Section 629a.8. Hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand

(a) There shall be two hands dealt in the game of Midibaccarat, one of which shall be designated the Player’s Hand and the other designated the Banker’s Hand.

(b) Prior to dealing any cards, the dealer shall announce ‘‘no more bets.’’

(c) The dealer shall then deal an initial four cards from the dealing shoe. The first and third cards dealt shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Player’s Hand and the second and fourth cards dealt shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Banker’s Hand.

(1) After all four cards have been dealt, the dealer shall place the Banker’s Hand underneath the right corner of the dealing shoe. The dealer shall then hand the two cards of the Player’s Hand, face down, to the player with the highest wager on the Player’s Hand. After viewing the Player’s Hand, the player shall return the two cards, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the cards face up on the area designated for the Player’s Hand and announce the Point Count of the Player’s Hand.

(2) The dealer shall then hand the two cards of the Banker’s Hand, face down, to the player with the highest wager on the Banker’s Hand. After viewing the Banker’s Hand, the player shall return the two cards, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the cards face up on the area designated for the Banker’s Hand and announce the Point Count of the Banker’s Hand.

(3) Prior to dealing a third card to the Player’s or Banker’s Hand, the dealer shall settle all House Money Wagers as follows:

(i) If a player placed a House Money Wager, after the initial two cards of the Player’s Hand and Banker’s Hand have been turned face up on the layout, beginning from the dealer’s right and moving counterclockwise around the table, the dealer shall collect all losing House Money wagers and pay all winning wagers in accordance with § 629a.12(h) (relating to payout odds; vigorish) provided that, at a player’s discretion, the player may add the winning House Money payout to the player’s original wager on the Player’s or Banker’s Hand in accordance with the following:

(A) All of the winning House Money payout or, if specified in the certificate holder’s Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), only a specified portion of the winning House Money payout shall be added to the area designated for the placement of the player’s original wager on the Player’s or Banker’s Hand. The player’s original wager and the House Money payout which was added to the player’s original wager shall then be settled based on the outcome of the player’s wager on the Player’s or Banker’s Hand.

(B) A player may not touch the winning House Money payout. The dealer shall either hand the entire winning House Money payout to the player or place all or a portion thereof, as authorized by the certificate holder, on the area designated for the placement of the player’s wager on the Player’s or Banker’s Hand.

(ii) After settling the House Money Wagers, the game shall resume by dealing any third cards that are required to be dealt.

(4) Any third card required to be dealt to the Player’s Hand shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Player’s Hand. The dealer shall then hand the card, face down, to the player who was handed and returned the Player’s Hand. After viewing the card, the player shall return the card, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the card face up on the area designated for the Player’s Hand.

(5) Any third card required to be dealt to the Banker’s Hand shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Banker’s Hand. The dealer shall then hand the card, face down, to the player who was handed and returned the Banker’s Hand. After viewing the card, the player shall return the card, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the card face up on the area designated for the Banker’s Hand.

(6) If two or more players wager an equally high amount on the Player’s Hand, the player making the wager who is closest to the dealer, moving counterclockwise around the table, shall be handed the Player’s Hand and any third card required to be dealt. If two or more players wager an equally high amount on the Banker’s Hand, the player making the wager who is closest to the dealer, moving counterclockwise around the table, shall be handed the Banker’s Hand and any third card required to be dealt.

(d) The dealer or floorperson assigned to the table may require any player to relinquish the right to turn over the cards in accordance with subsection (c) if the player unreasonably delays the game. If the voluntary or compulsory relinquishment of that right occurs, the dealer shall offer it to the player immediately to the right of the previous player. If the player does not accept it or there is not a player in that position, the dealer shall offer it to each of the other players in turn, moving counterclockwise around the table for the remainder of that round of play. If no player accepts the cards, the dealer shall turn the cards over and place them on the designated areas of the layout.

The provisions of this § 629a.8 amended January 31, 2014, effective February 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 619. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (362444) to (362445).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 629a.8 amended under 4 Pa.C.S. § § 1202(b)(30), 1207(3) and (9) and 13A02(1), (2) and (4).

Cross References

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 629a.9 (relating to procedure for dealing a third card); and 58 Pa. Code § 629a.11 (relating to announcement of result of round; payment and collection of wagers).