N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69D-1.25

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 13:69D-1.25 - Procedure for acceptance of checks, cash equivalents, and credit cards; issuance of Counter Checks or Slot Counter Checks

(a) A casino licensee may, at a location outside the casino, accept a personal check or checks from a person for up to $ 5,000 in exchange for cash or cash equivalents and may, within a casino at a cashiers' cage, satellite cage, or a slot booth, accept a personal check or checks from a person for up to $ 5,000 in exchange for cash, cash equivalents, tokens, chips, or plaques to enable that person to take part in gaming or simulcast wagering as a player, provided that:

1. The check is drawn on the patron's bank or brokerage cash management account;

2. The check is for a specific amount;

3. The check is made payable to the casino licensee;

4. The check is dated but not post-dated. However, a cashier's check that is drawn after 3:00 P.M. on a Friday or on a Saturday, Sunday, or bank holiday and is dated for the next banking day shall not be considered post-dated and may be accepted;

5. The patron's identity is verified in accordance with N.J.S.A. 5:12-101(h);

6. The check is restrictively endorsed "For Deposit Only" to the casino licensee's bank account or, for an electronic check, an alternative methodology approved by the Division, and deposited on the next banking day following the date of the transaction;

7. The total amount of personal checks accepted by any one licensee pursuant to this subsection that are outstanding at any time, including the current check being submitted, does not exceed $ 5,000;

8. The casino licensee has a system of internal controls in place that will enable it to determine the amount of outstanding personal checks received from any patron pursuant to this subsection at any given point in time; and

9. The casino licensee maintains a record of each such transaction.

(b) A casino licensee may accept a check or checks from a person in exchange for cash or cash equivalents, in order to establish a customer deposit account or in payment of outstanding Counter Checks, provided that:

1. The check is:

i. For a specific amount, dated but not post-dated, accepted at the cashiers' main cage or satellite cage by general cashiers, and issued by a casino licensee, which is made payable to the person presenting the check, and issued for a purpose other than employment compensation or as payment for goods or services rendered (a casino check);

ii. Issued by a banking institution which is chartered in a country other than the United States on its account at a Federally-chartered or state-chartered bank and made payable to "cash," "bearer," the casino licensee, or the person presenting the check (a foreign bank check);

iii. Issued by a banking institution that is chartered in the United States on its account at another Federally-chartered or state-chartered bank and made payable to "cash," "bearer," the casino licensee, or the person presenting the check (a domestic bank check);

iv. Issued by a slot system operator or pursuant to an annuity jackpot guarantee as payment for winnings from a WAP or MSPS slot machine system jackpot (slot system operator check); or v. Issued by an authorized Internet gaming operator that is in partnership with the casino licensee where the check is presented and which is made payable to the person presenting the check, and issued for a purpose other than employment compensation or as payment for goods or services rendered (an Internet gaming operator check);

2. The patron's identity is verified in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:69D-1.5A; and

3. A casino employee records the date, time and method of verification which shall be completed by:

i. For a casino check, confirming the validity of the check with the drawer of the check and that the check has not been issued for the purpose of employment compensation or as payment for goods or services rendered; or

ii. For other checks presented pursuant to this subsection, ensuring the validity of the bank upon which the check is drawn.

(c) A casino licensee may accept traveler's checks and cash equivalents from a person at the cashiers' main cage or satellite cage by general cashiers for:

1. Exchanging cash or cash equivalents;

2. Establishing a customer deposit account; or

3. Payment of outstanding Counter Checks.

(d) Upon a patron's request, or if required by a casino licensee, an instrument accepted pursuant to (b) or (c) above may be held for repurchase. If not held for repurchase, the instrument shall be restrictively endorsed "For Deposit Only" to the casino licensee's bank account and deposited on the next banking day following the date of the transaction. For instruments held for repurchase, a casino licensee shall limit the repurchase rights of the patron to a maximum of five calendar days following the date of acceptance. If the patron fails to repurchase the instrument within five days, the casino licensee shall restrictively endorse the instrument "For Deposit Only" to the bank account of the casino licensee and deposit the item no later than the next banking day.

(e) A person may obtain cash or slot tokens at the cashiers' cage or slot booth or cash at the simulcast counter or keno booth to be used for gaming purposes by presenting a recognized credit or debit card to a general cashier, pari-mutuel cashier, keno writer, or slot cashier. When processing the transaction for cash, the casino shall follow the procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:69D-1.18C and those established by the card's issuer. When processing the transaction for slot tokens, the casino licensee shall follow the procedures established by the card's issuer.

