Grant, duration and renewal of licence

(1) After reviewing an application made under section 6, the Board may grant to the applicant a gaming licence, if the Board is satisfied that– (a) the applicant and each associate of the applicant is a fit and proper person to be 16 concerned in or associated with the management or operation of a premises to be used for gaming; and (b) the applicant or any associate has not been convicted of a specified offence. (2) In determining whether an applicant or any associate of an applicant is a fit and proper person to be concerned in or associated with the management or operation of premises to be used for gaming, the Board may consider such of the following as it considers appropriate– (a) the applicant or associate is of good repute, having regard to his character, honesty and integrity; (b) the applicant or associate is of sound and stable financial background; (c) the applicant has, or has arranged, a satisfactory ownership structure; (d) the applicant holds or is able to obtain– (i) financial resources adequate to ensure the financial viability of the premises to be used for gaming; and (ii) the services of persons who have sufficient experience in the operation of the premises to be used for gaming; (e) the applicant has sufficient knowledge, experience and skills to successfully operate the premises to be used for gaming; (f) the applicant or associate has any business association with any person who, in the opinion of the Board, is not of good repute, having regard to the character, honesty and integrity of that person, or who has undesirable or unsatisfactory financial resources; (g) each director, partner, trustee, executive director, secretary and any other officer or person determined by the Board to be associated or connected with the ownership, administration or management of the premises to be used for gaming, or the operations or business of the applicant, is a suitable person to act in that capacity; (h) any person proposed to be engaged or appointed to manage or operate the premises to be used for gaming is a suitable person to act in that capacity; (i) any other matter that may be prescribed, or condition that may be imposed on the licence, will be fulfilled. (3) Every licence issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of twelve months but may be renewed on application by the licence holder in such form and containing such information as may be prescribed and– (a) on payment of such annual fee as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board by regulations made under this Act; and (b) if the Board remains satisfied that the requirements referred to in sub-section (2) are still met. (4) For the purposes of this section, “specified offence” is18 (a) an offence under this Act or the regulations; CAP. 109. (b) an offence under the Gambling Prevention Act or the regulations; CAP. 104. (c) an offence under the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act; CAP. 104. (d) an offence listed in the Schedule II to the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act; CAP. 101. (e) an offence under Part XI of the Criminal Code; (f) conspiracy to commit or attempting or aiding and abetting any offence referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e); or (g) in the case of a jurisdiction other than Belize, an offence under the laws of that jurisdiction which is analogous to those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f).