Title 32 V.I.C. § 404. Creation of Casino Control Commission; number of members 

The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission, consisting of six members, is hereby created as an independent agency of the executive branch of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, whose budget shall be approved annually by the Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. 

Title 32 V.I.C. § 405 Members of the Commission; qualifications and eligibility

(a) Each member of the Commission shall be a citizen of the United States and a bona fide resident of the United States Virgin Islands. Four shall be residents of St. Croix, one shall be a resident of St. Thomas/St. John district.

(b) No member of the Legislature, or person holding any elective or appointive office in the federal or territorial government shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Commission.

(c) No more than three members of the Commission may be of the same political affiliation.

Title 32 V.I.C. § 406. Appointment and terms of Commission members

(c) After the initial appointments, all members shall be appointed for terms of five (5) years; provided, however, that no member shall serve more than two consecutive five year terms. 

(d) Appointments to the Commission and designation of the chairman shall be made by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. Prior to nomination, the Governor shall cause an inquiry to be conducted by the Attorney General into the nominee's background, with particular regard to the nominee's financial stability, integrity, and responsibility and his reputation for good character, honesty, and integrity. 

(e) Appointments to fill vacancies on the Commission shall be for the unexpired term of the member to be replaced. 

(f) The member designated by the Governor to serve as chairman shall serve in such capacity throughout such member's entire term and until his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified. No such member, however, shall serve in such capacity for more than ten (10) years. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Commission. All members shall devote full time to their duties of office and shall not pursue or engage in any other business, occupation or other gainful employment. 

(g) A Commissioner may be removed from office for misconduct in office, willful neglect of duty, or other conduct evidencing unfitness for this office, or for incompetence. A proceeding for removal may be instituted by the Attorney General in the Superior Court. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other law, any Commissioner or employee of the Commission shall automatically forfeit his office or position upon conviction of a crime under the laws of the territory, any state or of the United States, which is punishable by more than six (6) months in prison, or any crime or offense involving moral turpitude. Each Commissioner or employee of the Commission shall be subject to the duty to appear and testify and to removal from his office, position or employment in accordance with the provisions of Title 3, chapter 25 of this Code. 

(h) Each member of the Commission shall serve for the duration of his term and until his successor shall be duly appointed and qualified, subject to the limitations in subsections (c) and (f) of this section; provided, however, that in the event that a successor is not duly appointed and qualified within 120 days after the expiration of the member's term, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist. 

Title 32 V.I.C. § 415. Duties of the Commission 

The Casino Control Commission shall have general responsibility for the implementation of this chapter, as hereinafter provided, including, without limitation, the responsibility: 

(a) To hear and decide promptly and in reasonable order all license, registration, certificate, and permit applications and causes affecting the granting, suspension, revocation, or renewal thereof; 

(b) To conduct all hearings pertaining to civil violations of this chapter or regulations promulgated hereunder; 

(c) To promulgate such regulations as in its judgment may be necessary to fulfill the policies of this chapter; 

(d) To collect all license and registration fees and taxes imposed by this chapter and the regulations issued pursuant thereto; 

(e) To levy and collect penalties for the violations of provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder; 

(f) To be present through its inspectors and agents at all times during the operation of any casino or simulcasting facility for the purpose of certifying the revenue thereof, receiving complaints from the public relating to the conduct of gaming and simulcast wagering operations, examining records of revenues and procedures, and conducting periodic reviews of operations and facilities for the purpose of evaluating current or suggested provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated thereunder; 

(g) To refer to the Division for investigation and prosecution any evidence of a violation of this chapter or the regulations promulgated thereunder; and 

(h) To review and rule upon any complaint by a casino licensee regarding any investigative procedures of the Division which are unnecessarily disruptive of casino or simulcasting facility operations. The need to inspect and investigate shall be presumed at all times. The disruption of a licensee's operations shall be proved by clear and convincing evidence, which evidence shall establish that: 

(1) the procedures had no reasonable law enforcement purpose, and 

(2) the procedures were so disruptive as to inhibit unreasonably casino or simulcasting facility operations. 

(i) To conduct an economic impact study on the community after three casinos have been in operation for six months, to determine the feasibility on issuing additional casino licenses, notwithstanding the provisions of section 435(c) of this chapter.