Title 58—RECREATION PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD [ 58 PA. CODE CHS. 525,
535, 543, 549, 553 AND 565 ]Table Game Amendments; Temporary Rulemaking [41 Pa.B. 2329]
[Saturday, May 7, 2011]The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board), under its general authority in 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A03 (relating to temporary table game regulations), enacted by the act of January 7, 2010 (P. L. 1, No. 1) (Act 1), and the specific authority in 4 Pa.C.S. §§ 13A02(1) and (2) (relating to regulatory authority), amends temporary regulations in Chapters 525, 535, 543, 549, 553 and 565 to read as set forth in Annex A. The Board's temporary regulations will be added to Part VII (relating to Gaming Control Board) as part of Subpart K (relating to table games).
Purpose of the Temporary Rulemaking
This temporary rulemaking amends Chapter 525 (relating to table game internal controls) and the rules of Pai Gow, Midibaccarat, Blackjack, Poker and Three Card Poker to add additional side wagers and in response to comments received from certificate holders.
Explanation of Chapters 525, 535, 543, 549, 553 and 565
Section 525.9 (relating to procedures for distributing gaming chips, coins and plaques to gaming tables) is amended for clarity and allows the use of a Fill Slip form book to complete manual fills. Fill Slips that are electronically prepared now require a three-part form. The cage copy stays with the chip bank cashier who filled the request, the accounting copy and original go out with the value chips to the gaming floor. The original is dropped in the table game drop box and the accounting copy goes with the security escort back to the main cage.
In § 525.16 (relating to table inventory counts on a per shift basis), the preparation of a Table Inventory Slip is changed from a per shift basis to every shift that the table was open for gaming.
In § 525.18 (relating to transport of table game drop boxes to and from gaming tables), a floorperson or above may now verify the number of table game drop boxes removed from the gaming floor instead of the drop team supervisor.
In Chapter 535 (relating to Pai Gow), § 535.9 (relating to alternative dealing procedures) is amended to allow dealers or players who act as the bank or co-bank to offer any of the traditional delivery styles in paragraphs (1)—(9).
In § 543.2(f) (relating to Midibaccarat table physical characteristics), the reference to Minibaccarat was changed to Midibaccarat.
In Chapter 549 (relating to Blackjack), the Bet the Set 21 Wager and the King's Bounty Wager were added as optional side wagers. The table characteristics for the two additional wagers were added in § 549.2 (relating to Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections) and new §§ 549.21 and 549.22 (relating to Bet the Set 21 Wager; payout odds; and King's Bounty Wager; payout odds; payout limitation) address the rules of play and the payout odds for the two additional wagers.
In Chapter 553 (relating to Poker), an optional High Hand Jackpot was added in § 553.21 (relating to High Hand payouts; posting of rules; contributions; counting and displaying of payout amount; procedures for implementation). The High Hand Jackpot is funded through contributions made during a qualifying period. The certificate holder is required to specify the duration of the qualifying period in its table games Rules Submission. The player with the highest poker hand during the qualifying period is entitled to 100% of the contribution amounts collected during the qualifying period. The contribution amount is separate from the rake, which is still collected from each pot.
Subsection (b) requires certificate holders to post notice regarding eligibility and the rules of play applicable at a table offering the High Hand Jackpot payout. The requirements for counting the contribution amounts are addressed in subsections (d) and (e). Subsection (f) specifies how the highest poker hand during a qualifying period is recorded. The requirements for distributing the High Hand Jackpot payout are addressed in subsections (g)—(i).
In Chapter 565 (relating to Three Card Poker), missing language was added in § 565.6(d)(4) (relating to Three Card Poker rankings) specifying that a full house is hand consisting of three-of-a-kind and a pair of the same rank regardless of suit.
Affected Parties
The amendments in this temporary rulemaking will allow certificate holders additional options on how to conduct table games at their licensed facilities.
Fiscal Impact
Commonwealth. The Board does not expect that the amendments in this temporary rulemaking will have fiscal impact on the Board or other Commonwealth agencies. Internal control procedures submitted by certificate holders regarding table games rules submissions will be reviewed by Board staff.
Political subdivisions. This temporary rulemaking will not have direct fiscal impact on political subdivisions of this Commonwealth. Eventually, host municipalities and counties will benefit from the local share funding that is mandated by Act 1.
Private sector. The amendments in this temporary rulemaking will give certificate holders some additional flexibility as to how they conduct table games.
