Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) When
decks of cards are received for use in the casino or casino simulcasting
facility from the manufacturer or distributor thereof, at least two
individuals, one of whom shall be from the casino games department and the
other from the casino security department or casino accounting department,
shall record on an inventory log required in (b) below, the number of decks
received. The individuals shall place the decks of cards in a locked cabinet in
the cashiers' cage or within a primary or secondary storage area located in the
cashiers' cage or in another secure place approved by the Division. Secondary
storage areas shall be used for the storage of surplus decks of cards. Decks of
cards maintained in secondary storage areas shall not be distributed to gaming
pits or tables for use in gaming until the decks have been moved to a primary
storage area. A casino licensee may have a separate storage area approved by
the Division for decks of cards to be used at the game of poker.
(b) The casino licensee shall maintain a log
for each approved storage area, to separately account for decks of cards
packaged individually and in sets of multiple decks in accordance with the
casino licensee's internal control procedures. The internal controls shall
require the following:
1. A card inventory
system, which shall include, at a minimum, the recordation of the following:
i. The decks of cards received from the
vendor;
ii. The decks of cards
removed from storage;
iii. The
decks of cards returned to storage;
iv. The date of receipt of, removal from,
return to, or physical inventory; and
v. The signatures of the casino games, casino
security and/or accounting department participating in the
transaction.
2. A
reconciliation on a daily basis of the decks of cards distributed, destroyed
and cancelled, returned to the storage area, in use on an open gaming table for
more than 24 hours and, if any, in card reserve; and
3. A physical inventory of the decks of cards
at least once every three months.
i. This
inventory shall be performed by an individual with no incompatible functions
and shall be verified to the balance of decks of cards on hand as required in
accordance with (b)1 above.
ii. Any
discrepancies shall immediately be reported to the Division.
(c) All primary,
secondary, poker storage areas, and pit stands used to store cards for more
then one gaming day, other than the cashiers' cage, shall have two separate
locks. The casino security department shall maintain one key and the casino
games department or cashiers' cage shall maintain the other key; provided,
however, that no person employed by the casino games department below the table
games shift manager in the organizational hierarchy shall have access to the
casino games department key for the primary and secondary storage areas and no
person below the poker shift supervisor in the organizational hierarchy shall
have access to the casino games department key to the poker storage area. Decks
of cards stored in a cabinet within the cashiers' cage shall be secured by a
lock, the key to which shall be maintained by a table games shift manager or
casino supervisor thereof.
(d) When
removing cards from the primary storage area, a representative of the casino
games department, in the presence of a casino security officer, shall remove
the appropriate number of decks of cards. The representative of the casino
games department shall be the table games shift manager or a casino supervisor
thereof, or an employee of the casino games department who reports directly to
the shift manager, is required to be licensed as a casino key employee and has
no direct supervisory responsibilities over the operation and conduct of the
table games in a pit during that gaming day. The table games shift manager or
casino supervisor thereof or the designated casino key employee shall
distribute sufficient decks to the table games supervisor and, if applicable,
to the poker shift supervisor. Decks of cards in the pit stand shall be placed
in a locked compartment, the keys to which shall be in the possession of the
table games supervisor or the poker shift supervisor or supervisor thereof. If
decks of cards are stored in the pit stand for more than one gaming day, the
pit stand shall be equipped with a second lock, the key to which shall be
maintained and controlled by the security department.
1. If the decks are to be inspected at open
gaming tables pursuant to (e)1 below, the table games supervisor shall
distribute the decks to the dealer at each table or the poker shift supervisor
shall transport the decks to the poker pit stand for subsequent distribution to
the dealer at each poker table either directly or through the floorperson
assigned to supervise the dealer.
i. Prior to
distributing decks to each poker table, the poker shift supervisor or
floorperson shall examine each deck to determine if any replacement cards are
necessary pursuant to (n) below. If needed, the poker shift supervisor or
floorperson shall place the appropriate replacement cards into the deck from
the cards held in reserve at the pit stand. Upon insertion of the replacement
cards into the deck, the poker shift supervisor or floorperson shall re-examine
the front of each card and the back of each card to ensure a consistent shading
pattern and to ensure that the condition of the deck with the inclusion of the
replacement cards has sufficient quality in order to maintain the integrity of
gaming at poker.
ii. If the
integrity of gaming at poker would in any way be compromised by the use of the
deck with the replacement cards, the entire deck of cards shall be placed in a
sealed envelope or container, identified with the date and time and shall be
signed by the poker shift supervisor. The poker shift supervisor shall maintain
the envelope or container in a secure place within the pit stand until
collection by a casino security officer.
