will be restricted by necessary investigations, and that temporary licensing is necessary for the operation of the gaming school. Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to this chapter, a temporary license issued pursuant to this subsection shall expire six months from the date of its issuance and be renewable, at the discretion of the Commission, for one additional six-month period.
(c) All casino service industries not included in subsection (a) of this section shall be licensed in accordance with rules of the Commission prior to commencement or continuation of any business with a casino applicant or licensee or its employees or agents. Such casino service industries, whether or not directly related to gaming operations, shall include suppliers of alcoholic beverages, food and nonalcoholic beverages; garbage handlers; vending machine providers; linen suppliers; maintenance companies; shopkeepers located within the approved hotels; limousine services and construction companies contracting with casino applicants or licensees or their employees or agents. The Commission may exempt any person or field of commerce from the licensing requirements of this subsection if the person or field of commerce demonstrates (1) that it is regulated by a public agency or that it will provide goods or services in insubstantial or insignificant amounts or quantities, and (2) that licensing is not deemed necessary in order to protect the public interest or to accomplish the policies established by this chapter. Upon granting an exemption or at any time thereafter, the Commission may limit or place such restrictions thereupon as it may deem necessary in the public interest, and shall require the exempted person to cooperate with the Commission and the Division and, upon request, to provide information in the same manner as required of a casino service industry licensed pursuant to this subsection; provided, however, that no exemption be granted unless the casino service industry complies with the requirements of sections 506 and 507 of this title.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, those casino service industry license applicants, who at the time of application for a license to operate a hotel/casino service industry in the Virgin Islands, are holders of a casino service industry license from another regulated casino jurisdiction in the United States, and who present verified and certified documentation from that jurisdiction that they are a licensee in good standing for two consecutive years prior to the application to operate a hotel/casino service industry in the Virgin Islands, may be deemed to be eligible for licensure in accordance with the above provisions of this section, provided that the requirements of subsection (e) and all other applicable local requirements for licensure are met.
(e) Licensure pursuant to subsection (c) of this section of any casino service industry may be denied to any applicant disqualified in accordance with the criteria contained in section 438 of this title.