(a) The Administration may permit gaming aboard a passenger cruise vessel if: (1) The vessel has overnight cabin accommodations for at least 300 passengers; (2) The vessel is operated by an authorized cruise ship operator certified under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); and (3) The owner or operator of the vessel has obtained the required authorization as provided in this section. (b) (1) 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. (2) An application for authorization under this subsection shall include the following information: (i) The applicant's corporate name, address, and place of incorporation; (ii) The name of the applicant's liability insurer; (iii) The gaming rules to be in effect while the vessel is in the waters of the State; and (iv) 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. (3) 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. (c) (1) 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. (2) An authorization issued under this section authorizes gaming on the waters of the State only while the vessel: (i) Is underway; (ii) Is east of the Francis Scott Key Bridge; and (iii) Is operating under an itinerary that either originates or terminates in a foreign port outside the continental United States. (3) 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. (d) Any legal disputes arising from an authorization issued under this section shall be adjudicated under the applicable State or international maritime law. (e) A violation of any provision of this section or of any other applicable gaming law of the State: (1) Shall be investigated jointly by the Administration and the Department of State Police; and (2) 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. (f) The Administration may adopt regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
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