2023 -- H 6313

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LC002809

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES,

TABLE GAMES AND SPORTS WAGERING

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, and Finkelman

     Date Introduced: April 21, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-61.2-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-61.2 entitled "Video

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Lottery Games, Table Games and Sports Wagering" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-61.2-1. Definitions.

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     For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall mean:

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     (1) “2017 Budget Act” means 2017 — H 5175 Substitute A, as amended, entitled “An Act

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Relating to Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for the Fiscal Year ending June 30,

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2018,” which Act was signed into law by the Governor of Rhode Island on August 3, 2017.

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     (2) “Casino gaming” means any and all table and casino-style games played with cards,

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dice, or equipment, for money, credit, or any representative of value; including, but not limited to:

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roulette, blackjack, big six, craps, poker, baccarat, paigow, any banking or percentage game, or any

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other game or device included within the definition of Class III gaming as that term is defined in

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Section 2703(8) of Title 25 of the United States Code and that is approved by the state through the

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division of state lottery.

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     (3) “Central communication system” means a system approved by the Division, linking all

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Video Lottery Terminals at a licensed video lottery retailer location to provide auditing program

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information and any other information determined by the Division. In addition, the central

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communications system must provide all computer hardware and related software necessary for the

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establishment and implementation of a comprehensive system as required by the Division.

 

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     (4) “Collegiate sports or athletic event” means a sporting event offered or sponsored by or

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played in connection with, a public or private institution that offers educational services beyond

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the secondary level, but shall not include a collegiate sports contest or collegiate athletic event that

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takes place in Rhode Island or a sports contest or athletic event in which any Rhode Island college

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team participates regardless of where the event takes place unless such contest or event is part of a

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collegiate tournament.

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     (5) “Collegiate tournament” means a series of collegiate sports or athletic events involving

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four (4) or more collegiate teams that make up a single unit of competition.

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     (5)(6) “Consolidated promotional points program” means, collectively, the “Initial

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Promotional Points Program” and the “Supplementary Promotional Points Program” applicable to

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the Lincoln gaming facility and the “Initial Promotional Points Program” and the “Supplementary

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Promotional Points Program” applicable to the Tiverton gaming facility, with each of the terms

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“Initial Promotional Points Program” and “Supplementary Promotional Points Program” having

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the meanings given such terms in the 2017 Budget Act.

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     (6)(7) “Credit facilitator” means any employee of a licensed video lottery retailer approved

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in writing by the Division whose responsibility is to, among other things, review applications for

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credit by players, verify information on credit applications, grant, deny, and suspend credit,

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establish credit limits, increase and decrease credit limits, and maintain credit files, all in

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accordance with this chapter and rules and regulations approved by the Division.

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     (7)(8) “DBR” means the department of business regulation, division of gaming and

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athletics licensing, and/or any successor in interest thereto.

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     (8)(9) “Director” means the director of the Division.

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     (9)(10) “Division” means the state lottery division of the department of revenue and/or any

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successor in interest thereto.

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     (10)(11) “Hosting facility” refers to the Lincoln gaming facility and the Tiverton gaming

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facility.

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     (11)(12) “IGT” means IGT Global Solutions Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

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     (12)(13) “Licensed video lottery retailer” means a pari-mutuel licensee specifically

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licensed by the Director subject to the approval of the Division to become a licensed video lottery

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retailer.

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     (13)(14) “Lincoln gaming facility” means the gaming and entertainment facility located at

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100 Twin River Road in the town of Lincoln, Rhode Island (sometimes referred to as “Twin River”

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or the “Twin River gaming facility”).

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     (14)(15) “Marketing Year” means the fiscal year of the state.

 

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     (15)(16) “Net table-game revenue” means win from table games minus counterfeit

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currency.

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     (16)(17) “Net terminal income” means currency placed into a Video Lottery Terminal less

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credits redeemed for cash by players.

