| |
 |
The exterior of the Gold Rush Casino and Restaurant and Galena Lounge in Uptown Butte. |
A number of laws and rules dictate who can and who can't be owners of Montana's businesses licensed for gaming or liquor sales.
A licensee must be a resident of the state. They live and work and participate in our communities and in our clubs, organizations and institutions.
They must be of good character, and that is ascertained by thorough investigations into a license applicant's background and their sources of funding.
A person can only own one all-beverage liquor license so our licensed businesses are in essence owned by single individuals. Even owners of a company that owns a number of beer and wine licenses with gambling privileges must be state residents.
These owners generally work long, hard hours as their businesses may be open 18 hours a day; some are open 24-hours a day and still others are open 365 days a year.
And the work is not easy: they must be bartenders, stock clerks, cooks, waiters, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and repairmen, personnel directors, bookkeepers and accountants, purchasing agents, entertainment booking agents... Truly, they are Jacks (and Jills) of all trades.
They are grandparents and parents. They are snowmobilers and hunters and golfers. They are recreational shoppers and concert go-ers and readers. They worship on Sunday, coach Little League, serve in the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis or the Rotary. They collect classic cars and play rock guitar. They may hold second jobs or run the family ranch or farm on the side. They may employ you or a relative of yours.
They are your neighbors and friends. They live right next door. And like the true Montanans they are, they can be counted on to extend a helping when it's needed.
They are good and decent people who deserve a chance to make a decent living, raise and educate their kids, build a retirement nest-egg. They deserve a chance to operate their small businesses in a fair and consistent regulatory and business environment.
Source: Cole Boehler, editor and publisher, the Montana Tavern Times. |
|
