Gaming Employee State Certification Process

All prospective gaming employees must initiate the employee certification process through the casino's Tribal Gaming Office. Potential employees complete an application and pay the required $250.00 fee at the casino.  The TGO will forward the application and the fee to the Department of Gaming.

The Department will begin an intensive investigation into the background of the applicant upon receipt of the application.  The fingerprint cards are submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Within 20 days of receiving the completed application, the Department must decide whether or not to issue temporary certification to the applicant.  If temporarily certified, the applicant will be authorized to work in the gaming facility.  However, the background investigation will continue.

If the completed background investigation reveals nothing that would preclude the applicant, the Department will issue a State Certification and forward it to the TGO.  (Timeframes vary depending on the individual applicant.) If the background investigation reveals that the applicant is not suitable for State Certification, the Department will issue an intent to deny the application, which entitles the applicant to a hearing.

The Department will make a recommendation to the Tribe for a tribal member seeking employment at his or her Tribe's gaming facility as to whether the applicant should be licensed.  The Department's recommendation may or may not be accepted by the Tribe.  However, if the Tribe chooses not to accept a negative recommendation from the Department, the Department may request a Tribal Forum to make its case against the tribal member's employment.