HB 29-20: Fair Play in Gaming Act (Passed)

[Dr. MB]

A Bill

Ensuring fairness regarding payment of winnings at gaming facilities

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,


SECTION 1 - TITLE

This bill may be cited as the "Fair Play in Gaming Act of 2021".  


SECTION II - DEFINITIONS  

1. The term "gaming machine" is hereby defined as any device which, as installed at a non-Native American operated casino, purports to pay out any jackpot or sum of money.  

2. The term "malfunction" is defined as a failure of a gaming machine's operating system which renders the game unplayable.  

3. The term "violation" is defined as the refusal of a non-Native American operated casino to pay out any sum that is legitimately won (subject to the terms of this bill).  


SECTION III - FINDINGS

1. Congress finds as follows:

  A. There have been numerous instances of casinos that have refused to award advertised jackpots to winners of such.

  B. In the majority of these cases, such refusals are based upon claims of gaming machines having "malfunctioned".  In this regard, casinos claim that devices mistakenly and erroneously show the winning of a prize.  

  C. Mechanical breakdowns of slot-based gaming machines are extremely rare in occurrence.  

  D. In the event of a legitimate win, casinos should pay amounts that they advertise as potentially being paid.  


SECTION IV - GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. In order to ensure the good working order of gaming machines, inspections of such shall take place every six months.  The gaming commissions of individual states shall be charged with the operation and oversight of these inspections.  

2. In cases of legitimate jackpot wins, casinos shall pay at least the amount advertised as the "maximum jackpot", excepting cases where a malfunction or player fraud is conclusively proven.  

3. Any casino subsequently required to pay a jackpot shall begin payments of funds no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after a claim of victory.  

4. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as requiring jackpot payouts from Native American-operated casinos.  


SECTION V - PENALTIES

1. A casino found to be in violation of Section IV sub-section 2 shall have its gaming license suspended for no less than ninety (90) days.  

2. Thereafter, for every thirty (30) days that a casino continues to be in violation of Section IV sub-section 2, no less than thirty (30) days shall be added to the suspension of such a casino's gaming license.  

3. If a casino continues to be in violation of Section IV sub-section 2 for a period exceeding one (1) year, the associated state gaming commission may choose to permanently suspend the casino's gaming license.  


SECTION VI - IMPLEMENTATION

1. This legislation shall take effect immediately after passage.  

Sponsor: Fairbol (Civilian)

Sponsor, please advocate for your bill. Then there will be 72 hours for debate.

[Dr. MB]

Since Fairbol seems MIA I can sponsor this.

[Dr. MB]

With no objection I'm recognized as sponsor.

I'm not the author of this bill but this seems like a fairly common-sense measure. Casinos taking advantage of their customers is a bad thing, I think we can all agree, and this bill would help to curb that. People go to the casinos to gamble fairly. They should be entitled to fair compensation should they win and no lame excuses.

[Dr. MB]

Unless anyone has anything further to say I motion for a final vote.

[Dr. MB]

A final vote has started. 72 hours

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[Dr. MB]

This bill passes.

Aye (5): MB, Ishan, Deadprez, Talleyrand, Ninja (late)
Nay (1): Lfromnj
Abstain (2): Harvey, Razze
No vote (1): Cao

[Dr. MB]

A Bill

Ensuring fairness regarding payment of winnings at gaming facilities

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,


SECTION 1 - TITLE

This bill may be cited as the "Fair Play in Gaming Act of 2021".  


SECTION II - DEFINITIONS  

1. The term "gaming machine" is hereby defined as any device which, as installed at a non-Native American operated casino, purports to pay out any jackpot or sum of money.  

2. The term "malfunction" is defined as a failure of a gaming machine's operating system which renders the game unplayable.  

3. The term "violation" is defined as the refusal of a non-Native American operated casino to pay out any sum that is legitimately won (subject to the terms of this bill).  


SECTION III - FINDINGS

1. Congress finds as follows:

  A. There have been numerous instances of casinos that have refused to award advertised jackpots to winners of such.

  B. In the majority of these cases, such refusals are based upon claims of gaming machines having "malfunctioned".  In this regard, casinos claim that devices mistakenly and erroneously show the winning of a prize.  

  C. Mechanical breakdowns of slot-based gaming machines are extremely rare in occurrence.  

  D. In the event of a legitimate win, casinos should pay amounts that they advertise as potentially being paid.  


SECTION IV - GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. In order to ensure the good working order of gaming machines, inspections of such shall take place every six months.  The gaming commissions of individual states shall be charged with the operation and oversight of these inspections.  

2. In cases of legitimate jackpot wins, casinos shall pay at least the amount advertised as the "maximum jackpot", excepting cases where a malfunction or player fraud is conclusively proven.  

3. Any casino subsequently required to pay a jackpot shall begin payments of funds no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after a claim of victory.  

4. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as requiring jackpot payouts from Native American-operated casinos.  


SECTION V - PENALTIES

1. A casino found to be in violation of Section IV sub-section 2 shall have its gaming license suspended for no less than ninety (90) days.  

2. Thereafter, for every thirty (30) days that a casino continues to be in violation of Section IV sub-section 2, no less than thirty (30) days shall be added to the suspension of such a casino's gaming license.  

3. If a casino continues to be in violation of Section IV sub-section 2 for a period exceeding one (1) year, the associated state gaming commission may choose to permanently suspend the casino's gaming license.  


SECTION VI - IMPLEMENTATION

1. This legislation shall take effect immediately after passage.  

Passed 5-1-2-1 in the Atlasian House assembled