Florida Statutes 551.103 – Powers and duties of the commission and law enforcement
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(1) The commission shall adopt, pursuant to the provisions of ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, all rules necessary to implement, administer, and regulate slot machine gaming as authorized in this chapter. Such rules must include:
(a) Procedures for applying for a slot machine license and renewal of a slot machine license.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 551.103
- Commission: means the Florida Gaming Control Commission. See Florida Statutes 551.102
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Independent testing laboratory: means an independent laboratory:(a) With demonstrated competence testing gaming machines and equipment;(b) That is licensed by at least 10 other states; and(c) That has not had its license suspended or revoked by any other state within the immediately preceding 10 years. See Florida Statutes 551.102
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Slot machine: means any mechanical or electrical contrivance, terminal that may or may not be capable of downloading slot games from a central server system, machine, or other device that, upon insertion of a coin, bill, ticket, token, or similar object or upon payment of any consideration whatsoever, including the use of any electronic payment system except a credit card or debit card, is available to play or operate, the play or operation of which, whether by reason of skill or application of the element of chance or both, may deliver or entitle the person or persons playing or operating the contrivance, terminal, machine, or other device to receive cash, billets, tickets, tokens, or electronic credits to be exchanged for cash or to receive merchandise or anything of value whatsoever, whether the payoff is made automatically from the machine or manually. See Florida Statutes 551.102
- Slot machine license: means a license issued by the commission authorizing a pari-mutuel permitholder to place and operate slot machines as provided by Florida Statutes 551.102
- Slot machine licensee: means a pari-mutuel permitholder who holds a license issued by the commission pursuant to this chapter that authorizes such person to possess a slot machine within facilities specified in Florida Statutes 551.102
- Slot machine revenues: means the total of all cash and property, except nonredeemable credits, received by the slot machine licensee from the operation of slot machines less the amount of cash, cash equivalents, credits, and prizes paid to winners of slot machine gaming. See Florida Statutes 551.102
(b) Technical requirements and the qualifications contained in this chapter that are necessary to receive a slot machine license or slot machine occupational license.(c) Procedures to scientifically test and technically evaluate slot machines for compliance with this chapter. The commission may contract with an independent testing laboratory to conduct any necessary testing under this section. An independent testing laboratory shall not be owned or controlled by a licensee. The use of an independent testing laboratory for any purpose related to the conduct of slot machine gaming by a licensee under this chapter shall be made from a list of one or more laboratories approved by the commission.(d) Procedures relating to slot machine revenues, including verifying and accounting for such revenues, auditing, and collecting taxes and fees consistent with this chapter.(e) Procedures for regulating, managing, and auditing the operation, financial data, and program information relating to slot machine gaming that allow the commission and the Department of Law Enforcement to audit the operation, financial data, and program information of a slot machine licensee, as required by the commission or the Department of Law Enforcement, and provide the commission and the Department of Law Enforcement with the ability to monitor, at any time on a real-time basis, wagering patterns, payouts, tax collection, and compliance with any rules adopted by the commission for the regulation and control of slot machines operated under this chapter. Such continuous and complete access, at any time on a real-time basis, shall include the ability of either the commission or the Department of Law Enforcement to suspend play immediately on particular slot machines if monitoring of the facilities-based computer system indicates possible tampering or manipulation of those slot machines or the ability to suspend play immediately of the entire operation if the tampering or manipulation is of the computer system itself. The commission shall notify the Department of Law Enforcement or the Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the commission, as appropriate, whenever there is a suspension of play under this paragraph. The commission and the Department of Law Enforcement shall exchange such information necessary for and cooperate in the investigation of the circumstances requiring suspension of play under this paragraph.(f) Procedures for requiring each licensee at his or her own cost and expense to supply the commission with a bond having the penal sum of $2 million payable to the Governor and his or her successors in office for each year of the licensee’s slot machine operations. Any bond shall be issued by a surety or sureties approved by the commission and the Chief Financial Officer, conditioned to faithfully make the payments to the Chief Financial Officer in his or her capacity as treasurer of the commission. The licensee shall be required to keep its books and records and make reports as provided in this chapter and to conduct its slot machine operations in conformity with this chapter and all other provisions of law. Such bond shall be separate and distinct from the bond required in s. 550.125.(g) Procedures for requiring licensees to maintain specified records and submit any data, information, record, or report, including financial and income records, required by this chapter or determined by the commission to be necessary to the proper implementation and enforcement of this chapter.(h) A requirement that the payout percentage of a slot machine be no less than 85 percent.(i) Minimum standards for security of the facilities, including floor plans, security cameras, and other security equipment.(j) Procedures for requiring slot machine licensees to implement and establish drug-testing programs for all slot machine occupational licensees.
(2) The commission shall conduct such investigations necessary to fulfill its responsibilities under the provisions of this chapter.
(3) The Department of Law Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies shall have concurrent jurisdiction to investigate criminal violations of this chapter and may investigate any other criminal violation of law occurring at the facilities of a slot machine licensee, and such investigations may be conducted in conjunction with the appropriate state attorney.
(4)(a) The commission, the Department of Law Enforcement, and local law enforcement agencies shall have unrestricted access to the slot machine licensee’s facility at all times and shall require of each slot machine licensee strict compliance with the laws of this state relating to the transaction of such business. The commission, the Department of Law Enforcement, and local law enforcement agencies may:
1. Inspect and examine premises where slot machines are offered for play.
2. Inspect slot machines and related equipment and supplies.
(b) In addition, the commission may:
1. Collect taxes, assessments, fees, and penalties.
2. Deny, revoke, suspend, or place conditions on the license of a person who violates any provision of this chapter or rule adopted pursuant thereto.
(5) The commission shall revoke or suspend the license of any person who is no longer qualified or who is found, after receiving a license, to have been unqualified at the time of application for the license.
(6) This section does not:
(a) Prohibit the Department of Law Enforcement or any law enforcement authority whose jurisdiction includes a licensed facility from conducting investigations of criminal activities occurring at the facility of the slot machine licensee;
(b) Restrict access to the slot machine licensee’s facility by the Department of Law Enforcement or any local law enforcement authority whose jurisdiction includes the slot machine licensee’s facility; or
(c) Restrict access by the Department of Law Enforcement or local law enforcement authorities to information and records necessary to the investigation of criminal activity that are contained within the slot machine licensee’s facility.