2024 -- S 2814 SUBSTITUTE 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

     

     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:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-61.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-61.3 entitled "Casino

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Gaming" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-61.3-1. Gaming enforcement unit.

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     (a) The superintendent of the state police shall establish a gaming enforcement unit within

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the state police.

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     (b) The gaming enforcement unit shall work both independently and in conjunction and

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cooperation with the division of state lottery and the department of business regulation to ensure

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the integrity of casino gaming activities in the state.

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     (c) The superintendent of the state police shall assign such supervisory and investigative

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personnel and other resources to the gaming enforcement unit as may be necessary to fulfill its

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obligations under this chapter. No person assigned to the casino gaming unit, other than in the

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performance of his/her official duties, shall place a wager in a facility licensed by the division of

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state lottery, or place a wager on any server-based gaming system as defined in § 42-61.2-1, within

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the state.

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     (d) The gaming enforcement unit’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to:

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     (1) Conducting due diligence investigations and background investigations with respect to

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entities and individuals required to be licensed by the division and/or the department of business

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regulation;

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     (2) Monitoring for and investigating potential criminal activity; and

 

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     (3) Taking any and all actions necessary to enforce the criminal laws related to casino

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gaming activities.

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     (e) Any and all individuals and/or entities licensed by the division of state lottery and/or

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the department of business regulation shall cooperate with the gaming enforcement unit in the

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performance of its duties.

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     (f) The gaming enforcement unit may independently conduct gaming related investigations

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and background investigations that require out-of-state travel and other relevant and necessary

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investigatory needs. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant and/or licensee, as applicable, to

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reimburse the state police for all travel-related expenses and other relevant and necessary

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investigatory expenses incurred while conducting gaming-related investigations and background

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investigations.

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     (g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws, at any time members of the

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gaming enforcement unit shall have the power to enter the premises of a gaming facility licensed

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by the division of state lottery at any time, to the extent permissible under the constitutions of the

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state of Rhode Island and the United States of America, through its investigators and law

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enforcement personnel at any time or the premises of any facility leased or owned in whole or in

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part by such gaming facility, or access any server-based gaming system, as defined in § 42-61.2-1,

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or associated technology, without notice for the following purposes:

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     (1) To inspect and examine the premises of a gaming facility where casino gaming

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activities are conducted;

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     (2) To inspect, examine and/or seize any and all tangible property related to casino gaming

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activities;

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     (3) To inspect, examine, seize and/or audit all computers, books, ledgers, documents,

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writing, photocopies, correspondence, records, videotapes, including electronically stored records,

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money receptacles, other containers and their contents, and equipment in or on which the records

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are stored at a licensed gaming facility, its parking areas and/or adjacent buildings and structures

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on the premises of the gaming facility, or the premises of any facility leased or owned in whole or

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in part by such gaming facility;

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     (4) To conduct criminal investigations into violations of the criminal laws or the rules and

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regulations promulgated thereto;

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     (5) To eject, exclude or authorize the ejection or exclusion of a person from a gaming

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facility and/or a server-based gaming system as defined in § 42-61.2-1, and its associated

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technology if the person allegedly violated any criminal law, or when the division of state lottery

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or the casino gaming unit determines that the person’s conduct or reputation is such that his or her

 

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presence within the gaming facility and/or the server-based gaming system, as defined in § 42-

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61.2-1, and its associated technology, may compromise the honesty and integrity of casino gaming

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activities or interfere with the orderly conduct of casino gaming activities. Nothing herein shall

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preclude any other law enforcement or regulatory agency from having similar authority as

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otherwise permitted by law or regulation; and

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     (6) Take any and all other actions as may be reasonable or appropriate to carry out their

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duties and responsibilities under this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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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     This act would amend the law consistent with the advent of iGaming and new technology.

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It also codifies the payment of investigatory expenses incurred by the State in limited

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circumstances.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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