Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) Any person may voluntarily suspend his or
her credit privileges at all gaming establishments by submitting a written
request to the commission in accordance with 205 CMR 138.44. Such requests
shall be submitted to a designated agent as described in accordance with 205
CMR 138.44(3) or mailed to a designated address with a notarized signature in
accordance with 205 CMR 138.44(2)(h). An individual requesting suspension of
credit privileges shall present a valid government issued photo
identification.
(2) A request for
suspension of credit privileges shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the
commission, which shall include the following:
(a) The name of the person requesting
suspension of credit privileges;
(b) The address of the person's
residence;
(c) The person's date of
birth;
(d) The name of each gaming
establishment where the person currently has an approved line of
credit;
(e) The duration for which
they wish to have their credit privileges suspended. An individual may select
any of the following time periods as a minimum length of suspension:
1. Six months;
2. One year;
3. Three years;
4. Five years; or
5. Lifetime.
(f) The signature of the person requesting
suspension of credit privileges acknowledging the following statement:
"I certify that the information which I have provided above is true and
accurate. I am aware that my signature below authorizes the Massachusetts
Gaming Commission to direct all Massachusetts gaming licensees to suspend my
credit privileges for a minimum period of six months from the date of this
request and indefinitely thereafter, until such time as I submit a written
request to the Commission for the reinstatement of any such credit
privileges.";
(g) If the
request for suspension of credit privileges is made in person:
1. The type of government issued photo
identification examined; and
2. The
signature of the designated agent indicating that the signature of the person
requesting suspension of credit privileges appears to agree with that contained
on his or her government issued photo identification and that the photograph of
the person appears to agree with his or her actual appearance; and
3. If the request for suspension of credit
privileges is made by mail, a certificate of acknowledgement executed by a
notary public or other person empowered by law to take oaths attesting to the
identity of the person who is making the request for suspension of credit
privileges.
(3)
(a) An application for suspension of credit
privileges made in person may only be accepted by a designated agent. An
individual may only become a designated agent by successfully completing a
course of training approved and administered by the commission or its designee.
The course of training shall include, at a minimum, instruction on completion
of the application, information relative to problem gambling and available
resources, and an understanding of
205
CMR 138.40 through
138.46.
A designated agent must be a licensed, certified, or registered heath or mental
health professional or employee thereof, or an employee of a gaming licensee,
the commission, or other government entity. The commission may refuse to offer
training to any individual whose service as a designated agent it determines
would be contrary to the aims of
205
CMR 138.40 through
138.46.
(b) Upon submission of an application, a
designated agent shall review the application with the applicant. If the
application is complete, the designated agent shall sign the application
indicating that the review has been performed and the application has been
accepted.
(c) A designated agent
may not sign an application if any required information is not
provided.
(d) The designated agent
shall forward the signed application for suspension of credit to the commission
within 24 hours of completion in a manner directed by the commission.
(e) Upon receipt of an application, the
commission, or its designee, shall review it for completeness. If the
application meets all requirements of
205
CMR 138.40 through
138.46
the application shall be approved, and the individual's name shall be added to
the credit suspension list. If the application is incomplete, the commission,
or its designee, may deny the application and make efforts to contact the
applicant advising them of such.
(f) In addition to 205 CMR 138.44(3)(d), if
an application is made in person at a gaming establishment, the designated
agent shall promptly transmit a completed application to the gaming licensee's
credit department such that any existing credit line for that individual may be
immediately suspended and that no new credit may be extended.
(4) The commission shall maintain
an updated master list of all persons who have requested suspension of credit
privileges pursuant to 205 CMR 138.44, and shall update the master list in the
database.
(a) Each gaming licensee shall
suspend the credit privileges of any listed individual, promptly upon receipt
of notice that such individual's name has been added to the list.
(b) Each gaming licensee shall note any
suspension or reinstatement of credit privileges pursuant to 205 CMR 138.44 in
any existing credit file for the affected patron, including the following:
1. A copy of any applicable commission notice
of the suspension or reinstatement of credit privileges;
2. The date, time and signature of the credit
department representative making the suspension or reinstatement entry in the
credit file.
(5)
Any person whose credit privileges have been suspended pursuant to 205 CMR
138.44 may, no sooner than six months after the request for suspension of
credit privileges, request reinstatement of his or her credit privileges by
submitting a written request to the commission in accordance with the
procedures specified in 205 CMR 138.44(1).
(a)
Such request shall be in a form prescribed by the commission, which shall
include the following:
1. The information
specified in 205 CMR 138.44; and
2.
The signature of the person requesting reinstatement of credit privileges,
indicating acknowledgement of the following statement: "I certify that
the information which I have provided above is true and accurate. I am aware
that my signature below constitutes a revocation of my previous request for
suspension of credit privileges, and authorizes the Massachusetts Gaming
Commission to permit any Massachusetts gaming licensee to reinstate my credit
privileges."
(b)
The commission shall remove such individual's name from the list established
pursuant to
205
CMR 138.44, and update the master list in the
database within seven days of receipt of the request.
(c) Upon receipt of notice that such
individual's name has been removed from the list, a gaming licensee may
reinstate such person's credit upon re-verification of the information required
by 205 CMR
138.43(2)(c) l. through 4.,
or may extend credit to such person in accordance with the procedures set forth
in 205 CMR
138.43.
(6) Information furnished to or obtained by
the commission pursuant to 205 CMR 138.44 shall be securely maintained. No
gaming licensee shall divulge any information relative to the placement of an
individual's name on the master list other than to authorized credit department
employees at the gaming establishment or to an authorized commission
employee.
