Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA), Licensing Division
1800 Washington Boulevard, VLT Licensing Suite, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21230
VLT Non-Gaming Vendor Coordinator is Denise Walk; direct all questions to: [email protected]
Vendors – a “How to” Guide
(Updated July, 2014)
Maryland Law requires that: “Any person/company (Vendor) who provides non-gaming related goods/services
to a Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) operations licensee (a casino) is required to be Registered or Certified with the Maryland State
Lottery Commission in order to conduct business with a facility (a casino) within the State of Maryland.”--- per COMAR
36.03.02.17.
Your company must first have a contract/agreement with a facility (casino) in order to later be an Approved Registered or
Certified (licensed) with the Maryland State Lottery Commission. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA)
cannot approve a Vendor/Casino business relationship until it exists. If you are a vendor/supplier of non-gaming related
goods/services conducting business with a casino, you must meet the following conditions/requirements:

A business entity that contracts/anticipates a “$” amount of business to be conducted with a casino within any
12-consecutive month period, whether it is for 1 day or 365 days, is held to the following:
$2,499 or below – not required to register at all
$2,500 to $99,999 – must submit Form 1023 Vendor Registration Form (3 pages); no fee is required;
MD SDAT “Certificate of Good Standing” is required
$100,000 or above – NON-CONSTRUCTION - must submit Form 1021 Vendor Certification Form
(13 pages); the required fee is $500; MD SDAT “Certificate of Good Standing” is required
$100,000 or above – DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE - must submit Form 1021CC Vendor Certification Form
*Construction Version*, (13 pages); the required fee is $500; MD SDAT “Certificate of Good Standing” is required
Vendor Registration/Certification Forms are available online at: http://gaming.mdlottery.com/licensing/
Vendor Registration/Certification (licensing) duration is valid for a 5-year period from the date that your company
is approved (licensed) as a Vendor with our office.
Approved Vendors may be verified by going to the following site: http://gaming.mdlottery.com/licensing/
While hovering the cursor over the “Licensing “ tab on the top toolbar, a drop-down “Approved Vendors” tab will appear which
will link the user to an alphabetized list of all currently Approved Vendors.

The following 4 sequential steps must be adhered to before a Vendor Registration or a Vendor Certification Form will
be reviewed for assignment to a Background Investigator in our office:
1) A “Certification of Business Relationship” must exist between Vendor and Casino BEFORE our agency can approve a
Vendor. The “Certification of Business Relationship” is Page 13 on the following two (2) Vendor Certification Forms:
(1) The Vendor Certification Form – Form 1021; and
(2) The Vendor Certification Form-Construction Version - Form 1021CC.
The “Certification of Business Relationship” is also Page 2 on the Vendor Registration Form – Form 1023.
A business relationship between a Vendor and a casino must be established before our office can approve a Vendor
Form (application); we cannot approve a business relationship between the Vendor/Casino until it exists. Depending
upon the format established by the various casinos, the Vendors will most likely be provided with a checklist of items
that will need to be accomplished before the Casino Rep will sign off on the document. The Casino Rep may also opt to
require that a Vendor already have MD SDAT “Good Standing” status (see Step 2 that follows) before the casino will
enter into a written business relationship with the Vendor – this is between the Vendor and the Casino Rep. (At each
casino, there will be an office with personnel specifically assigned to assist Vendors with this, such as Purchasing,
Finance, etc. Seek assistance from whichever casino your company has decided to do business with).
2) Every business entity, to include both in-state (Maryland) businesses and out-of-state (foreign) businesses, must have a
Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (MD SDAT) “Certificate of Good Standing” either prior to, or
just after, that business and a Maryland casino enters into a written business relationship. MD SDAT is Maryland
personal property value tax. The only exception is that of a business owned by either a Sole Proprietorship or a
General Partnership.* Please use this Web site address to determine if your company enjoys “Good Standing” status:
http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/ucc-charter/CharterSearch_f.aspx
*Exception: If your company is either a Sole Proprietorship or a General Partnership, you must submit one of the
following documents with your Vendor Form (application):
1) a Form W-9 (an IRS Form – “Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification”); or
2) a Maryland Sales & Use Tax License, which is a certificate that displays your Maryland Sales and Use Tax
Registration Number.
If you cannot locate your company’s status, please contact the Charter Division of MD SDAT:
[email protected] or call them at either 410-767-1340 / 1330 / 1350 / 1344 (for “Good Standing”
processing info). Regardless of when the Certificate of Good Standing is acquired from MD SDAT, no Vendor Form,
either Registered or Certified, will be accepted by MLGCA unless a MD SDAT “Certificate of Good Standing” for your
company accompanies the submitted Vendor Registration or Certification Form.
