BASIS AND PURPOSE FOR RULE 10
The purpose of Rule 10 is to establish procedures and articulate grounds for disciplinary actions and informal resolution of allegations of violations of the provisions of article 30 of title 44 C.R.S., or any Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant to such article, to provide procedures to impose sanctions for violations, and to provide for certain conditions to be met for reissuance of licenses to persons who formerly held a license. The statutory basis for Rule 10 is found in sections 44-30-201, C.R.S., 44-30-202, C.R.S., 44-30-203, C.R.S., 44-30-302, C.R.S., 44-30-504, C.R.S., 44-30-523, C.R.S., 44-30-524, C.R.S., 24-4-104, C.R.S. and part 15 of article 30 of title 44, C.R.S.
The Commission may levy a monetary penalty or may suspend or revoke, any license issued by it or the Director for any violations by the person holding the license, or such licensee's employees or agents, of any of the provisions of article 30 of title 44, C.R.S., or any of the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder. Acceptance of a state sports betting license or renewal thereof by a licensee constitutes an agreement on the part of the licensee to be bound by all the Regulations of the Commission as the same now are or may hereafter be amended or promulgated. It is the responsibility of the licensee to keep the licensee self-informed of the content of all such Regulations, and ignorance thereof will not excuse violations.
Any person claiming that a licensee has engaged or is engaging in conduct constituting grounds for disciplinary action may file with the Director a sworn written complaint stating the name and address of the licensee complained against. The complaint must fully detail the conduct, alleged to violate a specified sports betting statute or regulation or other legal requirement, upon which the complaint is made. If the Director determines the complaint has merit, the Director must immediately serve by first class mail on the licensee complained against and any other affected parties a copy of the complaint. The licensee complained against has 20 days to answer after service of the complaint on the licensee, which answer shall be filed with the Director, on behalf of the Division and the Commission. The Director may reject a complaint if it does not meet the requirements of this section. If the licensee answers the complaint, the licensee must serve an original and one (1) copy.
After receipt of the answer to the complaint, after the time has expired to answer, or after having determined that no answer is necessary, the Director must examine the complaint, any answer, and other supporting documents to determine whether the complaint has merit or is frivolous or whether it charges conduct constituting grounds for disciplinary action. If the Director determines that the complaint is without merit or is frivolous or that it does not charge conduct constituting grounds for disciplinary action, the Director must dismiss the complaint and notify in writing the complainant, the licensee complained against, and other affected parties, stating the reasons for dismissal. The Director may investigate the complaint and use extrinsic evidence to determine if the complaint has merit.
If the Director considers the citizen complaint, or any other allegations, to be grounds for disciplinary action, the Director may consult with the licensee and the parties affected in an effort to resolve the matter satisfactorily without a formal hearing. The Director must notify in writing the complainant, the licensee complained against, and affected parties of the results of the informal consultation. The informal consultation does not prevent the Commission from conducting a formal hearing.
The Director may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance regarding any act or practice alleged to violate article 30 of title 44, C.R.S., or the Rules and Regulations thereunder, from a person who has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in such acts or practices. The assurance must be in writing and may include a stipulation for the voluntary payment of the costs of the investigation and an amount necessary to restore to a person money or property which may have been acquired by the alleged violator because of the acts or practices. An assurance of voluntary compliance may not be considered an admission of a violation for any purpose; however, proof of failure to comply with the assurance of voluntary compliance is prima facie evidence of a violation of article 30 of title 44, C.R.S., or the Rules and Regulation thereunder. The Commission may approve or review an assurance of voluntary compliance.
At any time during the review and investigation of a citizen complaint, the Director or the Commission may decide to initiate formal disciplinary proceedings where grounds exist to sustain their initiation.
The Commission may revoke or suspend the sports betting license of any person who is convicted of a crime, even though the convicted person's post-conviction rights and remedies have not been exhausted, if the crime or conviction involves a felony, gambling, or sports betting or if it discredits or tends to discredit the State of Colorado, sports betting or gaming industry.
The charge in any jurisdiction of a licensee with a felony or with a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude is grounds for disciplinary action. The Commission may find the licensee guilty of a violation of this article based on the facts of the criminal charge even though the licensee has been acquitted on the criminal charge.
The Commission may authorize per diem and mileage for complainants, witnesses, and affected parties at informal consultations and for complainants and witnesses at formal hearings. The per diem and the mileage may not exceed the amounts authorized by laws generally applicable to state disciplinary proceedings.
After hearing the evidence and reaching a decision in connection with any disciplinary proceeding, the Commission may find the licensee not guilty of any of the grounds alleged for disciplinary action; in which event the disciplinary proceedings shall be terminated. The Commission may, however, find the licensee guilty by a preponderance of the evidence of some or all of the grounds alleged for disciplinary action; in which event the Commission may revoke the license, may suspend the license for a particular period of time, may impose a monetary penalty as provided in section 44-30-524(1), C.R.S., may issue a public or private letter of reprimand to be placed in the file of the licensee, or may take any combination of these actions. This section does not prevent the Commission from compromising or settling at any time a formal hearing, and the Commission may also allow an assurance of voluntary compliance. Written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order must be entered before any decision of the Commission to suspend or revoke a license shall be considered final. The Commission may allow or require briefs of law before making any decision.
The Director or designee must have delivered a notice of summary suspension personally or by mail to the licensee who has been suspended. The notice must state when the suspension will begin and end and must state the reasons for the suspension.
The Director must have served upon the summarily suspended licensee a formal notice initiating disciplinary proceedings and a notice of hearing within five (5) days after receipt by the licensee of the notice of summary suspension. The notice initiating disciplinary proceedings and the notice of hearing may be issued by the Director without prior Commission approval. The Commission shall hear the matter on an expedited basis, but in no event later than 30 days after the imposition of the summary suspension unless such licensee has requested a later date pursuant to regulation 10.12 (2).
The Commission or Director may require a person who formerly held a license to meet certain conditions before reissuing a license to that person, including but not limited to the following:
1 CCR 207-2-10