Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. General Specifications. Detailed
specifications for electronic video bingo machines are required by the
department. Such specifications are required to ensure the legal operation and
integrity of each machine and provide the department with methods to monitor
machines.
B. Hardware
Specifications. An electronic video bingo machine must include the following
hardware specifications.
1. All electrical
and mechanical parts and design principles shall follow acceptable codes and
standards in both design and manufacture.
2. An electronic video bingo machine shall be
designed to ensure that the player will not be subjected to any unreasonable
physical, electrical, or mechanical hazards.
3. A machine shall be equipped with a surge
protector that will feed all AC, electrical current to the machine and a
battery backup power supply to maintain the accuracy of all electronic meters
displaying information required by the Act and these rules during power
fluctuations and loss. The battery must be in a state of charge during normal
operation of the machine.
4. The
design of a machine shall ensure there are no readily accessible game
function-related points which would allow any input and that there is no access
to input or output circuits unless it is necessary for the proper operation of
the machine.
5. The nonresettable
mechanical meters required must meet the following specifications:
a. either the meters must be located so they
can be viewed and read externally from the front of the machine or the keys to
the cash area must be immediately available at the permitted
premises;
b. the meters shall be
situated in a left to right or top to bottom configuration according to
function and visibly labeled as follows:
i.
coins in;
ii. credits
played;
iii. credits won;
iv. credits paid; and
c. the mechanical meters shall be
manufactured in such a way as to prevent access to the internal parts of the
meter.
6. The department
may require and provide a valid identification sticker to be attached to the
mechanical meters to verify the meters are assigned to a specific permitted
machine.
7. A machine must have a
separate and locked area for the logic board and software. The department must
be allowed immediate access to this locked area upon request. Permittee must
notify the department if access to this area becomes necessary and make
application for authorization to access area on forms prescribed by the
department. Seals may be broken only in the presence of department personnel
after having made application for and receiving authorization.
8. The ticket printing mechanism must be
located in the locked logic area to ensure the safekeeping of the audit copy.
The printing mechanism must produce a printed original and duplicate that will
remain legible throughout the retention period required by these
rules.
9. The logic and printer
interface boards shall be mounted within the logic area so they are not visible
upon operating the logic area door.
10. A machine must have a nonremovable
identification device attached externally to the machine which shall include
the following information about the machine:
a. manufacturer;
b. serial number;
c. model or make; and
d. any other information required by the
department.
11. The
logic board must have a unique serial number that may be used to identify the
board for approval and inspection purposes. The serial number shall be in 10
symbol configuration. The first four symbols shall identify the manufacturer
and the last six symbols shall identify the board.
12. The electronic meters shall be able to
maintain totals no less than eight digits in length.
13. Printing of all totals from the
electronic meters shall occur automatically, by means of a switch attached to
either the door or the lock for the door, each time access to either the logic
compartment or the cash area occurs.
14. Any necessary resetting of electronic
meters shall be done only after requesting authorization by the department.
Seals may be broken only in the presence of department personnel after having
made application for and receiving authorization.
15. The face of each machine shall be clearly
labeled so as to inform the public that no one under age 18 years is allowed to
play.
16. The printer mechanism
shall have a paper sensing device that will prevent play if there is
insufficient paper to print a ticket for a customer or an audit ticket. Upon
setting a "paper low" or "paper out" condition the machine must display a
message to that effect on the monitor.
17. The machine printer shall print a ticket
voucher to the player at the completion of game play if there are any remaining
credits on the game. The information printed on the ticket shall consist of the
following:
a. the serial number of the
machine;
b. the time of day that
the ticket was printed in hours and minutes in a 24-hour format; and
c. the date on which the ticket was
printed;
d. all of the electronic
meter readings as described in this Section.
C. Software Specifications. A machine is
required to possess software specifications that enable it to play the game of
electronic video bingo with operation set forth by the Act. The software logic
must have the following characteristics.
1.
The logic of the program must not interfere in any way with expected random
play.
2. The random number
selections process shall conform to an acceptable random order of occurrence
and uniformity of distribution.
D. Modifications. All hardware and software
modifications made to a permitted electronic video bingo machine must be
submitted to the department for approval prior to installation.
E. Restrictions on Optional Game Format or
Features
1. A machine shall only offer the
game of electronic video bingo as provided by the Act and these rules and shall
not offer any other game or variant which will award free games or credits
which deviate from the award of games or credits for games of bingo.
2. The department shall determine what
optional features may be allowed and such features must be approved by the
department prior to inclusion in a machines game format.
F. Prohibited Machines
1. Any machine including amusement machines
which, in substance simulates the game of bingo without conforming to the
requirements of the Act and is placed in service for play by the public is
prohibited. The machine is subject to immediate seizure and destruction in
accordance with the provisions of
R.S.
15:31.
2. Any person who owns or operates or
possesses a machine described in Paragraph 1 above, is in violation of the Act,
and these rules.
G.
Possession of Electronic Video Bingo Machines. A manufacturer, distributor,
owner, or repair service may possess or own electronic video bingo machines,
logic boards, meters, and machine components which conform to the statutory
requirements and rules relating to electronic video machines. Such machines
possessed or owned may not be operated except when inspected, permitted, and
placed on a permittee's premises.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
33:4861.17.