3) MD SDAT (Maryland personal property value tax) for out-of-state (foreign) Vendors is required. Some Vendors may
find this to be a difficult and time-consuming step, but there are Maryland Resident Agent companies that will assist
with this process (for a fee). A decision will need to be made by each Vendor regarding this service. Some Vendors may
determine that the fee might be worthwhile when considering that by using these services, a Vendor can obtain a MD
SDAT Department Entity Number within a few days, rather than wait to obtain it from the MD SDAT. The casino should
be able to provide telephone numbers of the Maryland companies that provide this service, but our office cannot. You
could also “Google” Maryland Resident Agent companies to view a current listing.
That said, out-of-state (foreign) Vendors may also obtain their MD Department/Entity Number - and their MD SDAT
“Certificate of Good Standing” - directly from MD SDAT by doing the following:
a) Go to the MD SDAT Web site: http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/ucc-charter/CharterSearch_f.aspx
b) On the top toolbar, click on Forms & Applications
c) Scroll down to “FOREIGN (non-Maryland) BUSINESSES” and click on “Foreign Corporation Qualification Form”
d) Complete the form with applicable fee(s).
e) Contact MD SDAT to inquire how to expedite this process and pay the expedited fee amount
f) Their phone numbers are 410-767-1340/1350/1330/1344; their e-mail address is [email protected]
4) After the Certificate of Business Relationship page [Page 13 for both of the Vendor Certification Forms 1021 and
1021CC, as well as Page 3 on the Vendor Registration Form 1023] has been signed by the casino, it must also be
notarized. Only completed, signed and notarized Vendor Forms will be promptly processed by our agency.
Additional information extracted from COMAR 36.03.02.17 Vendor Registration and Certification:
“Definition: ‘Vendor’ means a person who provides goods or services to a video lottery operation applicant or licensee (and who
is not required to be licensed as a manufacturer or contractor under State Government Article, Title 9, Subtitle 1A, Annotated
Code of Maryland, or this subtitle) and includes:
Any person/company who provides non-gaming related goods/services to a video lottery operation licensee (a Casino) is required
to be certified or registered with the Maryland State Lottery Commission in order to conduct business with a facility (casino) within
the State of Maryland, which includes: suppliers of alcoholic beverages; suppliers of food and non-alcoholic beverages; refuse
handlers; vending machine providers and service personnel; janitorial and maintenance companies; tenant businesses or
franchises located within facilities if such goods and services are not gaming related; providers of transportation services if such
services are not gaming related; persons involved in the construction of a facility; lessors of real property or goods; payroll services
and other employer related services; employee recruiting services; and persons whose services the Commission reviews and
determines must be registered or certified under this regulation.”
If any additional information is required regarding non-gaming goods/services for Vendors during the
Vendor Registration/Certification process, please contact Denise Walk, VLT Non-Gaming Vendor Coordinator, at
[email protected]
These 2 pages of INSTRUCTIONS are strictly for Caesar’s HORSESHOE CASINO in Baltimore City ONLY – no other
Casino applies. This is the Horseshoe Casino’s process, all of which can only be conducted electronically –
no telephone calls, no paper bids, and nothing manual is acceptable because everything must be documented.
Start the process by going to their Web site: www.horseshoebaltimore.com, then click on VENDORS on the top
toolbar; then click on Suppliers & Vendors on the next page; from there, follow instructions; & click on FAQs:
STEP 1
MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION (MD SDAT)
One of the criteria the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) uses to approve a non-gaming Vendor as
either Registered or Certified is verification that the Vendor’s business is in “Good Standing” with the Maryland State
Department of Assessments and Taxation (MD SDAT). The MLGCC will not approve any Vendor applicant without this
verification. Therefore, Vendors* will need to register with MD SDAT before any application is submitted to the MLGCC.
[*The only Vendor business exceptions are Sole Proprietorships or General Partnerships – in these cases an IRS Form W-9
“Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification” must be submitted in lieu of a “Certificate of Good Standing”].
1.
Corporation:
If a Vendor is a Corporation from a State other than Maryland (the home state of record where they currently hold
their business license), the Vendor would file the Foreign Corporation Qualification, along with a $100.00 fee, and
then obtain a “Certificate of Good Standing” from their home state.
Please note that a Corporation is required to have a Resident Agent. The form is located at
http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/sdatforms.html#real, under the section FOREIGN (non-Maryland BUSINESS).
2.
LLC:
If the Vendor is a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) from a State other than Maryland (the home state of record
where they currently hold their business license), the Vendor would file the Foreign Limited Liability Company
Registration, along with a $100.00 fee, and then obtain a “Certificate of Good Standing” from their home state.
Please note that an LLC can designate MD SDAT as the Resident Agent. The form is located at
http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/sdatforms.html#real, under the section FOREIGN (non-Maryland BUSINESS).
At Horseshoe Casino, it is currently taking 8 to 10 weeks for regular processing under normal circumstances. However, if
a Vendor wants to expedite (highly recommended), click on the box on the individual forms in the upper right corner with
the expedited fee instructions. After submittal, and within 7 to 10 days, check WORK IN PROGRESS: Try searching the
online database before contacting the division. Information required to check recent submissions includes:
(1) Was this expedited or regular service?
(2) What form was filed (Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, etc.)?
