The conditions that determine who may be licensed apply to all individuals, partnerships, and corporations that operate a casino, have a financial interest in a casino, or share profits from the operation. Because of the broadness of this definition more specific definitions have been generated.

Individuals are defined as anyone with an interest based on gaming revenues or profits. Licenses are generally granted to the individual owners of a casino.

According to the rules, all partners must be licensed. This includes general and limited partners. If one or more partners make up a corporation, the corporation must be approved and licensed. Limited partners who are passive investors only do not have to be licensed.

Corporations, both closely held corporations and publicly traded corporations, must be licensed. There are two types of corporations that are differentiated. In publicly traded corporations all owners and stockholders must be registered but do not have to be formally licensed. The officers, directors and key employees of a publicly traded corporation must be licensed, though. Shareholders who directly or indirectly hold between 5 and 10 percent of the voting stock may also be required to be licensed, but this is up to the Gaming Commission and the Gaming Control Board. In closely held corporations every officer, shareholder and director must be licensed.

In general, all key employees of a casino must possess a license. What exactly a key employee is left up to the Gaming Control Board and the Gaming Commission. For the most part, key employees include all direct casino employees from the supervisors upward.

The Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission can require licensing of any person or business entity exercising control over a casino through loans or financial arrangements if they see fit.

A basic location license must be granted for a casino to move on to other licensing. Every casino must be licensed after the suitability of the location has been determined. New Jersey requires an annual licensing review, but once the location has been approved it is not usually subjected to further investigations. New Jersey also requires that all casino industry suppliers be licensed.