(e) When removing cards from the poker
storage area, the poker shift supervisor or supervisor thereof and a casino
security officer shall, prior to the commencement of each gaming day and at
such other times as may be necessary, remove the appropriate number of decks
from the poker storage area and distribute the decks in accordance with the
provisions of (d)1 above. The number of decks distributed shall include extra
decks that shall be placed in the pit stand for card reserve. Decks of cards in
the pit stand shall be placed in a locked compartment, the keys to which shall
be in the possession of the poker shift supervisor or supervisor thereof. If
decks of cards are stored in the pit stand for more than one gaming day, the
pit stand shall be equipped with a second lock, the key to which shall be
maintained and controlled by the security department.
(f) With the exception of cards used to game
at pokette and cards which are pre-inspected and pre-shuffled, each deck of
cards shall be inspected by a dealer and the inspection verified by a table
games supervisor prior to the use of the cards on a gaming table.
1. Card inspection at an open gaming table
shall require each deck of cards to be sorted into sequence and into suit and a
visual inspection of the back of each card. If, after inspecting the cards, the
dealer finds that a card is unsuitable for use or an extra card is found, the
following procedures shall be observed:
i. If
a card is unsuitable for use:
(1) A poker
shift supervisor or casino supervisor shall bring a substitute card from the
card reserve in the pit stand;
(2)
The unsuitable card shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container,
identified by table number, date, and time and shall be signed by the dealer
and floorperson assigned to that table; and
(3) The poker shift supervisor or casino
supervisor shall maintain the envelope or container in a secure place within
the pit until collection by a casino security officer; or
ii. If an extra card is found:
(1) The poker shift supervisor or casino
supervisor shall place the extra card in a sealed envelope or container,
identified by table number, date and time and signed by the dealer and
floorperson assigned to that table; and
(2) The poker shift supervisor or casino
supervisor shall maintain the envelope or container in a secure place within
the pit until collection by a casino security officer.
2. The envelopes or containers and
the method used to seal them shall be designed or constructed so that any
tampering shall be evident.
(g) Any cards that have been opened and
placed on a gaming table shall be changed at least every 24 hours.
Notwithstanding the foregoing:
1. Except as
otherwise provided in (g)5 below for baccarat and in
13:69E-1.12(c)
for mini-baccarat, cards opened for use on a baccarat, mini-baccarat, or fast
action hold 'em table shall be changed at least once during the gaming
day;
2. Cards opened for use on a
pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride poker, Colorado hold 'em
poker, Boston 5 stud poker, double cross poker, four-card poker, Texas hold 'em
bonus poker, ultimate Texas hold 'em poker, two-card joker poker, flop poker,
Asia poker, winner's pot poker, supreme pai gow, Mississippi stud or three-card
poker table and dealt from a dealing shoe and cards opened for use on a double
down stud table and dealt from the hand shall be changed at least every eight
hours;
3. Cards opened for use on a
pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride poker, Colorado hold 'em
poker, Boston 5 stud poker, double cross poker, four-card poker, Texas hold 'em
bonus poker, ultimate Texas hold 'em poker, flop poker, two-card joker poker,
Asia poker, winner's pot poker, supreme pai gow, Mississippi stud or three-card
poker table and dealt from the dealer's hand shall be changed at least every
four hours;
4. Cards opened for use
on a blackjack table offering the 6 to 5 blackjack variation shall be changed
at least every four hours;
5. Cards
opened for use on a baccarat table using the alternative dealing procedure
shall be changed after each shoe;
6. Cards opened for use on a poker table
shall be changed at least every eight hours; and
7. Cards opened for use on a blackjack,
Spanish 21 or double attack blackjack table, or on a mini-baccarat table using
the alternative dealing procedures set forth at
13:69F-7.7(c)1
and 2, may be used for no more than 48 hours if the following requirements are
satisfied:
i. The gaming table shall remain
open for gaming during the entire period of card usage;
ii. At least six decks of cards shall be used
to play the game; and
iii. A table
games shift manager shall identify for the surveillance department those gaming
tables at which cards are in use for the extended period.
(h) Cards damaged during course of
play shall be replaced by the dealer who shall request a floorperson or
supervisor thereof for the game of poker or casino supervisor for all other
games to bring cards in substitution from the pit stand.
1. The damaged cards shall be placed in a
sealed envelope, identified by table number, date and time and shall be signed
by the dealer and the individual who brought the replacement card to the
table.
2. The poker shift
supervisor or casino supervisor shall maintain the envelopes or containers in a
secure place within the pit until collection by a casino security
officer.
(i) At the end
of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming day at the
same time each day, as designated by the casino licensee, or at the end of the
extended period pursuant to (g)7 above, and at such other times as may be
necessary, the floorperson or supervisor thereof for the game of poker or
casino supervisor for all other games shall collect all used cards required to
be removed from play.
1. These cards shall be
placed in a sealed envelope or container. A label shall be attached to each
envelope or container which shall identify the table number, date and time and
shall be signed by the dealer and floorperson assigned to the table.
