§ 42-61.2-3.2. Gaming credit authorized.
(a) Authority. In addition to the powers and duties of the state lottery director under §§ 42-61-4, 42-61.2-3, 42-61.2-3.1, and 42-61.2-4, the division shall authorize each licensed video lottery retailer to extend credit
to players pursuant to the terms and conditions of this chapter.
(b) Credit. Notwithstanding any provision of the general laws to the contrary, including, without
limitation, § 11-19-17, except for applicable licensing laws and regulations, each licensed video lottery
retailer may extend interest-free, unsecured credit to its patrons for the sole purpose
of such patrons making wagers at table games and/or video lottery terminals and/or
for the purpose of making sports wagering bets, at the licensed video lottery retailer's
facility subject to the terms and conditions of this chapter.
(c) Regulations. Each licensed video lottery retailer shall be subject to rules and regulations submitted
by licensed video lottery retailers and subject to the approval of the division of
lotteries regarding procedures governing the extension of credit and requirements
with respect to a credit applicant's financial fitness, including, without limitation:
annual income; debt-to-income ratio; prior credit history; average monthly bank balance;
and/or level of play. The division of lotteries may approve, approve with modification,
or disapprove any portion of the policies and procedures submitted for review and
approval.
(d) Credit applications. Each applicant for credit shall submit a written application to the licensed video
lottery retailer that shall be maintained by the licensed video lottery retailer for
three (3) years in a confidential credit file. The application shall include the patron's
name; address; telephone number; social security number; comprehensive bank account
information; the requested credit limit; the patron's approximate amount of current
indebtedness; the amount and source of income in support of the application; the patron's
signature on the application; a certification of truthfulness; and any other information
deemed relevant by the licensed video lottery retailer or the division of lotteries.
(e) Credit application verification. As part of the review of a credit application and before an application for credit
is approved, the licensed video lottery retailer shall verify:
(1) The identity, creditworthiness, and indebtedness information of the applicant by conducting
a comprehensive review of:
(i) The information submitted with the application;
(ii) Indebtedness information regarding the applicant received from a credit bureau; and/or
(iii) Information regarding the applicant's credit activity at other licensed facilities
that the licensed video lottery retailer may obtain through a casino credit bureau
and, if appropriate, through direct contact with other casinos.
(2) That the applicant's name is not included on an exclusion or self-exclusion list maintained
by the licensed video lottery retailer and/or the division of lotteries.
(3) As part of the credit application, the licensed video lottery retailer shall notify
each applicant in advance that the licensed video lottery retailer will verify the
information in subsections (e)(1) and (e)(2) and may verify any other information
provided by the applicant as part of the credit application. The applicant is required
to acknowledge in writing that he or she understands that the verification process
will be conducted as part of the application process and that he or she consents to
having said verification process conducted.
(f) Establishment of credit. After a review of the credit application, and upon completion of the verification
required under subsection (e), and subject to the rules and regulations approved by
the division of lotteries, a credit facilitator may approve or deny an application
for credit to a player. The credit facilitator shall establish a credit limit for
each patron to whom credit is granted. The approval or denial of credit shall be recorded
in the applicant's credit file that shall also include the information that was verified
as part of the review process, and the reasons and information relied on by the credit
facilitator in approving or denying the extension of credit and determining the credit
limit. Subject to the rules and regulations approved by the division of lotteries,
increases to an individual's credit limit may be approved by a credit facilitator
upon receipt of a written request from the player after a review of updated financial
information requested by the credit facilitator and re-verification of the player's
credit information.
(g) Recordkeeping. Detailed information pertaining to all transactions affecting an individual's outstanding
indebtedness to the licensed video lottery retailer shall be recorded in chronological
order in the individual's credit file. The financial information in an application
for credit and documents related thereto shall be confidential. All credit application
files shall be maintained by the licensed video lottery retailer in a secure manner
and shall not be accessible to anyone not a credit facilitator or a manager or officer
of a licensed video lottery retailer responsible for the oversight of the extension
of credit program.
(h) Reduction or suspension of credit. A credit facilitator may reduce a player's credit limit or suspend his or her credit
to the extent permitted by the rules and regulations approved by the division of lotteries
and shall reduce a player's credit limit or suspend a player's credit limit as required
by said rules and regulations.
(i) Voluntary credit suspension. A player may request that the licensed video lottery retailer suspend or reduce his
or her credit. Upon receipt of a written request to do so, the player's credit shall
be reduced or suspended as requested. A copy of the request and the action taken by
the credit facilitator shall be placed in the player's credit application file.
(j) Liability. In the event that a player fails to repay a debt owed to a licensed video lottery
retailer resulting from the extension of credit by that licensed video lottery retailer,
neither the state of Rhode Island nor the division of lotteries shall be responsible
for the loss and said loss shall not affect net table-game revenue or net terminal
income. A licensed video lottery retailer, the state of Rhode Island, the division
of lotteries, and/or any employee of a licensed video lottery retailer, shall not
be liable in any judicial or administrative proceeding to any player, any individual,
or any other party, including table game players or individuals on the voluntary suspension
list, for any harm, monetary or otherwise, that may arise as a result of:
(1) Granting or denial of credit to a player;
(2) Increasing the credit limit of a player;
(3) Allowing a player to exercise his or her right to use credit as otherwise authorized;
(4) Failure of the licensed video lottery retailer to increase a credit limit;
(5) Failure of the licensed video lottery retailer to restore credit privileges that have
been suspended, whether involuntarily or at the request of the table game patron;
or
(6) Permitting or prohibiting an individual whose credit privileges have been suspended,
whether involuntarily or at the request of the player, to engage in gaming activity
in a licensed facility while on the voluntary credit suspension list.
(k) Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for any extensions of credit,
the maximum amount of outstanding credit per player shall be one hundred thousand
dollars ($100,000).