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     (17)(18) “Newport Grand” means Newport Grand, LLC, a Rhode Island limited-liability

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company, successor to Newport Grand Jai Alai, LLC, and each permitted successor to and assignee

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of Newport Grand, LLC under the Newport Grand Master Contract, including, without limitation,

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Premier (as defined in subsection (25) of this section) and/or Twin River-Tiverton (as defined in

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subsection (40) of this section) provided it is a pari-mutuel licensee (as defined in this section);

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provided, further, however, where the context indicates that the term is referring to the physical

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facility, then it shall mean the gaming and entertainment facility located at 150 Admiral Kalbfus

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Road, Newport, Rhode Island.

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     (18)(19) “Newport Grand Marketing Year” means each fiscal year of the state or a portion

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thereof between November 23, 2010, and the termination date of the Newport Grand Master

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Contract.

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     (19)(20) “Newport Grand Master Contract” means that certain master video lottery

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terminal contract made as of November 23, 2005, by and between the division of lotteries of the

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Rhode Island department of administration and Newport Grand, as amended and extended from

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time to time as authorized therein and/or as such Newport Grand Master Contract may be assigned

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as permitted therein.

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     (20)(21) “Online gaming account” means an account opened by a patron that such patron

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shall use for the deposit and withdrawal of funds used for online sports wagering.

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     (21)(22) “Online sports wagering” means engaging in the act of sports wagering by the

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placing of wagers on sporting events or a combination of sporting events, or on the individual

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performance statistics of athletes in a sporting event or a combination of sporting events, over the

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internet through computers, mobile applications on mobile devices or other interactive devices

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approved by the Division, which wagers are accepted by a server-based gaming system located at

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the premises of a hosting facility authorized to accept sports wagers and administer payoffs of

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winning sports wagers; all such wagers shall be deemed to be placed and accepted at the premises

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of a hosting facility.

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     (22)(23) “Online sports-wagering revenue” means:

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     (i) The total of cash or cash equivalents received from online sports wagering minus the

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total of:

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     (I) Cash or cash equivalents paid to players as a result of online sports wagering;

 

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     (II) Marketing expenses related to online sports wagering as agreed to by the Division, the

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sports-wagering vendor, and the host facilities, as approved by the Division; and

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     (III) Any federal excise taxes (if applicable).

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     (ii) The term does not include any of the following:

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     (I) Counterfeit cash.

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     (II) Coins or currency of other countries received as a result of online sports wagering,

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except to the extent that the coins or currency are readily convertible to cash.

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     (III) Cash taken in a fraudulent act perpetrated against a hosting facility or sports-wagering

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vendor for which the hosting facility or sports-wagering vendor is not reimbursed.

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     (IV) Free play provided by the hosting facility or sports-wagering vendor as authorized by

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the Division to a player and subsequently “won back” by the hosting facility or sports-wagering

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vendor, for which the hosting facility or sports-wagering vendor can demonstrate that it or its

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affiliate has not been reimbursed in cash.

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     (23)(24) “Pari-mutuel licensee” means:

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     (i) An entity licensed pursuant to § 41-3.1-3; and/or

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     (ii) An entity licensed pursuant to § 41-7-3.

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     (24)(25) “Payoff,” when used in connection with sports wagering, means cash or cash

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equivalents paid to a player as a result of the player’s winning a sports wager. A “payoff” is a type

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of “prize,” as the term “prize” is used in chapters 61, 61.2, and 61.3 of this title.

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     (25)(26) “Premier” means Premier Entertainment II, LLC and/or its successor in interest

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by reason of the acquisition of the stock, membership interests, or substantially all of the assets of

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such entity.