(3) What is the exact name of the entity (ex: AAE, Inc. or A.A.E., Inc. or Above All Else, Inc.)?
(4) What is the date you mailed it or faxed it?
(5) Was a check included and if so, what was the amount of the check?
***** NOTE: These will not be addressed until after 5 business days for expedited work. *****
Once you have determined that your business is in Good Standing, please go the following link:
http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/ucc-charter/CharterSearch_f.aspx. This will provide you with an expedited
online tool to download your “Certificate of Good Standing.”
Once you have the “Certificate of Good Standing,” send the .pdf file to Christopher (Chris) Wilks
at [email protected] and you may then proceed to Step 2 (e-mail him with any questions as well).
STEP 2
MARYLAND LOTTERY AND GAMING CONTROL COMMISSION (MLGCC)
RULES & REGULATIONS regarding the $ amount of annual business conducted with Horseshoe:
1. Any 12-consecutive month period with business below $2,500: Any Vendor that provides, or anticipates
providing, non-gaming related goods and services to the Horseshoe Casino within any
12-consecutive month period, that is valued below $2,500 will not need to be Registered or Certified with
MLGCC, and are considered EXEMPT. There are other enumerated services listed within COMAR
36.03.02.17 which are also considered EXEMPT - they are not limited to: public utilities; insurance
companies; benefit and retirement plans; certain professional associations; government; manufacturers of
alcoholic beverages; banks or savings and loans; providers of certain professional services;
telecommunication/satellite/internet services; shipping services; persons that engage in efforts to influence
legislative or administration actions; educational/training opportunities; professional entertainers/sports
figures/celebrities; media outlets, etc. Please e-mail either Chris Wilks ([email protected]) or Tom
Windham ([email protected]) to determine if a Vendor will fall into an EXEMPT Category.
2. Any 12-consecutive month period with business between $2,500 - $99,999: Any Vendor that provides, or
anticipates providing, non-gaming related goods and services to the Horseshoe Casino within any
12-consecutive month period that is valued at between $2500 - $99,999 shall be REGISTERED with MLGCC.
The Casino will submit Form 1023 Vendor Registration Form (3 pages long) to MLGCC, specifying that a
Vendor will be used. The form must be signed by the Casino SVP/GM and it must also be notarized. There is
no fee associated with a REGISTERED Vendor. The approved license is good for 5 years. Once Horseshoe
Casino has the MD SDAT “Certificate of Good Standing” from a Vendor, they will submit the application to
MLGCC on the Vendor’s behalf.
3. Any 12-consecutive month period with business of $100,000 or more: Any Vendor that provides, or
anticipates providing, non-gaming related goods and services to the Horseshoe Casino within any
12-consecutive month period that is valued at or above $100,000 shall be CERTIFIED with MLGCC. The
Vendor must complete Form 1021 Vendor Certification Form (13 pages long), as well as pay the required fee
of $500 to MLGCC. The Vendor must also provide a MD SDAT “Certificate of Good Standing” and provide
same to the Casino. Once the Casino has this document, they will send to the Vendor – via FEDEX – a
completed Page 13 for inclusion in the Vendor’s application Form. [Page 13 of Form 1021 is the Certification
of Business Relationship, which page will be signed and notarized by the Casino SVP/GM. This page proves
that the Casino will be doing business with a Vendor]. The Vendor must submit the completed application
form packet to MLGCC. The approved license is good for 5 years. In order to obtain a copy of either the
Form 1023 Vendor Registration Form or the Form 1021 Vendor Certification Form (application) packets,
the following link is provided:
Click on this link: http://gaming.mdlottery.com/licensing/ --- then select and complete/submit either
Form 1023 Registration – or – Form 1021 Certification.
*Do not complete/submit both Forms.*
The MLGCC will notify the Vendor upon approval of their Vendor Form application/packet and will assign a
“V” number (license number) to that Vendor – no paper licenses are issued by MLGCC. MLGCC also provides the
Casino with updates of approval of Vendor packets on a regular basis. Please note that once a Vendor is approved
and is assigned a Vendor License Number (regardless which Maryland Casino initiates the Vendor process), the
approval of the Vendor License is all-encompassing and such approval gives a Vendor the license to conduct
business with all Maryland casinos. For a current listing of Vendors who are approved, the following link is
provided: http://gaming.mdlottery.com/licensing/approved-vendors/
If a Vendor is anticipated by the Casino to have conducted business which will exceed their current “$” level as either
EXEMPT or REGISTERED, which would then upgrade them up to the next category as REGISTERED or
CERTIFIED, the Vendor will have to submit a new Vendor Form application packet for the next/highest “$” level that
the Vendors falls into. [Example: Vendor AAE is currently a REGISTERED Vendor and the Casino anticipates that
they will conduct $150,000 of business within the remaining 12-consecutive month period. The Vendor will then have
to complete a CERTIFIED Vendor Form (application), to upgrade their current Vendor status from Registered to
Certified, and follow all instructions listed above in #3].