On Friday, regulations for enterprise zone hotel casinos, along with commission bylaws, and application approval for non-gaming services and employees, were amended by the St Croix office of the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission (CCC).

The Governor’s Office and the Senate will be forwarding the approved casino regulations for final approval, according to the commission’s chairwoman and chief executive officer Violet Anne Golden. She said that the staff and the commission’s attorney Andrew Simpson had worked on the regulations for several months and that they believe them to the reasonable, according to the St. Croix Source report.

The law requires an annual investment by hotels and their casinos of 60 percent of the net cash, in Christiansted or Frederiksted enterprise zone improvements. The CCC approved regulations that direct hotels to notify the commission of these renovations and acquisitions within a period of 60 days, as well as to identify both contractors and subcontractors.

Among the stipulations and amendments of the new regulations, Virgin Islands senators, as well as others who hold elected or appointed local or federal office, are listed as ineligible to work as a contractor or subcontractor on renovations or to invest in acquisitions, according to the report. Under the new regulations, employees of Gaming Enforcement and the CCC, as well as those licensed by the commission or by service industry providers, are prohibited from participating, with secretarial and clerical employees being the exception.

As of now, Hotel Caravelle and Casino located in downtown Christiansted is the only property affected by the CCC’s new regulations.

Also approved by the commissioners were new and temporary licenses for employees of casinos, as well as work permits and nongaming service providers.