General public. This temporary rulemaking will not have direct fiscal impact on the general public.
Paperwork Requirements
If a certificate holder selects different options for the play at table games, the certificate holder will be required to submit an updated rules submission reflecting the changes.
Effective Date
This temporary rulemaking will become effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Public Comments
While this temporary rulemaking will be effective upon publication, the Board is seeking comments from the public and affected parties as to how these temporary regulations might be improved. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding this temporary rulemaking within 30 days after the date of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin to Susan A. Yocum, Assistant Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, P. O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060, Attention: Public Comment on Regulation #125-146.
Contact Person
The contact person for questions about this temporary rulemaking is Susan A. Yocum, Assistant Chief Counsel, (717) 265-8356.
Regulatory Review
Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A03, the Board is authorized to adopt temporary regulations which are not subject to sections 201—205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P. L. 769, No. 240) (45 P. S. §§ 1201—1208), known as the Commonwealth Documents Law (CDL), the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. §§ 745.1—745.12) and sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the Commonwealth Attorneys Act (71 P. S. §§ 732-204(b) and 732-301(10)). These temporary regulations expire 2 years after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Findings
The Board finds that:
(1) Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A03, the temporary regulations are exempt from the requirements of the Regulatory Review Act, sections 201—205 of the CDL and sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the Commonwealth Attorneys Act.
(2) The adoption of the temporary regulations is necessary and appropriate for the administration and enforcement of 4 Pa.C.S. Part II (relating to gaming).
Order
The Board, acting under 4 Pa.C.S. Part II, orders that:
(1) The regulations of the Board, 58 Pa. Code Chapters 525, 535, 543, 549, 553 and 565, are amended by amending §§ 525.9, 525.16, 525.18, 535.9, 543.2, 549.2, 553.1 and 565.6 and by adding §§ 549.21, 549.22 and 553.21 to read as set forth in Annex A, with ellipses referring to the existing text of the regulations.
(2) The temporary regulations are effective May 7, 2011.
(3) The temporary regulations will be posted on the Board's web site and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(4) The temporary regulations are subject to amendment as deemed necessary by the Board.
(5) The Chairperson of the Board shall certify this order and Annex A and deposit them with the Legislative Reference Bureau as required by law.
GREGORY C. FAJT,
ChairpersonFiscal Note: 125-146. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A TITLE 58. RECREATION PART VII. GAMING CONTROL BOARD Subpart K. TABLE GAMES CHAPTER 525. TABLE GAME INTERNAL CONTROLS § 525.9. Procedures for distributing gaming chips, coins and plaques to gaming tables.
(a) A request for a fill shall be prepared by a pit clerk or floorperson or above using a Fill Request Slip. Access to the blank Fill Request Slips shall be restricted to pit clerks and floorpersons or above.
(b) A Fill Request Slip must be a two-part form on which the following information, at a minimum, shall be recorded:
(1) The date, time and shift of preparation.
(2) The denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques to be distributed to the gaming table.
(3) The total amount of each denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques to be distributed to the gaming table.
(4) The game and table number to which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are to be distributed.
(5) The signature of the floorperson or above requesting the fill.
(c) After the preparation of the Fill Request Slip, the cage copy of the Fill Request Slip shall be transported directly to the chip bank by a security department employee.
(d) The original of the Fill Request Slip shall be placed by the dealer or boxperson in view of the slot machine licensee's surveillance system on the gaming table to which gaming chips, coins and plaques are to be received. When the chips, coins and plaques are received, the amounts shall be verified by the dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table and then the original of the Fill Request Slip shall be deposited in the table game drop box.
(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (a)—(d), a request for a fill may be prepared electronically if the input data for preparation of the fill is entered by, and ability to input data is restricted to, the pit clerk or a floorperson or above, and a Fill Slip is generated in the chip bank, as a direct result of the input.
(f) A Fill Slip shall be prepared by a chip bank cashier or, if the required information was input in conformity with subsection (e), the Fill Slip may be electronically generated in the chip bank.
(g) Fill Slips must be serially prenumbered forms. Each series of Fill Slips shall be used in sequential order, and the series number of all Fill Slips received by a certificate holder shall be accounted for by employees with no incompatible functions. Original and copies of voided Fill Slips shall be marked ''Void'' and require the signature of the preparer.
