So licensing is vital not only to assure patrons that casino operators are above reproach, he said, but also to confirm for state officials - who expect to reap tax revenue - that their gaming partners are reputable.
Pennsylvania's review is like an MRI. It entails a review of bank statements, checking accounts, contents of safe deposit boxes, paychecks, brokerage accounts, tax filings, loans, debts, real estate, pension funds.
Regulators want to know if an applicant has had a drug or alcohol problem or a criminal record, filed an insurance claim, or sought bankruptcy protection.
They look at family history, work history, and military experience. They take fingerprints and interview neighbors to gauge character. They look at political contributions made since the license application.
One of the first public measures of Katz and Rubin's involvement came at a gaming board hearing Jan. 27. Arguing that Foxwoods needed more time to produce a new plan, lawyer Jacoby said the group was close to a deal with a new investor - later identified as Wynn.
Board chairman Fajt asked how often Katz, Rubin, and Snider met with the investor.
Four times, Jacoby replied.
Asked later why he had posed the question, Fajt explained: Had no direct meetings between the trio and the investor occurred, he would "have seriously doubted" that a deal was in the offing.
Fajt said he considered all three the project's "principals." However, O'Toole told The Inquirer last month that Fajt used the term "in a general sense" - not the legal definition under the Gaming Act.
State Rep. Michael O'Brien, a Democrat whose district includes city neighborhoods near the Foxwoods site, said the lack of licensing for prominent participants "is an extremely big deal."
"As you continue to peel back the layers of the onion on the Foxwoods saga," he said, "it raises more questions about the overall compliance of the principals of this project."
Contact staff writer Jennifer Lin at 215-854-5659 or jlin@phillynews.com.
