1. (1) For purposes of this rule the term “direct interest”:

   1. (a) Shall mean the owning or holding of capital stock or other ownership interest by the applicant for a business occupational license or by the applicant’s officers, directors, managers, employees, or ownership interest holders in a slot machine licensee, wide area progressive provider, or manufacturer or distributor of slot machines, slot machine software, or slot machine parts as defined in Chapter 551, F.S.

   2. (b) Shall not mean direct or indirect ownership or holding of an ownership interest, however evidenced, in a publicly or privately held mutual fund, equity investment fund, or other similar investment vehicle that owns or holds an ownership interest in any of the licensed entities referred to in paragraph (1)(a), provided that:

      1. The ownership interest such investment vehicle has in any of the entities or type of entities referred to in paragraph (1)(a), when considered separately, is less than five percent of the gross asset value of such investment vehicle; and,

      2. Investors in such investment vehicles acting individually have no control over management or investment decisions of the investment fund or similar investment vehicle.

2. (2) In addition to the requirements of Rule 75-14.006, F.A.C., an applicant for a business occupational license as an independent testing laboratory to test and technically evaluate slot machines, progressive systems, or facility based monitoring systems of a slot machine licensee shall meet the following criteria:

   1. (a) Hold current licensure, current certification to test, or a current contract in good standing with a gaming regulator in at least five jurisdictions in which electronic gaming devices are authorized;
   2. (b) Have no contract with a state or other gaming jurisdiction that has been cancelled, suspended, or not renewed for in any way failing to provide adequate testing of slot machines or facility based monitoring systems, or other similar systems for control of slot machine gaming; and,

   3. (c) Have no direct ownership interest, either by itself or by its officers, directors, managers, employees, or ownership interest holders in any of the following, nor shall any of the following own any interest in an applicant:

      1. A slot machine licensee,

      2. Any business owned by a slot machine licensee,

      3. A manufacturer or distributor of slot machines, slot machine software, or slot machine parts; and,

      4. A wide area progressive provider.

3. (3) An applicant for a license or renewal of such license as an independent testing laboratory of slot machines or any equipment necessary for the operation of slot machines shall include with its application an affidavit attesting that the applicant, its officers, directors, managers, and employees have no direct interest in:

   1. (a) A slot machine licensee;
   2. (b) Any business owned by a slot machine licensee;
   3. (c) A manufacturer or distributor of slot machines, slot machine software, or slot machine parts, or
   4. (d) A wide area progressive provider.

4. (4) An independent testing laboratory seeking a business occupational license or renewal shall provide the following information as part of its application:

   1. (a) The name of each person employed or with whom it has a contract related to slot machine gaming; and,
   2. (b) The job title, license number, and state of licensure of each person listed.

Rulemaking Authority 551.103(1), 551.122 FS. Law Implemented 551.103(1)(a), (b), (c), 551.107, 551.108 FS. History–New 6-25-06, Amended 6-21-10, 8-14-11, Formerly 61D-14.007.