(h) When Fill Slips are manually prepared, the following procedures and requirements shall be observed:
(1) Each series of Fill Slips must be a three-part form and shall be inserted in a locked dispenser or bound in a Fill Slip form book that permits an individual Fill Slip in the series and its copies to be written upon simultaneously while still locked in the dispenser or bound in the Fill Slip form book.
(2) The Fill Slip dispenser must discharge the original and accounting copy of the Fill Slip while the cage copy remains in a continuous, unbroken form in the dispenser. When a Fill Slip form book is utilized, the cage copy must remain in the bound Fill Slip form book until removed in accordance with paragraph (3).
(3) Access to the triplicate copies of the Fill Slips shall be maintained and controlled by finance department employees with no incompatible functions who are responsible for controlling and accounting for the unused supply of Fill Slips, placing Fill Slips in the dispensers and removing the cage copies of the Fill Slips from the dispensers or Fill Slip form book each gaming day.
(i) When Fill Slips are electronically prepared, each series of Fill Slips must be a three-part form and:
(1) Be inserted in a printer that will simultaneously print an original and accounting and cage copies of the Fill Slip.
(2) Store, in machine readable form, the information printed on the original and cage and accounting copies of the Fill Slips. The stored data may not be susceptible to change or removal by any personnel involved in the preparation of a Fill Slip after the Fill Slip has been prepared.
(j) Copies of a Fill Slip, and when applicable, the stored data, must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The denominations of the gaming chips, coins and plaques being distributed.
(2) The total amount of each denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques being distributed.
(3) The total amount of all denominations of gaming chips, coins and plaques being distributed.
(4) The game and table number to which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are being distributed.
(5) The date and shift during which the distribution of gaming chips, coins and plaques occurs.
(6) The signature of the preparer or, if electronically prepared, the identification code of the preparer.
(k) The time of preparation of the Fill Slip shall be recorded on the original and cage and accounting copies of the Fill Slip upon preparation.
(l) Gaming chips, coins and plaques distributed to the gaming tables from the chip bank shall be transported directly to the gaming tables from the chip bank by a security department employee who shall compare the Fill Request Slip to the Fill Slip and sign the original and accounting copies of the Fill Slip attesting to the accuracy of the fill.
(m) Signatures attesting to the accuracy of the information contained on a Fill Slip shall be required on the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slip of the following employees at the following times:
(1) The chip bank cashier upon preparation.
(2) The security department employee transporting the gaming chips, coins and plaques to the gaming table upon receipt from the cashier of the gaming chips, coins and plaques to be transported.
(3) The dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table upon receipt and verification of the amounts of the gaming chips, coins and plaques at the gaming table from the security department employee.
(4) The floorperson assigned to the gaming table upon receipt and verification of the amounts of the gaming chips, coins and plaques at the gaming table.
(n) After meeting the signature requirements in subsection (m), the security department employee that transported the gaming chips, coins and plaques and the original and accounting copy of the Fill Slip to the gaming table shall observe the immediate placement by the dealer or boxperson of the original Fill Slip and the original Fill Request Slip in the drop box attached to the gaming table to which the gaming chips, coins and plaques were transported. The security department employee shall then return the accounting copy of the Fill Slip to the cage where it shall be inserted into a locked accounting box. The cage copies of the Fill Slip and the Fill Request Slip shall be maintained together by the chip bank cashier until forwarded to the finance department.
(o) All parts of voided Fill Slips, as well as cage copies of Fill Request Slips and the accounting and cage copies of the Fill Slips that are maintained and controlled in conformity with subsection (n), shall be forwarded to the finance department for agreement, on a daily basis, with the original Fill Slips and Fill Request Slips removed from the drop box on the gaming table.
§ 525.16. Table inventory counts on a per shift basis.
(a) In addition to the requirements in §§ 525.8, 525.13 and 525.14 (relating to procedures for opening table games; procedures for drops at open table games; and procedures for closing table games), a certificate holder may establish procedures for the use of a three-compartment drop box which require the preparation of a Table Inventory Slip at the close of each shift that the table was open for gaming.
(b) The procedures developed under subsection (a) shall be submitted as part of the certificate holder's internal controls and be approved by the Board.
§ 525.18. Transport of table game drop boxes to and from gaming tables.
* * * * * (e) Prior to the movement of a trolley containing table game drop boxes from a table game pit, the drop team supervisor shall verify that the number of drop boxes being removed from the pit equals the number of drop boxes that have been loaded on the trolley, and that the locks controlled by security and the finance departments have been locked. For table game drop boxes removed from table games that are not fully automated electronic gaming tables, a floorperson or above may verify the number of table game drop boxes removed from the gaming floor instead of the drop team supervisor.