2. The poker shift supervisor or casino
supervisor shall maintain the envelopes or containers in a secure place within
the pit until collection by a casino security officer.
(j) The casino licensee shall remove any
cards at any time during the day if there is any indication of tampering,
flaws, scratches, marks or other defects that might affect the integrity or
fairness of the game, or at the request of the Division.
(k) Except for decks that have been
pre-shuffled and pre-inspected in accordance with the rules of the Division,
all extra decks or packaged sets of multiple decks in card reserve with broken
seals shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container, with a label attached
to each envelope or container that contains the number of decks or packaged
sets of multiple decks, as applicable, included therein, the date and time and
the signature of the floorperson or supervisor thereof for poker and the pit
boss for all other games.
(l) At
the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming
day at the same time each day, as designated by the casino licensee, and at
such other times as may be necessary, a casino security officer shall collect
and sign all envelopes or containers with damaged cards, and all extra decks in
card reserve with broken seals, except those that have been pre-shuffled and
pre-inspected in accordance with the rules of the Division and cards required
to be removed that gaming day, and shall return the envelopes or containers to
the casino security department.
(m)
At the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming
day at the same time each day, as designated by the casino licensee, and at
such other times as may be necessary, a table games shift manager or casino
supervisor thereof may collect all extra decks in card reserve. If the casino
maintains a separate storage area for poker cards, a poker shift supervisor or
supervisor thereof may collect all extra decks in card reserve for the game of
poker. Such collected decks shall be either cancelled or destroyed, provided
however, that a licensee shall be permitted to return unsealed decks to the
storage area for poker decks and use such decks at a different time.
(n) When the envelopes or containers of used
cards and reserve cards with broken seals are returned to the casino security
department, they shall be inspected for tampering, marks, alterations, missing
or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair play.
1. For cards used in blackjack, Spanish 21,
double attack blackjack, double cross poker, red dog, casino war, fast action
hold 'em, or mini-baccarat using the dealing procedures in
13:69F-7.7(c)1
or 2, the casino licensee shall cause to be inspected either:
i. All decks used during the day;
or
ii. A sample of decks selected
at random or in accordance with an approved stratification plan, provided that
the procedures for selecting the sample size and for assuring a proper
selection of the sample are submitted to and approved by the Division. This
sample shall be collected, stored and inspected separately from the sample
required by (n)2 below, and shall not be commingled with any cards from that
sample.
2. For cards used
in baccarat, or cards used in mini-baccarat using the dealing procedures in
13:69F-7.7(c)3,
the casino licensee shall cause to be inspected all decks used during the day.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any decks that are opened for a single use
in a shoe (the cards are not reshuffled for a subsequent use and are removed
from the table), a casino licensee may cause to be inspected a sample of decks
selected at random or in accordance with an approved stratification plan,
provided that the procedures for selecting the sample size and for assuring a
proper selection of the sample are submitted to and approved by the
Division.
3. The casino licensee
shall also inspect:
i. Any cards which the
Division requests the casino licensee to remove for the purpose of
inspection;
ii. Any cards the
casino licensee removed for indication of tampering;
iii. All cards used for pai gow poker,
Caribbean stud poker, let it ride poker, Colorado hold 'em poker, Boston 5 stud
poker, double cross poker, four-card poker, Texas hold 'em bonus poker,
ultimate Texas hold 'em poker, flop poker, two-card joker poker, Asia poker,
winner's pot poker, supreme pai gow, Mississippi stud or three-card
poker;
iv. All cards used for
pokette, which must be inspected by sorting the cards sequentially by suit;
and
v. All cards used for
poker.
4. The procedures
for inspecting all decks required to be inspected under this subsection, with
the exception of pokette cards, shall, at a minimum, include:
i. The sorting of cards sequentially by suit
or utilizing a machine approved by the Division capable of reading the cards to
determine whether any deck contains missing or additional cards;
ii. The inspection of the backs with an
ultra- violet light;
iii. The
inspection of the sides of the cards for crimps, bends, cuts and shaving;
and
iv. The inspection of the front
and back of all plastic cards for consistent shading and coloring.
5. If, during the inspection
procedures required in (n)3 above, one or more plastic cards in a deck are
determined to be unsuitable for continued use, those cards shall be placed in a
sealed envelope or container and a two-part Card Discrepancy Report shall be
completed in accordance with (n)9 below.
6. Upon completion of the inspection
procedures required in (n)3 above, each deck of plastic cards which is
determined suitable for continued use shall be placed in sequential order,
repackaged and returned to the primary or poker storage area for subsequent
use. If a deck has any missing cards pursuant to (n)4 above, the individual who
repackages the cards shall indicate the need for the appropriate replacement
card(s) in a manner documented in the casino licensee's internal control
procedures.