(f) A casino licensee may, at a location within the casino, authorize a patron who has established a computerized patron account in accordance with this chapter to draw against it using a Counter Check or Slot Counter Check. All patron account transactions shall be recorded in chronological order including the following:

1. The date and amount of each cash deposit;

2. The date, amount, location of issuance and number of each check issued to the patron;

3. The date, amount, and check number of each consolidation check and the check numbers of the check(s) returned to the patron;

4. The date, method and amount of each redemption transaction and the check number of the check(s) returned to the patron;

5. The date and amount of each substitution transaction and the check number of the check(s) returned to the patron;

6. The date, amount and check number of each check deposited;

7. The date, amount and check number of each check returned to the casino licensee by the patron's bank and the reason for its return;

8. The outstanding balance after each transaction; and

9. The date, amount and check number of any checks which have been partially or completely written off by the casino licensee and a brief explanation of the reason for such write off.

(g) When the computer system is inoperable, a casino licensee may issue manual Counter Checks and Slot Counter Checks against an approved credit limit or patron deposit account provided that a check bank cashier maintains a manual record with the information required in (f) above in the check bank. The record shall include, the patron's name, account number and, if applicable, approved credit limit. When the system becomes operable, the manual transaction information shall be entered into the computer system by a cage cashier or above. The computer system shall maintain a record of the date and time the information was entered and the identification of the cashier or above entering the information.

(h) Whenever a patron requests to withdraw funds from a patron account by a Counter Check or Slot Counter Check, a general cashier, casino clerk, floorperson, or above, or a slot attendant or above if the counter check is issued at a slot machine, shall notify a general cashier or casino clerk who is to issue the Counter Check or Slot Counter Check that a patron has requested to access his or her front money or credit account and that a Counter Check or Slot Counter Check is required. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a casino licensee from using a written request or requiring a patron who requests a Counter Check or Slot Counter Check to sign such a written request.

(i) Prior to generating a Counter Check or Slot Counter Check, the patron's identity shall be verified by:

1. A general cashier or casino clerk or a slot attendant for a Slot Counter Check issued at a slot machine who shall examine the patron's government issued identification pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69D-1.5A;

2. A casino or slot supervisor attesting to the identity of the patron; or

3. The general cashier or casino clerk who, during his or her shift, previously verified the patron's identity in accordance with (i)1 above.

(j) A general cashier or casino clerk shall verify that there are sufficient funds in the patron account to satisfy the patron's request for a Counter Check or Slot Counter Check by accessing the patron account at a computer terminal. If the computer system is inoperable, the general cashier or casino clerk shall obtain the available balance from a check bank cashier.

(k) All Counter Checks and Slot Counter Checks shall be four-part forms (original, redemption, issuance and accounting) and sequentially numbered, the series numbers of which shall be accounted for by casino accounting department employees with no incompatible functions.

1. Computer generated Counter Checks and Slot Counter Checks shall be inserted in a printer that will simultaneously print the original and the duplicates and store the information in machine-readable form that shall not be susceptible to change or removal.

2. Manually prepared Counter Checks and Slot Counter Checks shall be attached in a manner that will permit an individual check in the series and all duplicate copies to be written upon simultaneously and will allow for the removal of the original and all copies.

3. The original and all copies of void Counter Checks shall be marked "VOID" and shall require the signature of the preparer and the reason for the void.

(l) A Counter Check or Slot Counter Check shall be prepared by a general or slot booth cashier or casino clerk, as applicable, and made payable to the casino licensee or include an indication that the funds are drawn from a patron deposit account. Counter Checks and Slot Counter Checks shall, at a minimum, include the following:

1. The patron's name;

2. The name of the patron's bank or an indication that the funds are drawn from a patron deposit account;

3. The date and time of issuance;

4. The location of issuance (pit or cashiering location identifier);

5. The amount of the check expressed in numbers and words;

6. A restrictive endorsement "for deposit only" to the casino licensee's bank account (only on the back of the original check); and

7. The signature of the preparer.

(m) For Counter Checks issued at a table game, a general cashier or casino clerk shall present the Counter Check to a casino supervisor who shall review the Counter Check for accuracy and sign the original and duplicates. The general cashier or casino clerk shall then present the original and duplicates to the patron for signature; provided, however, that a casino licensee may require the patron to sign only the original and have a computer generated facsimile of the signature exemplar obtained from the patron's identification file pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69D-1.5A preprinted on the duplicates.

1. A general cashier or casino clerk shall maintain the accounting copy in a secure location in the pit until transferred to the casino accounting department at the end of the gaming day.

2. In the presence of a casino supervisor, the issuance copy shall be distributed to the dealer or boxperson who upon receipt shall, issue gaming chips and/or plaques to the patron in an amount equal to the Counter Check. The dealer or boxperson shall then sign the issuance copy and deposit the issuance copy in the drop box.

3. The original and redemption copy shall be:

i. Transported expeditiously to the cage by a security department member, cage supervisor, or pneumatic tube system, and maintained in the check bank; or

ii. Maintained by a general cashier or casino clerk in a secure location in the pit approved by the Division, if the patron requests that the Counter Check be held for pit redemption. No later than the end of the gaming day, if not redeemed, the original and redemption copy of Counter Checks shall be removed from each gaming pit and expeditiously forwarded to the check bank for processing.

