16-633 C.M.R. ch. 13, § 6 - Duties of licensed slot facilities and casinos

1. Each casino or slot facility must:

A. Have and make available to all patrons the Request for Self-Exclusion form and information regarding how to access virtual Self-Exclusion options as approved by the Board;

B. Designate a person or persons to be the contact person for the Board for purposes of self-exclusion procedures, including receipt and maintenance of the self-exclusion list, submission of the casino or slot facility's procedures, and all other communications between the Board and the casino or slot facility for self-exclusion purposes. The casino must provide the name and contact information of the designated person or persons to the Executive Director and promptly notify the Executive Director of any changes;

C. Post or provide at each entrance and exit to the gaming premises, and in conspicuous places in or near gaming and cage areas and cash dispensing machines located on the gaming premises, written materials concerning the nature and symptoms of problem gambling and concerning the procedure for self-exclusion, including where to obtain the Request for Self-Exclusion form, virtual Self-Exclusion resources, and the toll free number of the Problem Gambling Helpline or a similar entity approved by the Board that provides information and referral services for problem gamblers; and

D. Comply with the provisions of section 2 of this chapter.

2. Each casino or slot facility shall implement training procedures for all new employees, and annual re-training for all employees who directly interact with gaming patrons in gaming areas, regarding problem gambling. That training shall, at a minimum, consist of information concerning the nature of problem gambling, the procedures for requesting self-exclusion, and the ways to assist patrons in obtaining information about problem gambling programs. This section shall not be construed to impose a duty upon employees of casinos or slot facilities to identify problem gamblers nor to impose any liability for failure to do so. Each casino or slot facility shall designate personnel responsible for maintaining the training program.

3. Each casino or slot facility shall submit their training programs to the Maine Gambling Control Board for approval every two years.

4. Each casino or slot facility shall establish and follow procedures and systems that are designed, to the greatest extent practicable, to:

A. Permit appropriate employees to identify an excluded person when present in a casino or slot facility and upon identification immediately notify the following persons:

(1) Those employees of the casino or slot facility designated to monitor the presence of excluded persons; and

(2) Designated representatives of the Board via electronic mail;

B. Refuse access to the gaming floor for any excluded person identified on the casino or slot facility's exclusion list, the involuntary list, or the Board's exclusion list;

C. Utilize the player tracking systems and other electronic means, including checking all taxable patron winnings against the exclusion lists, to assist in determining whether the excluded person is participating in any gaming activities;

D. Deactivate any player club card or similar item issued to an excluded person for the purpose of gambling;

E. Deny check cashing privileges, player club membership, complimentary goods and services, junket participation and other similar privileges and benefits to any excluded person; and

F. Ensure that excluded persons do not receive, either from the casino or slot facility, or any agent thereof, mailings, solicitations, telemarketing promotions, player club materials or other promotional materials relating to gaming activities at its licensed casino or slot facility,

5. If a casino or slot facility detects, or is notified of, the presence of a patron suspected of being on an exclusion list on the premises, the licensee shall verify using reasonable measures, that the patron is on an exclusion list and the basis for the exclusion.

6. Upon verification by a casino or slot facility that any excluded person has obtained access to the gaming floor, the casino or slot facility shall:

A. Promptly take steps to remove such person from the gaming floor however the casino or slot facility deems best to protect the safety and welfare of the public and the facility's employees, and to notify the Board or its designee of the breach;

B. Require the security and surveillance departments to immediately determine:

(1) How the person was able to gain access to the premises without being detected; and

(2) How the casino or slot facility plans to prevent such breaches in the future.

7. Each casino or slot facility shall submit to the Board for written approval a copy of its procedures established under this Section within 90 days of the rule's adoption, Any amendment to the casino or slot facility's procedures shall be submitted to the Board for approval at least thirty (30) days prior to its implementation.

8. Any casino or slot facility violating any requirements of this Chapter may be subject to disciplinary action by the Gambling Control Board.

Notes

16-633 C.M.R. ch. 13, § 6