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     (26)(27) “Prior marketing year,” means, with respect to a marketing year, the most recent

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previous marketing year during which the Division operated a majority of the authorized video

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lottery games at each of the Lincoln gaming facility and the Tiverton gaming facility for at least

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360 days (or 361 days in the case there are 366 days in such marketing year). For the avoidance of

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doubt, because the Division will not have operated a majority of the authorized video lottery games

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at the Lincoln gaming facility and at the Tiverton gaming facility for at least 361 days during the

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marketing year expiring on June 30, 2020, the prior marketing year with respect to the marketing

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year expiring on June 30, 2021, shall be the marketing year expiring on June 30, 2019.

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     (27)(28) “Promotional points” has the meaning given such term in the 2017 Budget Act.

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     (28)(29) “Rake” means a set fee or percentage of cash and chips representing cash wagered

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in the playing of a nonbanking table game assessed by a table games retailer for providing the

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services of a dealer, gaming table, or location, to allow the play of any nonbanking table game.

 

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     (29)(30) “Server-based gaming system” means all hardware, software, and

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communications devices that comprise a system utilized for the purpose of offering an electronic

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platform used in connection with the process of placing and accepting sports wagers.

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     (30)(31) “Sporting event” means any professional sport or athletic event, any Olympic or

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international sports competition event, and any collegiate sport or athletic event, and any other

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event authorized by the division or any portion thereof, including, but not limited to, the individual

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performance statistics of athletes in a sports event or combination of sports events, except “sporting

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event” shall not include a :

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     (i) The individual performance statistics of athletes in a collegiate sports or athletic event

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which is part of a collegiate tournament:

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     (A) Takes place in Rhode Island; or

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     (B) In which any Rhode Island college team participates regardless of where the event

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takes place; or

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     (ii) Any other prohibited sporting event as determined by the division.

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     (31)(32) “Sports wagering” means the business of accepting wagers on sporting events or

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a combination of sporting events, or on the individual performance statistics of athletes in a sporting

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event or combination of sporting events, by any system or method of wagering. The term includes,

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but is not limited to, exchange wagering, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools, and straight bets,

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and the term includes the placement of such bets and wagers. However, the term does not include,

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without limitation, the following:

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     (i) Lotteries, including video lottery games and other types of casino gaming operated by

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the state, through the Division, as of June 22, 2018.

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     (ii) Pari-mutuel betting on the outcome of thoroughbred or harness horse racing, or

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greyhound dog racing, including but not limited to, pari-mutuel wagering on a race that is

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“simulcast” (as defined in § 41-11-1), as regulated elsewhere pursuant to the general laws,

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including in chapters 3, 3.1, 4, and 11 of title 41.

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     (iii) Off-track betting on racing events, as regulated elsewhere pursuant to the general laws,

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including in chapter 10 of title 41.

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     (iv) Wagering on the respective scores or points of the game of jai alai or pelota and the

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sale of pari-mutuel pools related to such games, as regulated elsewhere pursuant to the general

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laws, including in chapter 7 of title 41.

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     (v) Lotteries, charitable gaming, games of chance, bingo games, raffles, and pull-tab lottery

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tickets, to the extent permitted and regulated pursuant to chapter 19 of title 11.

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     (32)(33) “Sports-wagering device” means any mechanical, electrical, or computerized

 

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contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device, apparatus, equipment, or supplies approved by the

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Division and used to conduct sports wagering.

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     (33)(34) “Sports-wagering revenue” means:

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     (i) The total of cash or cash equivalents received from sports wagering minus the total of:

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     (I) Cash or cash equivalents paid to players as a result of sports wagering;

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     (II) The annual flat fee to the host communities as defined by § 42-61.2-5(c);

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     (III) Marketing expenses related to sports wagering as agreed to by the Division, the sports-

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wagering vendor, and the host facilities, as approved by the Division; and

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     (IV) Any federal excise taxes (if applicable).

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     (ii) The term does not include any of the following:

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     (I) Counterfeit cash.

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     (II) Coins or currency of other countries received as a result of sports wagering, except to

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the extent that the coins or currency are readily convertible to cash.

