86. Casino License–Disqualification Criteria. The commission shall deny a casino license to any applicant who is disqualified on the basis of any of the following criteria:

a. Failure of the applicant to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this act;

b. Failure of the applicant to provide information, documentation and assurances required by the act or requested by the commission or the division, or failure of the applicant to reveal any fact material to qualification, or the supplying of information which is untrue or misleading as to a material fact pertaining to the qualification criteria;

c. The conviction of the applicant, or of any person required to be qualified under this act as a condition of a casino license, of any offense in any jurisdiction which would be:

(1) Any of the following offenses under the “New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice,” P.L.1978, c.95 (Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes) as amended and supplemented:

all crimes of the first degree;

N.J.S.2C:5-1 (attempt to commit an offense which is listed in this subsection);

N.J.S.2C:5-2 (conspiracy to commit an offense which is listed in this subsection);

Subsection b. of N.J.S. 2C:11-4 (manslaughter);

N.J.S.2C:11-5 (vehicular homicide which constitutes a crime of the second degree);

Subsection b. of N.J.S. 2C:12-1 (aggravated assault which constitutes a crime of the second or third degree);

N.J.S.2C:13-1 (kidnapping);

N.J.S.2C:14-1 et seq. (sexual offenses which constitute crimes of the second or third degree);

N.J.S.2C:15-1 (robberies);

Subsections a. and b. of N.J.S. 2C:17-1 (crimes involving arson and related offenses);

Subsections a. and b. of N.J.S. 2C:17-2 (causing or risking widespread injury or damage);

N.J.S.2C:18-2 (burglary which constitutes a crime of the second or third degree);

N.J.S.2C:20-1 et seq. (theft and related offenses which constitute crimes of the second or third degree);

N.J.S.2C:21-1 et seq. (forgery and fraudulent practices which constitute crimes of the second or third degree);

N.J.S.2C:24-4 (endangering the welfare of a child);

N.J.S.2C:27-1 et seq. (bribery and corrupt influence);

N.J.S.2C:28-1 et seq. (perjury and other falsification in official matters which constitute crimes of the second, third or fourth degree);

N.J.S.2C:30-2 and N.J.S. 2C:30-3 (misconduct in office and abuse in office which constitutes a crime of the second degree);

N.J.S.2C:35-5 (manufacturing, distributing or dispensing a controlled dangerous substance or a controlled dangerous substance analog which constitutes a crime of the second or third degree);

N.J.S.2C:35-6 (employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme);

N.J.S.2C:35-7 (distributing, dispensing or possessing a controlled dangerous substance or a controlled substance analog on or within 1,000 feet of school property or bus);

P.L.1997, c.327 (C. 2C:35-7.1) (distributing, dispensing or possessing a controlled dangerous substance or a controlled substance analog in proximity to public housing facilities, parks or buildings);

N.J.S.2C:35-11 (distribution, possession or manufacture of imitation controlled dangerous substances);

N.J.S.2C:35-13 (acquisition of controlled dangerous substances by fraud);

N.J.S.2C:37-1 et seq. (gambling offenses which constitute crimes of the third or fourth degree);

N.J.S.2C:37-7 (possession of a gambling device);

Any second degree racketeering crime under Chapter 41 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; or

(2) Any of the following offenses under the “Casino Control Act,” P.L.1977, c.110 (C. 5:12-1 et seq.):

P.L.1977, c.110, s.113 (C. 5:12-113) (swindling and cheating);

P.L.1991, c.182, s.46 (C. 5:12-113.1) (use of device to gain advantage at casino game);

P.L.1977, c.110, s.114 (C. 5:12-114) (unlawful use of bogus chips or gaming billets, marked cards, dice, cheating devices, unlawful coins);

P.L.1977, c.110, s.115 (C. 5:12-115) (cheating games and devices in a licensed casino); or

P.L.1977, c.110, s.116 (C. 5:12-116) (unlawful possession of device, equipment or other material illegally manufactured, distributed, sold or delivered); or

(3) Any other offense under present New Jersey or federal law which indicates that licensure of the applicant would be inimical to the policy of this act and to casino operations; provided, however, that the automatic disqualification provisions of this subsection shall not apply with regard to any conviction which did not occur within the 10-year period immediately preceding application for licensure and which the applicant demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence does not justify automatic disqualification pursuant to this subsection and any conviction which has been the subject of a judicial order of expungement or sealing;

d. Current prosecution or pending charges in any jurisdiction of the applicant or of any person who is required to be qualified under this act as a condition of a casino license, for any of the offenses enumerated in subsection c. of this section; provided, however, that at the request of the applicant or the person charged, the commission shall defer decision upon such application during the pendency of such charge;

e. The pursuit by the applicant or any person who is required to be qualified under this act as a condition of a casino license of economic gain in an occupational manner or context which is in violation of the criminal or civil public policies of this State, if such pursuit creates a reasonable belief that the participation of such person in casino operations would be inimical to the policies of this act or to legalized gaming in this State. For purposes of this section, occupational manner or context shall be defined as the systematic planning, administration, management, or execution of an activity for financial gain;

f. The identification of the applicant or any person who is required to be qualified under this act as a condition of a casino license as a career offender or a member of a career offender cartel or an associate of a career offender or career offender cartel in such a manner which creates a reasonable belief that the association is of such a nature as to be inimical to the policy of this act and to gaming operations. For purposes of this section, career offender shall be defined as any person whose behavior is pursued in an occupational manner or context for the purpose of economic gain, utilizing such methods as are deemed criminal violations of the public policy of this State. A career offender cartel shall be defined as any group of persons who operate together as career offenders;

g. The commission by the applicant or any person who is required to be qualified under this act as a condition of a casino license of any act or acts which would constitute any offense under subsection c. of this section, even if such conduct has not been or may not be prosecuted under the criminal laws of this State or any other jurisdiction or has been prosecuted under the criminal laws of this State or any other jurisdiction and such prosecution has been terminated in a manner other than with a conviction;

h. Contumacious defiance by the applicant or any person who is required to be qualified under this act of any legislative investigatory body or other official investigatory body of any state or of the United States when such body is engaged in the investigation of crimes relating to gaming, official corruption, or organized crime activity; and

i. Failure by the applicant or any person required to be qualified under this act as a condition of a casino license to (i) make required payments in accordance with a child support order; (ii) repay an overpayment for food stamp benefits or low income home energy assistance benefits incurred as a former recipient of Capital Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Work First New Jersey; or (iii) repay any other debt owed to the State; unless such applicant provides proof to the director’s satisfaction of payment of or arrangement to pay any such debts prior to licensure.

L.1977, c.110, s.86; amended 1979, c.282, s.22; 1987, c.354, s.10; 1991, c.182, s.27; 2011, c.19, s.52.