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<section article="gtr" article_name="Transportation" number="6-209" title_number="6" title_name="Ports" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Maryland Port Commission and Maryland Port Administration">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Administration may permit gaming aboard a passenger cruise vessel if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The vessel has overnight cabin accommodations for at least 300 passengers;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The vessel is operated by an authorized cruise ship operator certified under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The owner or operator of the vessel has obtained the required authorization as provided in this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The owner, operator, or any franchise holder of a cruise vessel described in subsection (a) of this section may apply to the Administration for authorization to conduct gaming aboard the vessel.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An application for authorization under this subsection shall include the following information:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The applicant’s corporate name, address, and place of incorporation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The name of the applicant’s liability insurer;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The gaming rules to be in effect while the vessel is in the waters of the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A schedule of all cruise operations for which authorization is requested, including arrival and departure dates and the identification of the vessel for each cruise.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In addition to the information required under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the applicant shall send a complete copy of the application to the Department of State Police.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An authorization issued by the Administration to a qualified applicant under this section shall remain valid for a period of not more than 1 year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An authorization issued under this section authorizes gaming on the waters of the State only while the vessel:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is underway;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Is east of the Francis Scott Key Bridge; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Is operating under an itinerary that either originates or terminates in a foreign port outside the continental United States.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Administration may not issue an authorization under this section for a vessel on an excursion undertaken solely for gaming purposes even though the vessel may leave the territorial waters of the United States during the excursion.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Any legal disputes arising from an authorization issued under this section shall be adjudicated under the applicable State or international maritime law.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A violation of any provision of this section or of any other applicable gaming law of the State:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Shall be investigated jointly by the Administration and the Department of State Police; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In addition to any other penalties provided by law, may result in the withdrawal of an authorization issued under this section after the affected party has been granted an opportunity for a hearing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Administration may adopt regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
