§ 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 fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

History of Section. (P.L. 2014, ch. 502, § 3; P.L. 2014, ch. 533, § 3; P.L. 2016, ch. 5, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 6, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 4, § 4.)