Code of Massachusetts Regulations
205 CMR - MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION
Title 205 CMR 146.00 - Gaming Equipment
Section 146.01 - Gaming Chips and Plaques (General Rules)

Universal Citation: 205 MA Code of Regs 205.146

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) No gaming chip shall be utilized by a gaming licensee in a gaming establishment until:

(a) The design specifications of the proposed gaming chip, prior to the manufacture of the gaming chip, are submitted to and approved by the Bureau, which submission shall include a detailed schematic depicting the actual size and, as appropriate, location of the following:
1. Each "face" of the gaming chip, which is the flat surface across which the diameter of the chip can be measured including any indentations or impressions;

2. The "edge" of the gaming chip, which is the surface of the chip across which its thickness can be measured in a perpendicular line from one face to the other; and

3. Any colors, words, designs, graphics or security measures contained on or within the gaming chip;

(b) A sample stack of 20 gaming chips, manufactured in accordance with its approved design specifications, is submitted to and approved by the Bureau; and

(c) The Bureau has confirmed that the identification requirements of 205 CMR 146.01 are visible using the gaming licensee's closed circuit television system.

(2) Each gaming chip issued by a gaming licensee shall be designed and manufactured with sufficient graphics or other security measures including, at a minimum, those features specifically required to appear on the face or edge of a gaming chip pursuant to 205 CMR 146.01 so as to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, the counterfeiting of the gaming chip.

(3) No gaming licensee shall use or redeem in its gaming establishment any gaming chip that it knows, or reasonably should know, is materially different from the approved sample or no longer conforms to the requirements of 205 CMR 146.01.

(4) No gaming licensee or other person licensed by the Commission shall manufacture for, sell to, distribute to, or use in any facility outside of Massachusetts any gaming chips having the same edge spot and design specifications as those approved for use in Massachusetts gaming establishments.

(5) A gaming licensee may issue promotional non-gaming chips that are prohibited from use for gaming in any gaming establishment. The physical characteristics of such chips shall be sufficiently distinguishable from approved design specifications of any gaming chip issued by any gaming licensee so as to reasonably ensure that they will not be confused with authorized gaming chips. At a minimum, such promotional non-gaming chips shall:

(a) Be unique in terms of size or color;

(b) Have no edge designs unique to gaming chips; and

(c) Bear the name of the gaming licensee issuing them and language on both faces stating that they have no redeemable value.

(6) A gaming licensee shall remove a set of gaming chips in use from active play whenever it has reason to believe the gaming establishment has accepted counterfeit chips or whenever any other impropriety or defect in the utilization of that set of chips makes removal of the chips in active use necessary or whenever the Bureau so directs. An approved back-up set of value chips or non-value chips shall be placed into active play whenever an active set is removed.

(7) Whenever chips in active use are removed from play, the gaming licensee shall immediately notify the Bureau of the removal and the reason for removal.

(8) Each set of gaming chips approved by the Bureau for use by a gaming licensee shall receive a unique and permanent alphabetical designation. This designation shall be assigned by the gaming licensee during the design schematic approval process and shall be used for all inventory procedures required by 205 CMR 146.02. If a gaming licensee elects to commingle gaming chips pursuant to 205 CMR 146.02, in addition to the assigned alphabetical designation for that set of chips, each different sample within the set shall also be assigned an accompanying unique numeric designation.

(9) If a licensee uses RFID chips or plaques they must submit a detailed description of the technology and devices proposed for use at the gaming establishment. Any certifications or testing done by an independent testing lab that is certified by the Commission pursuant to 205 CMR 144.06: Independent Testing Laboratory Certification and Auditing must be included in the submission. Policies and procedures describing how the RFID chips and related equipment will be used must be submitted to the Commission.

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