Casino Control (Patron Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2009

A casino operator and a patron shall be taken to be unable to resolve a dispute to the satisfaction of the patron under section 111(1) of the Act, when ––

[Deleted by S 56/2013 wef 31/01/2013]

[Deleted by S 56/2013 wef 31/01/2013]

[Deleted by S 56/2013 wef 31/01/2013]

Where an inspector has made a decision under section 111(2) of the Act that payment should be made by either the casino operator or the patron, the party by whom payment is to be made shall pay the other party within a period of 30 days after the date of the inspector’s decision, unless a request for reconsideration is made before the end of that period.

Any casino operator which fails to make payment within the time delimited under paragraph (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under section 54 of the Act.

Any request to the Authority for reconsideration of an inspector’s decision under section 112(1) of the Act shall ––

The Authority shall, without delay, refer a request made in accordance with paragraph (1) to a Patron Dispute Committee.

For the purposes of section 112(4) of the Act, the Authority shall appoint a committee to be known as the Patron Dispute Committee, comprising a chairman and such other members as the Authority may appoint from among persons who are not officers, employees or members of the Authority.

A member of the Patron Dispute Committee shall be appointed on such conditions and for such term as the Authority may determine.

The Authority may at any time revoke the appointment of the chairman or any member of the Patron Dispute Committee, and may appoint any person to fill any vacancy which may arise in the Committee.

The chairman shall preside at proceedings before a Patron Dispute Committee, but if the chairman is absent or otherwise unable to participate in the proceedings, the Authority may appoint another member of the Committee to preside at those proceedings.

A quorum of the Patron Dispute Committee shall consist of 2 members.

A decision of the Patron Dispute Committee may be made by a simple majority of the members present and voting at any proceedings, except that in the case of an equality of votes, the chairman or in his absence, the member presiding, shall have the casting vote.

Where a member (including the chairman) of the Patron Dispute Committee is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in any dispute, and the interest could conflict with the proper performance of the member’s duties in relation to the dispute, the member shall immediately disclose the nature of his interest at any proceedings of the Committee for a reconsideration in respect of that dispute, and shall not participate in the reconsideration.

For the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum under paragraph (5) for any proceeding for reconsideration, a member shall be treated as not being present at the proceedings if, under paragraph (7), he cannot participate in the reconsideration.

The Authority may appoint a secretary to the Patron Dispute Committee and such other officers as may be required to enable the Patron Dispute Committee to carry out its functions under the Act.

A Patron Dispute Committee shall consider every request referred to it under regulation 6(2) and, in relation to the dispute, shall determine whether payment should be made and by which party.

All proceedings of the Patron Dispute Committee for reconsideration shall be conducted in an informal manner and held in private.

The Patron Dispute Committee shall not be bound by the rules of evidence but may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it thinks fit.

Except where the patron concerned in the dispute or the employee or officer authorised to represent the casino operator in the proceedings is himself a counsel, no party to any proceedings before a Patron Dispute Committee shall be represented by counsel.

The Patron Dispute Committee shall give each party to the proceedings a reasonable opportunity to be heard (whether in person or otherwise) and shall consider any explanation so given.

The Patron Dispute Committee may, in any proceedings by notice in writing, require any person to —

The Patron Dispute Committee may direct any inspector to carry out any further investigation of the dispute and submit a report on his findings.

Where any person fails to provide the necessary information or documents within the time specified in the notice in paragraph (6), the Patron Dispute Committee may make its decision on the basis of the facts and information available to it.

The Patron Dispute Committee may confirm, vary or reverse the inspector’s decision.

The decision of the Patron Dispute Committee shall be in writing and shall be served on the casino operator and the patron concerned.

Notwithstanding regulations 7 and 8, a Patron Dispute Committee may, if it thinks fit, deliberate on and make any decision by the circulation of papers among all of the members of the Patron Dispute Committee.

A member of the Patron Dispute Committee who is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in any dispute, which interest could conflict with the proper performance of the member’s duties in relation to the dispute —

A decision in writing made by a simple majority of the members of the Patron Dispute Committee for the time being entitled to take part in the decision in respect thereof shall be taken to be a decision of the Patron Dispute Committee, and shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been made at a meeting of the Patron Dispute Committee duly convened and held.

Separate copies of a decision in writing may be distributed for signing by the members if the wording of the decision is identical in each copy.

For the purpose of a decision under this regulation, the chairman and each member shall have the same voting rights as they have at any meeting of the Patron Dispute Committee.

The decision of the Patron Dispute Committee shall be made when the last member thereof required for the majority signs and his decision is duly delivered to the secretary.

The chairman may stipulate a period of time within which a decision must be made under this regulation.

For the purposes of this regulation, papers, including disclosures and decisions, may be circulated among members or delivered to the secretary by hand or facsimile or electronic transmission of the information in the papers concerned.

The record of every proceedings before the Patron Dispute Committee for a reconsideration shall include —

The record of proceedings shall ––

The secretary to the Patron Dispute Committee shall keep and maintain —

The casino operator and the patron concerned shall not be entitled to any copy of records made or kept under paragraph (1) or (3).

An appeal to the Authority against a decision of the Patron Dispute Committee under section 114 of the Act shall ––

The Authority may refuse to consider any appeal which fails to comply with paragraph (1).

When the Authority receives an appeal under regulation 10, the Authority shall —

Where the grounds of appeal or statements under paragraph (1) contain any matters not previously considered by the Patron Dispute Committee, the Authority may, before making its decision, call upon a Patron Dispute Committee to give its opinion thereon.

The Patron Dispute Committee which gives its opinion on the matters referred to in paragraph (1A) need not comprise the same members as the Patron Dispute Committee which made the decision being appealed against.

The Authority may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the Patron Dispute Committee.

The decision by the Authority shall be in writing and shall be served on the casino operator and patron concerned.