In lieu of buying the bonds of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority or in lieu of making a direct investment, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority may, in its sole discretion, permit a licensee to obtain an investment tax credit by making a donation of money or realty to an eligible project, facility or program. For the purposes of applying this section, a donation shall be deemed to be an investment and shall be subject to any provision of this 1984 amendatory and supplementary act which is relevant to an investment. No donation shall qualify for investment tax credit unless it has been approved and determined to be eligible for investment tax credit by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority prior to the making of the donation and provided that the granting of the waiver to make the donation will not violate any agreement or covenant or impair any financial obligation of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
N.J.S. § 5:12-177