83. a. An approved hotel for purposes of this act shall be a hotel providing facilities in accordance with this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the commission to determine the suitability of facilities as provided in this act, and nothing in this section shall be construed to require a casino to be smaller than the maximum size herein provided.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the commission, based on the provisions of this section, to determine the suitability of facilities, or to deny a license, for a small-scale casino facility or a staged casino facility that is permitted by law supplementing P.L.1977, c.110 (C. 5:12-1 et seq.).

b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2002, c.65).

c. A casino hotel shall include an approved hotel containing at least 500 qualifying sleeping units, as defined in section 27 of the “Casino Control Act,” P.L.1977, c.110 (C. 5:12-27), and a casino, the total square footage of which shall not exceed 60,000 square feet, except that for each additional 100 qualifying sleeping units above 500, the maximum amount of the casino space may be increased by 10,000 square feet, up to a maximum of 200,000 square feet of casino space. For the purpose of increasing casino space, an agreement approved by the commission for the addition of qualifying sleeping units within two years after the commencement of gaming operations in the additional casino space shall be deemed an addition of those sleeping units, but if the agreement is not fulfilled due to conditions within the control of the casino licensee, the casino licensee shall close the additional casino space or any portion thereof as directed by the commission.

d. Once a hotel is initially approved, the commission and the division shall thereafter rely on the certification of the casino licensee with regard to the number of qualifying sleeping units and shall permit replacement, rehabilitation, renovation and alteration of any part of the approved hotel even if the replacement, rehabilitation, renovation, or alteration will mean that the casino licensee does not temporarily meet the requirements of subsection c. so long as the licensee certifies that the replacement, rehabilitation, renovation, or alteration shall be completed within one year or such other reasonable period of time as the commission may approve.

e. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1987, c.352).

f. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1991, c.182).

g. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1991, c.182).

h. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1991, c.182).

i. The division shall not impose any criteria or requirements regarding the contents of the approved hotel in addition to the criteria and requirements expressly specified in the “Casino Control Act,” P.L.1977, c.110 (C. 5:12-1 et seq.) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that the division shall require each casino licensee to establish and maintain an approved hotel which is in all respects a superior, first-class facility of exceptional quality which will help restore Atlantic City as a resort, tourist and convention destination.

L.1977, c.110, s.83; amended 1979, c.282, s.19; 1987, c.352, s.1; 1991, c.182, s.23; 1992, c.9, s.6; 1993, c.159, s.11; 1993, c.292, s.13; 1995, c.18, s.24; 1996, c.84, s.4; 2002, c.65, s.14; 2011, c.19, s.47.