5:12-101 Credit.

101. a. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no casino licensee or any person licensed under this act, and no person acting on behalf of or under any arrangement with a casino licensee or other person licensed under this act, shall:

(1) Cash any check, make any loan, or otherwise provide or allow to any person any credit or advance of anything of value or which represents value to enable any person to take part in gaming or simulcast wagering activity as a player; or

(2) Release or discharge any debt, either in whole or in part, or make any loan which represents any losses incurred by any player in gaming or simulcast wagering activity, without maintaining a written record thereof in accordance with the rules of the division.

b. No casino licensee or any person licensed under this act, and no person acting on behalf of or under any arrangement with a casino licensee or other person licensed under this act, may accept a check, other than a recognized traveler's check or other cash equivalent from any person to enable such person to take part in gaming or simulcast wagering activity as a player, or may give cash or cash equivalents in exchange for such check unless:

(1) The check is made payable to the casino licensee;

(2) The check is dated, but not postdated;

(3) The check is presented to the cashier or the cashier's representative at a location in the casino approved by the division and is exchanged for cash or slot tokens which total an amount equal to the amount for which the check is drawn, or the check is presented to the cashier's representative at a gaming table in exchange for chips which total an amount equal to the amount for which the check is drawn; and

(4) The regulations concerning check cashing procedures are observed by the casino licensee and its employees and agents.

Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to preclude the establishment of an account by any person with a casino licensee by a deposit of cash, recognized traveler's check or other cash equivalent, or a check which meets the requirements of subsection g. of this section, or to preclude the withdrawal, either in whole or in part, of any amount contained in such account.

c. When a casino licensee or other person licensed under this act, or any person acting on behalf of or under any arrangement with a casino licensee or other person licensed under this act, cashes a check in conformity with the requirements of subsection b. of this section, the casino licensee shall cause the deposit of such check in a bank for collection or payment, or shall require an attorney or casino key employee with no incompatible functions to present such check to the drawer's bank for payment, within (1) seven calendar days of the date of the transaction for a check in an amount of $1,000.00 or less; (2) 14 calendar days of the date of the transaction for a check in an amount greater than $1,000.00 but less than or equal to $5,000.00; or (3) 45 calendar days of the date of the transaction for a check in an amount greater than $5,000.00. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the drawer of the check may redeem the check by exchanging cash, cash equivalents, chips, or a check which meets the requirements of subsection g. of this section in an amount equal to the amount for which the check is drawn; or he may redeem the check in part by exchanging cash, cash equivalents, chips, or a check which meets the requirements of subsection g. of this section and another check which meets the requirements of subsection b. of this section for the difference between the original check and the cash, cash equivalents, chips, or check tendered; or he may issue one check which meets the requirements of subsection b. of this section in an amount sufficient to redeem two or more checks drawn to the order of the casino licensee. If there has been a partial redemption or a consolidation in conformity with the provisions of this subsection, the newly issued check shall be delivered to a bank for collection or payment or presented to the drawer's bank for payment by an attorney or casino key employee with no incompatible functions within the period herein specified. No casino licensee or any person licensed or registered under this act, and no person acting on behalf of or under any arrangement with a casino licensee or other person licensed under this act, shall accept any check or series of checks in redemption or consolidation of another check or checks in accordance with this subsection for the purpose of avoiding or delaying the deposit of a check in a bank for collection or payment or the presentment of the check to the drawer's bank within the time period prescribed by this subsection.

In computing a time period prescribed by this subsection, the last day of the period shall be included unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or a State or federal holiday, in which event the time period shall run until the next business day.

d. No casino licensee or any other person licensed or registered under this act, or any other person acting on behalf of or under any arrangement with a casino licensee or other person licensed or registered under this act, shall transfer, convey, or give, with or without consideration, a check cashed in conformity with the requirements of this section to any person other than:

(1) The drawer of the check upon redemption or consolidation in accordance with subsection c. of this section;

(2) A bank for collection or payment of the check;

(3) A purchaser of the casino license as approved by the commission; or

(4) An attorney or casino key employee with no incompatible functions for presentment to the drawer's bank.

