<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".10" citation="COMAR 36.02.02.10" title_num="36" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="02" heading="Sanctions and Agency Actions on a License.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Director may impose sanctions on a retailer or take action on a license for:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Violating or failing to fulfill the retailer’s responsibilities or a condition of a license under this subtitle;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Violating:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A provision of the lottery law or other applicable law;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A regulation adopted under the lottery law; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An order or directive of the Agency;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Providing the Agency with false or misleading information;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Failing to cooperate with the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Failing to remit, or failing to make timely remittance of, funds owed to the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Failing to meet the retailers sales requirements as set by the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Failing to display lottery point of sale material and equipment as directed by the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Failing to make tickets available for sale as directed by the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Taking tickets, vouchers, or coupons intended for players;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Failing to provide a player their voucher, coupon, cash or other item of value;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Discounting lottery prizes;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Selling lottery tickets by phone or other electronic means;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Selling lottery tickets over the Internet;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Selling lottery tickets at a price higher than the price established by the Director;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>Extending credit for the purchase of lottery tickets;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>Facilitating a person other than the owner of the lottery ticket under COMAR 36.02.06.02 to claim a prize;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>Conducting or permitting any illegal activity on the premises;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>Allowing an individual who is not a retailer employee to operate lottery equipment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(19)">
      <text>Improperly managing customer data;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(20)">
      <text>Damaging or altering, or allowing another person to damage or alter, materials or equipment provided to the retailer by the Agency or a contractor of the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(21)">
      <text>Interfering with a lottery game;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(22)">
      <text>Failing to prepare, submit, or implement an adequate corrective plan under Regulation .09 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(23)">
      <text>Changing ownership of the retailer’s business without prior notice to the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(24)">
      <text>Closing the retailer’s operations without prior notice to the Agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(25)">
      <text>Engaging in conduct, or permitting an employee to engage in conduct, that impairs the reputation of the lottery, or would otherwise bring the State into disrepute;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(26)">
      <text>Being the subject of administrative or judicial charges related to the conduct of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Illegal gaming;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Failing to pay taxes;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Defrauding the government, a government program, or government services; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any other fraudulent activity;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(27)">
      <text>Possessing an illegal gaming device;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(28)">
      <text>Possessing materials or equipment indicating involvement by the retailer or the retailer’s employees in the conduct of illegal gaming;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(29)">
      <text>Having a history of thefts or other forms of losses of Lottery tickets or revenue; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(30)">
      <text>Other activities or actions deemed by the Director to require the imposition of a sanction.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Types of Sanctions and Agency Actions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Sanctions or Agency actions may include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Agency temporarily disabling a retailer’s terminal;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Agency disabling specific game sales on a retailer’s terminal;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Emergency suspension of a retailer’s license;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Suspension of a retailer’s license;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Termination of a retailer’s probationary or special license;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Revocation of a retailer’s license; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Placing a limitation of the license of a retailer.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Limitations on a license may include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Ineligibility for or removal from the Expanded Cashing Authority Program under COMAR 36.02.03.08; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Placement of conditions on the retailer’s operations.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Disabling a Retailer’s Terminal.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a retailer fails to timely remit funds or if the required funds are not available for withdrawal, the Agency shall disable the retailer’s terminal.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the retailer pays the Agency for any outstanding amount owed, including bank charges, the Agency may re-enable the retailer’s terminal.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Suspension, Revocation, and Limitation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as set forth in §E of this regulation, the Director shall give the retailer notice of the intended suspension or revocation at least 15 days before the imposition of the intended sanction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A retailer may appeal the Directors imposition of a sanction before the date the sanction is imposed by submitting a request for a hearing before the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Commissions final action on a sanction is subject to judicial review as provided in State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Emergency Suspension.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other requirement of this chapter, if the Director determines that immediate action is necessary to protect against an imminent, serious threat by a retailer to the security, financial stability, reputation, or integrity of the lottery, the Director may suspend the license of a retailer without prior notice.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the Director emergently suspends a retailer’s license, the Director shall provide the retailer with written notice that includes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A statement of the authority upon which the suspension is based;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The nature of the violation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The duration of suspension;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Information about the retailer’s obligation to submit to the Agency a corrective plan; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A statement of the retailers right to request a Commission hearing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A hearing on an emergency suspension of a retailer license shall be conducted in accordance with the hearing requirements in COMAR 36.01.02.06.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If after a license is emergently suspended, the retailer does not submit a timely written request for a Commission hearing, the Director may move to revoke the retailers license by giving the retailer notice under §C(1) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Agency Action. After the Director terminates a probationary or special license or imposes an emergency suspension or sanction on a retailer with a regular license, the Agency may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Disable the retailer’s terminal;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Require the retailer to surrender, or direct the Lottery Central System contractor to remove, any materials or equipment that were provided to the retailer by the Agency or the Lottery Central System contractor;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Direct the retailer to immediately:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Cease selling or displaying lottery products;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Render a final accounting to the Agency in a manner specified by the Director; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Pay all funds owed the Agency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Return all unsold lottery tickets;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Remove or cover any signage advertising lottery products or services; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Take any other action necessary to protect the security, financial stability, reputation, or integrity of the Agency.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Reapplication. A person may not reapply to be a retailer or be included in the application of another person for 1 year after the later of:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The final action on a sanction; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If judicial review of the final action on a sanction is taken, the date an adverse decision is entered against the retailer by the highest court to which an appeal is taken.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>