* * * * * CHAPTER 535. PAI GOW § 535.9. Alternative dealing procedures.
(a) As an alternative to the procedure in § 535.8 (relating to procedures for dealing the tiles), the dealer or the player acting as the bank or co-bank may, if specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), choose any of the following delivery styles:
* * * * * CHAPTER 543. MIDIBACCARAT § 543.2. Midibaccarat table physical characteristics.
* * * * * (f) Each Midibaccarat table must have a discard bucket on the dealer's side of the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
CHAPTER 549. BLACKJACK § 549.2. Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections.
* * * * * (c) The following must be inscribed on the Blackjack layout:
(1) Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
(2) Dealer shall draw to 16 and stand on all 17s or similar language approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(3) Insurance pays 2 to 1.
(4) If a certificate holder offers the Lucky Ladies Twenty Point Bonus Wager:
(i) A separate area designated for the placement of the Twenty Point Bonus Wager for each player.
(ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the minimum and maximum wagers permitted. If the minimum and maximum wagers permitted are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the minimum and maximum permitted wagers shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(iii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds for the Twenty Point Bonus Wager. If payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds for the Twenty Point Bonus Wager shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(iv) Inscriptions that advise patrons of any payout limits and proportionate allocations as described in § 549.17(g) (relating to Twenty Point Bonus Wager; payout odds; payout limitation). If payout limits and proportionate allocations are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout limits and proportionate allocation shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(5) If a certificate holder offers the Match-the-Dealer Wager:
(i) A separate area designated for the placement of the Match-the-Dealer Wager for each player.
(ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds for the Match-the-Dealer Wager. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds for the Match-the-Dealer Wager shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(6) If a certificate holder offers the In Between Wager:
(i) A separate area designated for the placement of the In Between Wager for each player.
(ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds for the In Between Wager. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds for the In Between Wager shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(7) If a certificate holder offers the Royal Match 21 Wager:
(i) A separate area designated for the placement of the Royal Match 21 Wager for each player.
(ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds for the Royal Match 21 Wager and the payout for the Crown Treasure Bonus, if offered. If the payout odds and amounts are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds and amounts shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(8) If a certificate holder offers the Bet the Set 21 Wager:
(i) A separate area designated for the placement of the Bet the Set 21 Wager for each player.
(ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds for the Bet the Set 21 Wager. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(9) If a certificate holder offers the King's Bounty Wager:
(i) A separate area designated for the placement of the King's Bounty Wager for each player.
(ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the minimum and maximum wagers permitted. If the minimum and maximum wagers permitted are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the minimum and maximum permitted wagers shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(iii) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds for the King's Bounty Wager. If payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds for the King's Bounty Wager shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
(iv) Inscriptions that advise patrons of any payout limits and proportionate allocations as described in § 549.22(g) (relating to King's Bounty Wager; payout odds; payout limitation). If payout limits and proportionate allocations are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout limits and proportionate allocation shall be posted at each Blackjack table.
* * * * * § 549.21. Bet the Set 21 Wager; payout odds.
(a) A certificate holder may, if specified in its Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), offer a player the option of placing a Bet the Set 21 Wager which may not have a bearing on any other wagers made by the player. The Bet the Set 21 Wager of a player must win if the player's initial two cards are a pair of the same rank or a suited pair of the same rank.
(b) Prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play, a player who has placed the basic wager required under § 549.4 (relating to wagers) may make an additional Bet the Set 21 Wager, which shall be in an amount not less than $1 and may not exceed the lesser of:
(1) The amount of the wager made by the player under § 549.4(a).
(2) A maximum amount established by the certificate holder in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2.
(c) A Bet the Set 21 Wager shall be made by placing value chips on the appropriate area of the Blackjack layout.
(d) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, but prior to any additional cards being dealt to any player or the dealer or before any card reader device is utilized, losing Bet the Set 21 Wagers shall be collected and all winning Bet the Set 21 Wagers shall be paid in accordance with subsection (e).
(e) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Bet the Set 21 Wagers at the odds contained in one of the following payout tables:
(1) If a single deck is being used:
Hand Payout A Pairs 15 to 1 (2) If two decks are being used:
Hand Payout B Pairs 10 to 1 Suited Pairs 25 to 1 (3) If four or more decks are being used:
Hand Payout C Payout D Pairs 10 to 1 10 to 1 Suited Pairs 15 to 1 12 to 1 § 549.22. King's Bounty Wager; payout odds; payout limitation.