7. The casino licensee
shall develop internal control procedures for returning the repackaged cards to
the storage area.
8. The
individuals performing said inspection shall complete a work order form which
shall detail the procedures performed and list the tables from which the cards
were removed and the results of the inspection. The individual shall sign the
form upon completion of the inspection procedures.
9. The casino licensee shall submit the
training procedures for those employees performing the inspection.
10. Evidence of tampering, marks,
alterations, missing or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair
play discovered at this time, or at any other time, shall be immediately
reported to the Division by the completion and delivery of a two-part Card
Discrepancy Report.
11. At the end
of each gaming day or at such other times as may be necessary, the casino
supervisor identified in (m) above shall visually inspect each die for evidence
of tampering. Such evidence discovered at this time or at any other time shall
be immediately reported to the security department and the Division. A security
department member shall complete a two-part Discrepancy Report, which Report
along with the evidence shall be retrieved by an agent of the Division. The
original and duplicate Report shall contain, at a minimum:
i. The date and shift of
inspection;
ii. The name of the
casino supervisor conducting the inspection. The inspection required by this
subsection shall be performed by a casino supervisor other than the one who
originally inspected the cards;
iii. The pit number, table number, and type
of game;
iv. A description (for
example, cut corners);
v. The
signature of the casino supervisor conducting the inspection;
vi. The signature of the casino security
representative taking custody of the card; and
vii. The signature of the agent of the
Division inspecting or accepting the card, who shall retain the original and
return the duplicate to security. A receipt shall be issued to the agent of the
Division for any card retained by the Division. The receipt shall be signed the
by the security representative releasing the card to the Division and the agent
of the Division accepting the card. The receipt shall be retained with the
Security copy of the Discrepancy Report. Any card not retained by the Division
shall be destroyed in accordance with the licensee's destruction procedures.
The report shall accompany the cards.
12. Notwithstanding any provision in this
subsection to the contrary, for cards used:
i. In any authorized game or variation
thereof which permits a player to touch them, the casino licensee shall cause
to be inspected all decks used during the day; and
ii. At any gaming table for more than 24
hours pursuant to (g)7 above, the casino licensee shall cause to be inspected a
sample of decks that is separate from the sample of decks selected pursuant to
(n)1ii above, provided that the procedures for selecting the sample size and
for assuring a proper stratification of the sample shall be submitted to and
approved by the Division.
(o) If a deck of plastic cards has been
reused 12 or more times and the deck has been determined to be suitable for
reuse by the individual performing the inspection procedures required by (n)3
above, before that deck may be reused at a poker table, the deck must be
inspected by a poker shift supervisor or floorperson. A satisfactory inspection
shall be documented by the poker shift supervisor or floorperson. If the poker
shift supervisor or floorperson determines that the deck may not be reused, the
deck shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container, with a label attached
which identifies the date and time and shall be signed by the poker shift
supervisor or floorperson. At the end of the gaming day or at such other times
as may be necessary, said envelope or container shall be collected by a casino
security officer and be returned to the casino security department.
(p) Where cards in an envelope or container
are inspected and found to be without any indication of tampering, marks,
alterations, missing or additional cards, or anything that might indicate
unfair play, those cards with the exception of plastic cards used at poker that
are of sufficient quality for reuse, shall within 72 hours of collection be
destroyed or cancelled. In addition, once cards retained as evidence by the
Division are released to the security department, the cards shall immediately
be destroyed or cancelled.
1. Destruction and
cancellation of cards shall take place in a secure place, the location and
physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the Division. The
adequacy of the destruction and cancellation process shall be approved by the
Division.
2. Destruction of cards
shall be by shredding by the security department or a vendor approved by the
Division.
3. Cancellation of cards
shall be by drilling a circular hole of at least one-fourth of an inch in
diameter through the center of each card in the deck.
4. Documentation supporting the actual
destruction and/or cancellation of the cards shall be prepared by the casino
security department or vendor performing the process. At a minimum, such
documentation shall include:
i. The date and
time that the cards were destroyed;
ii. The name and signature of the
individual(s) who performed the destruction/cancellation process;
iii. The amount of cards that were destroyed
or cancelled; and
iv. The signature
of the representative of the games department attesting to the number of cards
(decks of cards) destroyed when the procedure is performed at the
casino.
(q)
Individual cards utilized in the game of poker that are of sufficient quality
for reuse may, at the discretion of the casino licensee and consistent with
internal controls, be retained for purposes of reconstituting or completing
partial decks of poker cards for subsequent use.
(r) To ensure the integrity or fairness of
the game, or at the request of the Division, any deck of cards that has been
reconstituted shall be inspected by games personnel and surveillance personnel
prior to being placed into service. Prior to placing reconstituted decks of
cards into service games personnel and surveillance personnel shall certify
that game integrity is not compromised by using the reconstituted decks of
cards.