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     (III) Cash taken in a fraudulent act perpetrated against a hosting facility or sports-wagering

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vendor for which the hosting facility or sports-wagering vendor is not reimbursed.

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     (IV) Free play provided by the hosting facility or sports-wagering vendor as authorized by

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the Division to a patron and subsequently “won back” by the hosting facility or sports-wagering

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vendor, for which the hosting facility or sports-wagering vendor can demonstrate that it or its

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affiliate has not been reimbursed in cash.

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     (34)(35) “Sports-wagering vendor” means any entity authorized by the Division to operate

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sports betting on the Division’s behalf in accordance with this chapter.

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     (35)(36) “Table game” or “Table gaming” means that type of casino gaming in which table

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games are played for cash or chips representing cash, or any other representation of value that has

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been approved by the Division, using cards, dice, or equipment and conducted by one or more live

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persons.

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     (36)(37) “Table-game retailer” means a retailer authorized to conduct table gaming

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pursuant to § 42-61.2-2.1 or § 42-61.2-2.3.

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     (37)(38) “Technology provider” means any individual, partnership, corporation, or

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association that designs, manufactures, installs, maintains, distributes, or supplies Video Lottery

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Terminals or associated equipment for the sale or use in this state.

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     (38)(39) “Tiverton gaming facility” means the gaming and entertainment facility located

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at the intersection of William S. Canning Boulevard and Stafford Road in the town of Tiverton,

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Rhode Island (sometimes referred to as “Twin River-Tiverton”).

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     (39)(40) “Twin River” (sometimes referred to as “UTGR”) means UTGR, Inc., a Delaware

 

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corporation, and each permitted successor to and assignee of UTGR, Inc.; provided, however,

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where the context indicates that the term is referring to a physical facility, then “Twin River” shall

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mean the Lincoln gaming facility.

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     (40)(41) “Twin River-Tiverton” means Twin River-Tiverton, LLC and/or its successor in

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interest by reason of the acquisition of the stock, membership interests, or substantially all of the

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assets of such entity; provided, however, where the context indicates that the term is referring to a

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physical facility, then “Twin River-Tiverton” shall mean the Tiverton gaming facility.

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     (41)(42) “Twin River-Tiverton Marketing Year” has the same meaning as Marketing Year

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(as defined in subsection (14) of this section).

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     (42)(43) “Twin River-Tiverton Master Contract” has the same meaning as Newport Grand

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Master Contract (as defined in subsection (19) of this section).

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     (43)(44) “UTGR Master Contract” means that certain master video lottery terminal

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contract made as of July 1, 2005, by and between the division of lotteries of the Rhode Island

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department of administration (now the division of lotteries of the Rhode Island department of

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revenue) and Twin River, as amended and extended from time to time as authorized therein and/or

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as such UTGR Master Contract may be assigned as permitted therein.

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     (44)(45) “Video Lottery Agreement” means that certain Video Lottery Central Computer

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System Agreement dated as of December 20, 2001, by and between IGT and the Division, as

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amended, extended, assigned, and assumed from time to time.

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     (45)(46) “Video lottery games” means lottery games played on Video Lottery Terminals

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controlled by the Division.

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     (46)(47) “Video lottery terminal” means any electronic computerized video game machine

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that, upon the insertion of cash or any other representation of value that has been approved by the

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Division, is available to play a video game authorized by the Division, and that uses a video display

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and microprocessors in which, by chance, the player may receive free games or credits that can be

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redeemed for cash. The term does not include a machine that directly dispenses coins, cash, or

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tokens.

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     (47)(48) “VLT Agreement” means that certain Video Lottery Terminal Technology

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Provider License Agreement dated as of September 28, 2000, by and between IGT and the Division,

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as amended, extended, assigned, and assumed from time to time.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES,

TABLE GAMES AND SPORTS WAGERING

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     This act would amend the definitions of "collegiate sports or athletic event" and "sporting

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event" within the chapter on "video lottery games, table games and sports wagering".

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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