1. (1) The legislature finds that for the purpose of ensuring the proper gambling environment in this state it is necessary and desirable to adopt a public policy regarding public gambling activities in Montana. The legislature therefore declares it is necessary to:

   1. (a) create and maintain a uniform regulatory climate that assures players, owners, tourists, citizens, and others that the gambling industry in this state is fair and is not influenced by corrupt persons, organizations, or practices;
   2. (b) protect legal public gambling activities from unscrupulous players and vendors and detrimental influences;
   3. (c) protect the public from unscrupulous proprietors and operators of gambling establishments, games, and devices;
   4. (d) protect the state and local governments from those who would conduct illegal gambling activities that deprive those governments of their tax revenues;
   5. (e) protect the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens of this state, including those who do not gamble, by regulating gambling activities; and
   6. (f) promote programs necessary to provide assistance to those who are adversely affected by legalized gambling, including compulsive gamblers and their families.
2. (2) The legislature adopts the policy that an applicant for a license or permit or other department approval under parts 1 through 8 of this chapter does not have a right to the issuance of a license or permit or the granting of the approval sought. The issuance of a license or permit issued or other department approval granted pursuant to the provisions of parts 1 through 8 of this chapter is a privilege revocable only for good cause. A holder does not acquire a vested right in the license or permit issued or other department approval granted. A license or permit issued under parts 1 through 8 of this chapter may not be sold, assigned, leased, or transferred.
3. (3) Revenue to fund the expense of administration and control of gambling as regulated by parts 1 through 8 of this chapter must be derived solely from fees, taxes, and penalties on gambling activities, except the gambling activities of the Montana state lottery and the parimutuel industry.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 642, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 398, L. 1993.