| Chapter 362 |
| 2024 -- H 7571 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/26/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CASINO GAMING |
Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Edwards, Ackerman, Shallcross Smith, and Cardillo |
| Date Introduced: February 09, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 42-61.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-61.3 entitled "Casino |
| Gaming" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 42-61.3-1. Gaming enforcement unit. |
| (a) The superintendent of the state police shall establish a gaming enforcement unit within |
| the state police. |
| (b) The gaming enforcement unit shall work both independently and in conjunction and |
| cooperation with the division of state lottery and the department of business regulation to ensure |
| the integrity of casino gaming activities in the state. |
| (c) The superintendent of the state police shall assign such supervisory and investigative |
| personnel and other resources to the gaming enforcement unit as may be necessary to fulfill its |
| obligations under this chapter. No person assigned to the casino gaming unit, other than in the |
| performance of his/her their official duties, shall place a wager in a facility licensed by the division |
| of state lottery, or place a wager on any server-based gaming system as defined in § 42-61.2-1, |
| within the state. |
| (d) The gaming enforcement unit’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to: |
| (1) Conducting due diligence investigations and background investigations with respect to |
| entities and individuals required to be licensed by the division and/or the department of business |
| regulation; |
| (2) Monitoring for and investigating potential criminal activity; and |
| (3) Taking any and all actions necessary to enforce the criminal laws related to casino |
| gaming activities. |
| (e) Any and all individuals and/or entities licensed by the division of state lottery and/or |
| the department of business regulation shall cooperate with the gaming enforcement unit in the |
| performance of its duties. |
| (f) The gaming enforcement unit may independently conduct gaming-related investigations |
| and background investigations that require out-of-state travel and other relevant and necessary |
| investigatory needs. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant and/or licensee, as applicable, to |
| reimburse the state police for all travel-related expenses and other relevant and necessary |
| investigatory expenses incurred while conducting gaming-related investigations and background |
| investigations. |
| (g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws, at any time members of the |
| gaming enforcement unit shall have the power to enter the premises of a gaming facility licensed |
| by the division of state lottery at any time, to the extent permissible under the constitutions of the |
| state of Rhode Island and the United States of America, through its investigators and law |
| enforcement personnel at any time or the premises of any facility leased or owned in whole or in |
| part by such gaming facility, or access any server-based gaming system, as defined in § 42-61.2-1, |
| or associated technology, without notice for the following purposes: |
| (1) To inspect and examine the premises of a gaming facility where casino gaming |
| activities are conducted; |
| (2) To inspect, examine, and/or seize any and all tangible property related to casino gaming |
| activities; |
| (3) To inspect, examine, seize, and/or audit all computers, books, ledgers, documents, |
| writing, photocopies, correspondence, records, videotapes, including electronically stored records, |
| money receptacles, other containers and their contents, and equipment in or on which the records |
| are stored at a licensed gaming facility, its parking areas and/or adjacent buildings and structures |
| on the premises of the gaming facility, or the premises of any facility leased or owned in whole or |
| in part by such gaming facility; |
| (4) To conduct criminal investigations into violations of the criminal laws or the rules and |
| regulations promulgated thereto; |
| (5) To eject, exclude, or authorize the ejection or exclusion of a person from a gaming |
| facility and/or a server-based gaming system as defined in § 42-61.2-1, and its associated |
| technology if the person allegedly violated any criminal law, or when the division of state lottery |
| or the casino gaming unit determines that the person’s conduct or reputation is such that his or her |
| the person’s presence within the gaming facility and/or the server-based gaming system, as defined |
| in § 42-61.2-1, and its associated technology, may compromise the honesty and integrity of casino |
| gaming activities or interfere with the orderly conduct of casino gaming activities. Nothing herein |
| shall preclude any other law enforcement or regulatory agency from having similar authority as |
| otherwise permitted by law or regulation; and |
| (6) Take any and all other actions as may be reasonable or appropriate to carry out their |
| duties and responsibilities under this chapter. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC004329/SUB A |
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