Gambling Enforcement conducts criminal and gaming license background investigations, and monitors the 18 tribal casinos in the state for compliance with the State-Tribal compacts.

In 2020, gambling agents conducted:

• 131 criminal investigations. 
• 1,344 Executive Order compliance visits.
• Tribal State compact compliance inspections which resulted in:
• 378 slot machines physically inspected. 
• 44 blackjack table inspections. 
• Eight Tribal audit reviews.
• 14,367 slot management reviews.
• 14 Corporate background and licensing investigations for AGED, GCB and MRC.
   

Responsibilities

• Licensing of manufacturers and distributors of gambling devices — AGED conducts background investigations of applicants for licenses to distribute or manufacture gambling devices. AGED currently licenses 24 gambling device manufacturer and distributors. AGED also performs gaming license and vendor investigations for the Minnesota Racing Commission, Minnesota State Lottery and Minnesota Gambling Control Board.

• Gambling criminal enforcement and investigation — AGED is the primary state law enforcement agency to investigate crimes and violations relating to legal and unlawful forms of gambling. AGED special agents use surveillance, game audits, counterfeit and forgery detection to identify violations of state gambling laws. Special agents prepare and submit investigations to county attorneys for criminal charges against individual violators and/or seek regulatory sanctions for violations involving state licensees.

• Assure compliance with state tribal compacts — AGED is responsible for ensuring compliance of the tribal compact agreements. AGED employees monitor and inspect tribal facility gaming operations. AGED conducts background investigations of tribal employee and management officials, and responds to player complaints about various machines or games; however, AGED is not empowered to settle disputes with the casinos.