2024 -- S 2814 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC004342/SUB A | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CASINO GAMING | |
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Introduced By: Senator Dominick J. Ruggerio | |
Date Introduced: March 22, 2024 | |
Referred To: Senate Finance | |
(Dept. of Public Safety) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 42-61.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-61.3 entitled "Casino |
2 | Gaming" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 42-61.3-1. Gaming enforcement unit. |
4 | (a) The superintendent of the state police shall establish a gaming enforcement unit within |
5 | the state police. |
6 | (b) The gaming enforcement unit shall work both independently and in conjunction and |
7 | cooperation with the division of state lottery and the department of business regulation to ensure |
8 | the integrity of casino gaming activities in the state. |
9 | (c) The superintendent of the state police shall assign such supervisory and investigative |
10 | personnel and other resources to the gaming enforcement unit as may be necessary to fulfill its |
11 | obligations under this chapter. No person assigned to the casino gaming unit, other than in the |
12 | performance of his/her official duties, shall place a wager in a facility licensed by the division of |
13 | state lottery, or place a wager on any server-based gaming system as defined in § 42-61.2-1, within |
14 | the state. |
15 | (d) The gaming enforcement unit’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to: |
16 | (1) Conducting due diligence investigations and background investigations with respect to |
17 | entities and individuals required to be licensed by the division and/or the department of business |
18 | regulation; |
19 | (2) Monitoring for and investigating potential criminal activity; and |
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1 | (3) Taking any and all actions necessary to enforce the criminal laws related to casino |
2 | gaming activities. |
3 | (e) Any and all individuals and/or entities licensed by the division of state lottery and/or |
4 | the department of business regulation shall cooperate with the gaming enforcement unit in the |
5 | performance of its duties. |
6 | (f) The gaming enforcement unit may independently conduct gaming related investigations |
7 | and background investigations that require out-of-state travel and other relevant and necessary |
8 | investigatory needs. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant and/or licensee, as applicable, to |
9 | reimburse the state police for all travel-related expenses and other relevant and necessary |
10 | investigatory expenses incurred while conducting gaming-related investigations and background |
11 | investigations. |
12 | (g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws, at any time members of the |
13 | gaming enforcement unit shall have the power to enter the premises of a gaming facility licensed |
14 | by the division of state lottery at any time, to the extent permissible under the constitutions of the |
15 | state of Rhode Island and the United States of America, through its investigators and law |
16 | enforcement personnel at any time or the premises of any facility leased or owned in whole or in |
17 | part by such gaming facility, or access any server-based gaming system, as defined in § 42-61.2-1, |
18 | or associated technology, without notice for the following purposes: |
19 | (1) To inspect and examine the premises of a gaming facility where casino gaming |
20 | activities are conducted; |
21 | (2) To inspect, examine and/or seize any and all tangible property related to casino gaming |
22 | activities; |
23 | (3) To inspect, examine, seize and/or audit all computers, books, ledgers, documents, |
24 | writing, photocopies, correspondence, records, videotapes, including electronically stored records, |
25 | money receptacles, other containers and their contents, and equipment in or on which the records |
26 | are stored at a licensed gaming facility, its parking areas and/or adjacent buildings and structures |
27 | on the premises of the gaming facility, or the premises of any facility leased or owned in whole or |
28 | in part by such gaming facility; |
29 | (4) To conduct criminal investigations into violations of the criminal laws or the rules and |
30 | regulations promulgated thereto; |
31 | (5) To eject, exclude or authorize the ejection or exclusion of a person from a gaming |
32 | facility and/or a server-based gaming system as defined in § 42-61.2-1, and its associated |
33 | technology if the person allegedly violated any criminal law, or when the division of state lottery |
34 | or the casino gaming unit determines that the person’s conduct or reputation is such that his or her |
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1 | presence within the gaming facility and/or the server-based gaming system, as defined in § 42- |
2 | 61.2-1, and its associated technology, may compromise the honesty and integrity of casino gaming |
3 | activities or interfere with the orderly conduct of casino gaming activities. Nothing herein shall |
4 | preclude any other law enforcement or regulatory agency from having similar authority as |
5 | otherwise permitted by law or regulation; and |
6 | (6) Take any and all other actions as may be reasonable or appropriate to carry out their |
7 | duties and responsibilities under this chapter. |
8 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC004342/SUB A | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CASINO GAMING | |
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1 | This act would amend the law consistent with the advent of iGaming and new technology. |
2 | It also codifies the payment of investigatory expenses incurred by the State in limited |
3 | circumstances. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC004342/SUB A | |
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