(a) A certificate holder may, if specified in its Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), offer players the option of placing an additional wager that the player's hand will have a total value of 20 in the first two cards dealt. The King's Bounty Wager may not have a bearing on any other wager made by a player.
(b) Prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play, each player who has placed a wager in accordance with § 549.4 (relating to wagers) may make a King's Bounty Wager by placing a value chip or plaque into the separate betting area designated for that player.
(c) The dealer shall then announce ''no more bets'' and deal the initial two cards in accordance with the dealing procedures in § 549.7 (relating to procedure for dealing cards).
(d) Prior to any additional cards being dealt to any player, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing counterclockwise around the table, settle in succession, except as provided in subsection (e), all King's Bounty Wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers in accordance with subsection (g).
(e) If the first card to the dealer is a ten, jack, queen, king or ace and the player who has placed a King's Bounty Wager has two kings of spades, that player's King's Bounty Wager shall be settled after all other King's Bounty Wagers. In the presence of a floorperson or above, the dealer shall settle the King's Bounty Wager as follows:
(1) If the dealer has determined that the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack, the player shall be paid in accordance with subsection (g) when the player's Blackjack wager is collected.
(2) If the dealer has determined that the hole card will not give the dealer a Blackjack, the player shall be paid in accordance with subsection (g) before any other cards are dealt.
(f) A winning player shall receive the King's Bounty Wager payout for only the highest qualifying hand.
(g) The certificate holder shall pay out winning King's Bounty Wagers at the amounts contained in the following payout table:
Hand Payout King of Spades pair and dealer Blackjack 1,000 to 1 King of Spades pair 200 to 1 Suited Kings pair 50 to 1 Suited Queens, Jacks or 10s pair 25 to 1 Suited 20 9 to 1 Pair of Kings 6 to 1 Any 20 4 to 1 (h) Notwithstanding the payout odds in subsection (g), a certificate holder may establish a maximum payout for a winning hand of King of Spades pair and dealer Blackjack that is payable to all those winning hands in the aggregate on a single round of play. The maximum payout amount shall be at least $25,000 or the maximum amount that one patron could win per round when betting the maximum possible wager, whichever is greater. Maximum payouts established by a certificate holder for a winning hand of King of Spades pair and dealer Blackjack require the approval of the Board's Executive Director and shall be included in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 521.2. If a certificate holder establishes a maximum payout, which is approved by the Board's Executive Director, and more than one player at a table has a winning hand of King of Spades pair and dealer Blackjack, each player shall share the maximum payout amount proportionately to the amount of the player's respective wager.
CHAPTER 553. POKER § 553.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * * * * High Hand—The highest Poker hand held by any player or players during a qualifying period which shall result in a High Hand Jackpot payout if the certificate holder has elected to offer a High Hand Jackpot payout in accordance with § 553.21 (relating to High Hand payouts; posting of rules; contributions; counting and displaying of payout amount; procedures for implementation).
High Hand Jackpot payout—The total contribution amounts collected during a qualifying period which are payable to one or more players upon the occurrence of a High Hand.
* * * * * Qualifying period—The duration of time, as specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), during which a certificate holder offers the High Hand Jackpot payout.
* * * * * § 553.21. High Hand payouts; posting of rules; contributions; counting and displaying of payout amount; procedures for implementation.
(a) A certificate holder may include in its Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions) provisions for a High Hand Jackpot payout for a High Hand made during a qualifying period. A High Hand Jackpot payout shall be made from a separate fund created from pot contributions required at tables where a High Hand Jackpot payout is offered and paid in accordance with the procedures established under this section.
(b) A certificate holder shall post at each Poker table that offers a High Hand Jackpot payout notice advising patrons of eligibility for the High Hand Jackpot payout. The certificate holder shall display the current amount of the High Hand Jackpot payout and post its High Hand Jackpot payout rules in a conspicuous location within its Poker room which, at a minimum, shall address:
(1) The collection and qualifying periods for the High Hand Jackpot payout.
(2) The contribution amount that will be collected from each pot to fund the High Hand Jackpot payout.
(3) The minimum pot amount required before the High Hand Jackpot contribution is collected.
(4) The minimum number of players who shall be dealt into a hand to qualify for a High Hand Jackpot payout.
