§29-22B-1108. Preference for current permit holders.

(a) When seeking bids for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2021, and for each subsequent ten-year period, the commission shall, in determining the amount a current holder of a permit issued under section 1106 of this article shall pay for authorization to place additional video lottery terminals in this state, afford the bidder an additional preference, if the bidder submitted at least the minimum bid amount prescribed by the commission, the amount of which shall be determined as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The preference allowed by this section shall be computed by adding five percent of the bid price submitted by the current permit holder to the amount of the bid submitted by that holder.

(c) Where the commission determines that it has not issued permits for the number of video lottery terminals allowed to be placed in this state, as provided in section 1101 of this article, the commission shall allow current permit holders to bid on the remaining video lottery terminals before opening up the bidding to other persons. If the highest bid meets or exceeds the minimum bid, the commission shall determine whether, at the time of the bid, the bidder held a permit for the period ending June 30, 2011, or for any ten-year period thereafter, on June 30 preceding the expiration of the permit. If the current permit holder submitted a bid that was not less than the minimum bid, the commission shall notify the bidder that upon paying the amount of the highest bid, that the permit for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2011, or for any ten-year period thereafter, shall be issued to the current permit holder. If, within the time determined by the commissioner, the current permit holder pays the amount to the commission and complies with all other requirements imposed by the provisions of this article for the issuance of the permit, the permit for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2011, or for any ten-year period thereafter, shall be issued to the current permit holder.