21Grant of casino licence

21 Grant of casino licence (1) The Minister may invite applications for a licence (the casino licence) authorising the licensee to operate a casino in the ACT in accordance with this Act. (2) On application by a person under subsection (1), the Minister may grant or refuse to grant a casino licence to the person. (3) The Minister must not grant a casino licence to a person unless— (a) the person is a corporation; and (b) the person is— (i) if there is a casino lease—the casino lessee or a corporation nominated by the casino lessee; or (ii) in any other case—the owner of the casino or a corporation nominated by the owner of the casino; and (c) the person is an eligible person. (4) In deciding whether to grant a casino licence, the Minister must— (a) consider any recommendation made by the commission about the eligibility of a corporation nominated as the proposed casino licensee; and

Grant of casino licence Division 3.1 (b) consider any recommendation made by a casino advisory panel about the eligibility of a corporation nominated as the proposed casino licensee, including whether granting a casino licence to the proposed casino licensee is in the public interest; and (c) comply with any criteria prescribed by regulation in relation to the grant of the casino licence. (5) A regulation for subsection (4) (c) may prescribe matters relating to— (a) the control of any corporation affected by this Act; or (b) an influential person in relation to, or foreign participation in, the corporation.