Patron Request for Suspension of Credit Privileges

(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)1. 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.