§ 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 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 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 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.