(n) A casino licensee may elect to issue funds to a patron who has requested a Counter Check prior to the Counter Check being issued to and signed by the requesting patron. Such funds shall be evidenced by a lammer for the requested amount of the Counter Check being placed on the table in a location visible to surveillance. The lammer shall remain on the table until the Counter Check has been signed and placed in the drop box. The failure or refusal of the patron to sign the Counter Check after receiving the funds shall result in the Counter Check being deposited in the drop box with a notation that the patron refused to sign. A casino licensee shall be prohibited from voiding a Counter Check because the patron refuses to sign.

(o) For Slot Counter Checks issued to the patron at the cashier's cage, satellite cage, or slot booth, the general or slot booth cashier shall present the original and all duplicate copies to the patron for signature; provided, however, that a casino licensee may require the patron to sign only the original and have a computer generated facsimile of the signature exemplar obtained from the patron's identification file pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69D-1.5A preprinted on the duplicate copies. The general or slot booth cashier shall:

1. Prior to the issuance of funds to the patron, obtain the signature of a cage, slot booth, or slot supervisor on the original and duplicates verifying that the Slot Counter Check was prepared for the correct amount and correct patron at the time of issuance;

2. Issue cash, tokens, gaming chips or plaques, or gaming voucher(s) to the patron in an amount equal to the Slot Counter Check and maintain the issuance copy in his or her imprest drawer;

3. Deliver the original and redemption copy to the check bank via pneumatic tube, security department member or cage supervisor, as applicable; and 4. Place the accounting copy in a locked accounting box located in the cage or slot booth until transferred to the casino accounting department at the end of the gaming day.

(p) For Slot Counter Checks issued to a patron at a slot machine:

1. The general cashier or slot booth cashier shall prepare a slot counter check and issue the cash, tokens, or cashier generated gaming voucher(s) to a slot attendant or above who shall verify that the amount received agrees to the Slot Counter Check. The slot attendant or above shall sign the original and all copies.

2. The slot attendant or above shall be escorted by a security department member, a slot department supervisor with no incompatible functions, or a general cashier or above (verifier) who shall verify that the amount received agrees to the Slot Counter Check. The verifier shall sign the original and duplicates. The slot attendant or above shall return the issuance copy to the general cashier or slot booth cashier to evidence receipt of the funds, and maintain the original, redemption, and accounting copy in order to complete the transaction at a slot machine;

3. The slot attendant or above, in the presence of the verifier, shall present the original, redemption and accounting copy of the Slot Counter Check to the patron for signature, provided, however, that a casino licensee may require the patron to sign only the original of the Slot Counter Check and have a computer-generated facsimile of the signature exemplar obtained from the patron's identification file pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69D-1.5A preprinted on the duplicate copies. The slot attendant or above and the verifier shall sign the back of the accounting copy of the Slot Counter Check evidencing the transfer of the funds to the patron; and 4. The slot attendant or above who conducted the transaction shall return the original, redemption, and accounting copies to the general cashier or slot booth cashier who shall:

i. Agree the documents to the issuance copy;

ii. Deliver the original and redemption copy to the check bank via pneumatic tube, security department member or cage supervisor, as applicable;

iii. Maintain the issuance copy in his or her imprest drawer; and

iv. Place the accounting copy and the Request in a locked accounting box located in the cage or slot booth until transferred to the casino accounting department at the end of the gaming day.

(q) In addition to presenting the Counter Check or Slot Counter Check to the requesting patron for signature, the general cashier or casino clerk shall present to the patron a printed question "Are you the Governor, any State officer or employee, or any special State officer or employee, any member of the Judiciary, any member of the Legislature, any officer of a municipality or county in which casino gaming is authorized, or any gaming related casino employee?" The cashier or casino clerk shall record the requesting patron's answer on the accounting copy of the Counter Check or Slot Counter Check prior to depositing it in the locked accounting box.

(r) A check bank cashier shall acknowledge receipt of the original and redemption copies of the Counter Check or Slot Counter Check by entering a confirmation into the computer system.

(s) A casino accounting department employee with no incompatible functions shall obtain, on a daily basis, the accounting copy of all Counter Checks and Slot Counter Checks from the gaming pits and locked accounting boxes in the cage or slot booth for reconciliation to the issuance copy removed from the table game drop boxes and stored data.

(t) Each casino licensee shall create internal controls sufficient to ensure its ability to file the quarterly report required by N.J.S.A. 5:12-99.a(17) regarding the issuance of casino credit to certain State employees and gaming personnel.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69D-1.25

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 1954(a), effective 8/3/2015

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 612(b), effective 1/16/2018

Amended by 56 N.J.R. 1182(b), effective 7/1/2024