California regulators to rule on Galaxy Gaming, CEO’s suitability

The California Gambling Control Commission has set a July 11 hearing to determine if Galaxy Gaming California LLC, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Galaxy Gaming Inc., and its CEO Robert Saucier are suitable to continue doing business in the Golden State.

Both have submitted an application for a finding of suitability to supply Native American casinos in California with casino products. In a 103-page decision obtained Friday by the Review-Journal, Administrative Law Judge Catherine Frink in Sacramento wrote, “cause exists to deny both applications.”

Frink said both Galaxy Gaming and Saucier provided untrue or misleading information.

She said Saucier “engaged in activities that created the danger of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices … particularly as his conduct pertained to the operation of the Mars Hotel and Casino.”

Saucier developed the Mars in Spokane, Wash., which filed for bankruptcy in 1997, later closed and then burned down in 1999.

Frink said Saucer’s conduct “demonstrated a lack of honesty and integrity.”

Messages left with Saucer on Friday were not returned.

Galaxy Gaming has operated in California since 1999 without incident, according to the judge’s ruling. Frink said they “ignored the fact that those entities have been able to do so, in large part, because of (their) own dilatory tactics during the application and appeal process.”

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @sierotyfeatures on Twitter.