(a) Single license. — The commission may issue only one license to operate a gaming facility. If the one license limitation in the preceding sentence is found to be unconstitutional in a final, nonappealable order by a court of competent jurisdiction, the commission shall have no authority to issue any license under this article and, in such event, the provisions of this article shall not be severable and any license issued under the provisions of this article prior thereto shall be void. The Legislature intends that no more than one license to operate one gaming facility in this state shall be authorized in any event.
(b) Applicant qualifications. — The applicant shall be the actual operator of the gaming facility to be located on the premises of an existing historic resort hotel. The applicant may be the owner of the existing historic resort hotel or a person that leases well-defined spaces on the premises of the historic resort hotel in order to operate a gaming facility as defined by this article. The resort hotel shall be located within the jurisdiction of a county approving the operation of a gaming facility in accordance with section seven of this article. The applicant shall meet the qualifications and requirements set forth in this article and rules adopted by the commission. In determining whether to grant a license to operate a gaming facility to an applicant, the commission shall consider:
(1) The character, reputation, experience and financial integrity of the applicant and any controlling person of the applicant;