(a) Credit.--

(1) Notwithstanding section 1504 (relating to wagering on credit), a certificate holder may extend interest-free, unsecured credit to patrons for the purpose of playing slot machines or table games in accordance with this section; however, a certificate holder shall not accept credit cards, charge cards or debit cards from a patron or player for the exchange or purchase or chips, slot machine or table game credits or for an advance of coins or currency to be utilized by a player to play slot machine or table games. No credit card advance machine may be placed on the gaming floor.

(2) Prepaid access instruments are not deemed to be a credit card, charge card, debit card or any other instrument of credit and are not prohibited under this section. A device or other mechanism that allows or facilitates the funding of a prepaid access instrument shall not be deemed a credit card advance machine under this section.

(b) Credit applications.--Each application for credit submitted by a patron to a certificate holder shall be maintained in a confidential credit file. The application shall include the patron's name, address, telephone number and 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 certificate holder. The certificate holder shall notify each applicant that, as a condition of receiving credit, the certificate holder will verify identity and indebtedness information through a credit bureau or casino credit bureau and, if appropriate, through direct contact with other slot machine licensees.

(c) Credit application verification.--Prior to approving an application for credit, a certificate holder shall verify:

(1) The identity, creditworthiness and indebtedness information of the applicant by conducting a comprehensive review of the information submitted with the application and any information regarding the applicant's credit activity at other licensed facilities which the certificate holder may obtain through a casino credit bureau and, if appropriate, through direct contact with other slot machine licensees.

(2) That the applicant's name is not included on an exclusion list under section 1514 (relating to regulation requiring exclusion, ejection or denial of access of certain persons) or 1516 (relating to list of persons self excluded from gaming activities) or the voluntary credit suspension list under subsection (h).

(d) Establishment of credit.--Upon completion of the verification required under subsection (c), a certificate holder may grant a patron credit. The certificate holder shall establish a credit limit for each patron to whom the certificate holder grants credit. Each applicant's credit limit shall be approved by two or more employees of the certificate holder holding the job positions of credit manager, assistant credit manager, credit shift manager, credit executive or a key employee in a direct reporting line above the manager or credit manager. The approval shall be recorded in the applicant's credit file and shall include the reasons and information relied on for the approval of credit and verification by the employees approving the applicant's credit limit. Increases to an individual's credit limit may be approved following a written request from the individual and reverification of an individual's credit information.

(e) Recordkeeping.--Detailed information pertaining to all transactions affecting an individual's outstanding indebtedness to a certificate holder shall be recorded in chronological order in the individual's credit file.

(f) Reduction or suspension of credit.--A certificate holder may reduce an individual's credit limit or suspend credit to an individual for any reason.

(g) Voluntary credit suspension.--An individual may request a certificate holder to suspend the individual's credit. Each certificate holder shall inform the board when an individual requests a suspension of credit and shall provide the board with all information necessary to maintain the voluntary credit suspension list under subsection (h).

(h) Voluntary credit suspension list.--The board shall maintain a voluntary credit suspension list of all individuals who have requested suspension of credit privileges and shall provide the list on a continuous basis to the credit department of each certificate holder. An individual may request placement on the voluntary credit suspension list by submitting to the board the individual's name, address and date of birth. The individual does not need to provide a reason for the request. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the board's list of individuals who have had credit privileges voluntarily suspended shall be confidential, and neither the board nor the credit department of a certificate holder shall divulge the name of any individual on this list to any person or entity other than those provided for in this subsection. To be removed from the list, the individual shall submit a request to the board. The board shall remove the individual from the list and inform the credit department of each certificate holder not later than three business days after the board's receipt of the request.

(i) Liability.--A certificate holder or employee thereof shall not be liable to any individual on the voluntary credit suspension list or to any other party in any judicial proceeding for any harm, monetary or otherwise, which may arise as a result of:

(1) the failure of a certificate holder to restore credit privileges to an individual on the voluntary credit suspension list; or

(2) otherwise permitting an individual on the voluntary credit suspension list to engage in gaming activity in the licensed facility while on the voluntary credit suspension list.

(j) Tax liability.--Draws against unsecured credit extended to patrons pursuant to this section which become uncollectible may not be claimed by a certificate holder as a deduction, credit or any other type of reduction or offset against any tax imposed by this part or the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

(Oct. 30, 2017, P.L.419, No.42, eff. imd.)

2017 Amendment. Act 42 amended subsecs. (a) and (c).

Cross References. Section 13A27 is referred to in section 1611 of this title.