(5) The division of the High Hand Jackpot payout if two or more players have the same value High Hand during a qualifying period.
(6) Any time limits on collecting High Hand Jackpot payouts including a statement notifying players that they do not need to be present at the end of the qualifying period to win the High Hand Jackpot payout.
(7) Any restrictions on collecting a High Hand Jackpot payout including a statement notifying players that valid identification shall be presented for a player's hand to qualify for a High Hand Jackpot payout.
(c) A certificate holder shall extract from each pot at a Poker table designated for participation in a High Hand Jackpot payout a prescribed contribution to the High Hand Jackpot payout. The contribution amount shall be collected in accordance with the High Hand Jackpot payout rules as specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2. After the dealer has extracted the rake, the amount from each pot to be contributed to a High Hand Jackpot payout shall be determined, segregated from the pot and deposited into the High Hand Jackpot payout box.
(d) At the end of each qualifying period, a certificate holder shall count the accumulated contents of each High Hand Jackpot payout box. The counting shall occur at a closed Poker table, the main cage or a satellite cage in accordance with Board approved internal controls.
(1) When the counting of the contents of a High Hand Jackpot payout box occurs at a closed Poker table, the counting shall be performed by a Poker dealer in the presence of a floorperson or above, and be recorded by the surveillance department. Documentation of the count shall be prepared and signed by the dealer and the floorperson or above who witnessed the count. The contents of the High Hand Jackpot payout box shall then be placed in a locked container along with documentation of the count and transported to the main cage or satellite cage by a security department employee.
(2) When the counting of the contents of a High Hand Jackpot payout box occurs in the main cage or a satellite cage, a floorperson or above shall account for all locked High Hand Jackpot payout boxes transported from the Poker tables to the cage. A security department employee shall transport the High Hand Jackpot payout boxes to the main cage or satellite cage for counting.
(e) Once each High Hand Jackpot payout box is delivered to the main cage or satellite cage, a cashier shall count the contents of each box or, if the contents of the boxes were previously counted by Poker room personnel and combined in a locked container for transport, verify the aggregate count. The official record of the amount of contributions to the High Hand Jackpot payouts shall be maintained by the finance department.
(f) At the start of the qualifying period, dealers shall begin tracking hands. When a player has a Full House, the dealer shall call a floorperson or above who shall verify the hand and record the value on the High Hand Tracking Slip. As the value of the hands increase during the qualifying period, the value of the next higher hand shall be announced and the floorperson or above shall record on the High Hand Tracking Slip the next higher value hand. The High Hand Tracking Slip shall contain:
(1) The name, phone number and seat number of the player with the higher value hand.
(2) The table number.
(3) The higher value hand.
(4) The dealer's name and Board-issued credential number.
(5) The signature and Board-issued credential number of the floorperson or above who verified the higher value hand.
(g) When the qualifying period has ended, the contribution amount collected during the qualifying period shall be counted, verified and taken to the main cage or satellite cage in accordance with subsections (d) and (e). The pooled contribution amounts from all Poker tables that participated in the qualifying period shall then be announced and displayed.
(h) The player or players with the High Hand during the qualifying period shall be awarded the High Hand Jackpot payout. High Hand Jackpot payouts shall be paid from the main cage or satellite cage. If, however, a full house was not made by any player during the qualifying period, the High Hand Jackpot payout contribution amounts will be added to the next High Hand Jackpot payout qualifying period.
(i) The certificate holder shall specify in its Rules Submission under § 521.2 the procedure for distributing High Hand Jackpot payouts which have not been collected within the time period specified in subsection (b)(6).
CHAPTER 565. THREE CARD POKER § 565.6. Three Card Poker rankings.
* * * * * (d) If a certificate holder offers the optional Six Card Bonus Wager under § 565.11b (relating to Six Card Bonus Wager), the rank of a winning five-card Poker hand, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be:
(1) A royal flush, which is a hand consisting of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit.
(2) A straight flush, which is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking.
(3) A four-of-a-kind, which is a hand consisting of four cards of the same rank, regardless of suit.
(4) A full house, which is a hand consisting of three-of-a-kind and a pair of the same rank regardless of suit.
(5) A flush, which is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit.
(6) A straight, which is a hand consisting of five cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit.
(7) A three-of-a-kind, which is a hand consisting of three cards of the same rank, regardless of suit.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-762. Filed for public inspection May 6, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
