Section 592.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards

(a) Immediately prior to commencement of play, unless the cards were preshuffled in accordance with § 603a.16(u) or (v) (relating to cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use), after each round of play has been completed or when directed by a floorperson or above, the dealer shall shuffle the cards, either manually or by use of an automated card shuffling device, so that the cards are randomly intermixed. Upon completion of the shuffle, the dealer or automated shuffling device shall place the deck of cards in a single stack. The certificate holder may use an automated card shuffling device which, upon completion of the shuffling of the cards, inserts the stack of cards directly into a dealing shoe.

(b) If an automated card shuffling device is being used, which counts the number of cards in the deck after the completion of each shuffle and indicates whether 52 cards are present, and the device reveals that an incorrect number of cards are present, the deck shall be removed from the table.

(c) After the cards have been shuffled and stacked, the dealer shall:

(1) If the cards were shuffled using an automated card shuffling device, deal the cards in accordance with § 592.8, § 592.9 or § 592.10 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards from a manual dealing shoe; procedure for dealing the cards from the hand; and procedure for dealing the cards from an automated dealing shoe).

(2) If the cards were shuffled manually or were preshuffled, cut the cards in accordance with the procedures in subsection (d).

(d) If a cut of the cards is required, the dealer shall place the cover card in the stack at least ten cards in from the top of the stack. Once the cover card has been inserted, the dealer shall take all cards above the cover card and the cover card and place them on the bottom of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.

(e) After the cards have been cut and before the cards have been dealt, a floorperson or above may require the cards to be recut if the floorperson determines that the cut was performed improperly or in any way that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game.

(f) If there is no gaming activity at a Criss-Cross Poker table which is open for gaming, the cards shall be removed from the dealing shoe and discard rack and spread out on the table face down unless a player requests that the cards be spread face up on the table. After the first player arriving at the table is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the procedures in § 592.4(c) (relating to opening of the table for gaming) and this section shall be completed.

(g) A certificate holder may utilize a dealing shoe or other device that automatically reshuffles and counts the cards provided that the device is submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations and approved in accordance with § 461a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval) prior to its use in the licensed facility. If a certificate holder is utilizing the approved device, subsections (d)—(f) do not apply.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 592.4 (relating to opening of the table for gaming); 58 Pa. Code § 592.8 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards from a manual dealing shoe); 58 Pa. Code § 592.9 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards from the hand); and 58 Pa. Code § 592.10 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards from an automated dealing shoe).