Public Safety

Gambling & Alcohol Enforcement

Statewide Outcome(s):

Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement supports the following statewide outcome(s).

People in Minnesota are safe.

Context:

Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement protects and serves the public through the uniform interpretation and enforcement of the state’s liquor and gambling laws and rules. The division acts to maintain stability and integrity in the alcoholic beverage and gaming industry through management of licensing, education, enforcement and regulation.

The division addresses the licensing, sales, importation, manufacture and distribution of alcohol throughout Minnesota. It also addresses issues related to lawful gaming, illegal gambling, and other gambling related crimes. In addition, the division is responsible for licensing of gambling device distributors and manufacturers, background investigations for state and tribal entities, and the monitoring of tribal gaming as it relates to the compacts.

Primary customers include the entire alcohol and gambling industries and their associations, local and federal units of government, and other state, local and federal agencies. Additional customers include alcohol consumers, and citizens that engage in gambling activities.

Sources of funding include general fund appropriations, special revenue funds generated from the Indian Nation Compacts, criminal background check fees, and gambling forfeitures.

Strategies:

·         Enforce laws related to lawful and illegal gambling to stop and prevent further criminal activity, and to prevent further financial loss to victims.

·         Provide consistent enforcement and regulation of the alcohol industry to ensure safe manufacturing, importation, distribution and sales of alcohol.

·         Provide training, information, assistance and education to industry and government officials, other law enforcement entities, and gaming regulators, to increase safety and compliance in the alcohol and gaming industries.

·         Efficiently issue, approve, and certify, over 20,000 liquor licenses and 57,000 brand label registrations while maintaining and ensuring integrity in the alcoholic beverage industry.

·         Perform background investigations and criminal history checks to ensure state gaming licensees, contractors and vendors are legitimate and operate within the law.

·         Review tribal audits, provide background and criminal history checks for tribal entities, monitor and conduct inspections of Class III games, and work in collaboration with federal and tribal governments, to ensure the integrity of Indian gaming within Minnesota.

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Results:

·         Theft and/or mismanagement of charitable gambling funds have declined dramatically.

·         Voluntary compliance and the integrity of the alcohol industry is increasing.

·         Brand label registrations are reviewed for product safety and efficiently processed to ensure rapid product distribution for our primary customers.

·         Our efficiency in completing criminal history checks allows our customers to more quickly process employment and licensing applications, and prevents disqualified applicants from entering the alcohol and gaming industries.

Performance Measures Notes:

*Despite the increase in number of liquor licenses issued and the continuous growth in the alcohol industry, complaints have continued to decline and inquiries have continued to increase suggesting better voluntary compliance and continued integrity in the alcohol industry.

**Processes improved due to a Lean Kaizen efficiency improvement approach.