The limitation on transferability of checks imposed herein shall apply to checks returned by any bank to the casino licensee without full and final payment.

e. No person other than a casino key employee licensed under this act or a casino employee registered under this act may engage in efforts to collect upon checks that have been returned by banks without full and final payment, except that an attorney-at-law representing a casino licensee may bring action for such collection.

f. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, checks cashed in conformity with the requirements of this act shall be valid instruments, enforceable at law in the courts of this State. Any check cashed, transferred, conveyed or given in violation of this act shall be invalid and unenforceable for the purposes of collection but shall be included in the calculation of gross revenue pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-24).

g. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section to the contrary, a casino licensee may accept a check from a person to enable the person to take part in gaming or simulcast wagering activity as a player, may give cash or cash equivalents in exchange for such a check, or may accept a check in redemption or partial redemption of a check issued in accordance with subsection b., provided that:

(1) (a) The check is issued by a casino licensee, is made payable to the person presenting the check, and is issued for a purpose other than employment compensation or as payment for goods or services rendered;

(b) The check is issued by a banking institution which is chartered in a country other than the United States on its account at a federally chartered or state-chartered bank and is made payable to "cash," "bearer," a casino licensee, or the person presenting the check;

(c) The check is issued by a banking institution which is chartered in the United States on its account at another federally chartered or state-chartered bank and is made payable to "cash," "bearer," a casino licensee, or the person presenting the check; (d) The check is issued by a slot system operator or pursuant to an annuity jackpot guarantee as payment for winnings from a multi-casino progressive slot machine system jackpot; or

(e) The check is issued by an entity that holds a gaming license in any jurisdiction, is made payable to the person presenting the check, and is issued for a purpose other than employment compensation or as payment for goods or services rendered;

(2) The check is identifiable in a manner approved by the division as a check authorized for acceptance pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection;

(3) The check is dated, but not postdated;

(4) The check is presented to the cashier or the cashier's representative by the original payee and its validity is verified by the drawer in the case of a check drawn pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, or the check is verified in accordance with regulations promulgated under this act in the case of a check issued pursuant to subparagraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of paragraph (1) of this subsection; and

(5) The regulations concerning check cashing procedures are observed by the casino licensee and its employees and agents.

No casino licensee shall issue a check for the purpose of making a loan or otherwise providing or allowing any advance or credit to a person to enable the person to take part in gaming or simulcast wagering activity as a player.

h. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. and subsection c. of this section to the contrary, a casino licensee may, at a location outside the casino, accept a personal check or checks from a person for up to $5,000 in exchange for cash or cash equivalents, and may, at such locations within the casino or casino simulcasting facility as may be permitted by the division, accept a personal check or checks for up to $5,000 in exchange for cash, cash equivalents, tokens, chips, or plaques to enable the person to take part in gaming or simulcast wagering activity as a player, provided that:

(a) The check is drawn on the patron's bank or brokerage cash management account;

(b) The check is for a specific amount;

(c) The check is made payable to the casino licensee;

(d) The check is dated but not post-dated;

(e) The patron's identity is established by examination of one of the following: valid credit card, driver's license, passport, or other form of identification credential which contains, at a minimum, the patron's signature;

(f) The check is restrictively endorsed "For Deposit Only" to the casino licensee's bank account and deposited on the next banking day following the date of the transaction;

(g) The total amount of personal checks accepted by any one licensee pursuant to this subsection that are outstanding at any time, including the current check being submitted, does not exceed $5,000;

(h) The casino licensee has a system of internal controls in place that will enable it to determine the amount of outstanding personal checks received from any patron pursuant to this subsection at any given point in time; and

(i) The casino licensee maintains a record of each such transaction in accordance with regulations established by the division.

i. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.128).

j. A person may request the division to put that person's name on a list of persons to whom the extension of credit by a casino as provided in this section would be prohibited by submitting to the division the person's name, address, and date of birth. The person does not need to provide a reason for this request. The division shall provide this list to the credit department of each casino; neither the division nor the credit department of a casino shall divulge the names on this list to any person or entity other than those provided for in this subsection. If such a person wishes to have that person's name removed from the list, the person shall submit this request to the division, which shall so inform the credit departments of casinos no later than three days after the submission of the request.

k. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.128).

L.1977, c.110, s.101; amended 1985, c.245; 1987, c.426, s.4; 1991, c.182, s.39; 1992, c.9, s.11; 1992, c.19, s.33; 1993, c.292, s.21; 1995, c.18, s.38; 2002, c.65, s.23; 2004, c.128, s.1; 2004, c.184, s.8; 2009, c.36, s.17; 2011, c.19, s.68; 2012, c.34, s.8.