Regulation
Ask any knowledgeable person about which type of business in Montana is
the most difficult to get into, and you might get several answers. But
certainly among them will be open pit mining and the gambling business.
While
Montana's gambling regulation is incredibly rigorous some would say
burdensome licensed operators do not dispute the importance and
legitimacy of the firm investigation, regulation and enforcement
practices employed by Montana gambling authorities.
The initial
application process itself is designed to weed out unsuitable or
unsavory characters early on, says Kati Kintli, one of the state's
leading private practitioners of liquor and gaming law.
"My
clients understand that liquor and gambling require close regulation.
They want their industry squeaky clean and above board," Kintli states.
"But they better have fortitude," she adds.
The cost of
regulation, licensing, tax collection and compliance is paid for by the
licensees through application fees and permit fees to the tune of over
$4 million a year.