Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) A slot machine may not be set to pay out
less than the theoretical payout percentage, which may not be less than 85%,
calculated using the lowest possible wager that could be played for any single
play, or equal or exceed 100%, calculated using the highest eligible wager
available. The theoretical payout percentage for the total value of slot
machine wagers will be calculated using the following:
(1) The defined set of all symbols that will
be displayed using spinning reels or video displays, or both.
(2) The finite set of all possible
combinations which shall be known as the cycle of the game. All possible
combinations in a slot machine cycle shall be independent of each other and of
all possible combinations from cycles in other slot machines.
(3) The value of each winning combination
that corresponds with the set from paragraph (2) which, whether by reason of
skill or application of the element of chance or both, may deliver or entitle
the person or persons playing the slot machine to a jackpot.
(4) A payout of merchandise or anything of
value provided a cash equivalent award for the merchandise is offered. The
value of the cash equivalent will contribute to the calculation of the
theoretical payout percentage.
(5)
A payout in the form of an annuity will contribute to the calculation of the
theoretical payout percentage by dividing the initial or reset amount of the
jackpot payout by the number of years over which the jackpot will be
paid.
(6) The odds of any winning
combination may not exceed 50 million to 1.
(b) The calculation of the theoretical payout
percentage will not include:
(1) The amount of
any progressive jackpot in excess of the initial or reset amount.
(2) A cash or noncash complimentary issued
under §
465a.7 (relating to complimentary
services or items).
(c)
A play offered by a slot machine may not have a theoretical payout percentage
which is less than, when calculated to one hundredth of a percentage point, the
theoretical payout percentage for any other play offered by that slot machine
which is activated by a slot machine wager in a lesser amount than the slot
machine wager required for that play. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
theoretical payout percentage of one or more particular plays may be less than
the theoretical payout percentage of one or more plays which require a lesser
wager provided that:
(1) The aggregate total
of the decreases in the theoretical payout percentage for plays offered by the
slot machine is not more than 1/2 of 1%.
(2) The theoretical payout percentage for
every play offered by the slot machine is equal to or greater than the
theoretical payout percentage for the play that requires the lowest possible
wager that will activate the slot machine.
(d) The selection from the set of all
possible combinations of symbols shall be made applying a pseudo random number
generator. At a minimum, a pseudo random number generator must adhere to the
following criteria:
(1) The random selection
process must meet a 95% confidence interval.
(2) A random number generator must pass a
standard chi-squared test for goodness of fit.
(3) Each possible slot machine combination
which produces winning or losing slot machine outcomes must be available for
random selection at the initiation of each play.
(4) A slot machine payout percentage that may
be affected by reason of skill must meet the theoretical payout requirements of
this subpart when evaluated by the Board using a method of play that will
provide the greatest return to the player.
(5) Once a random selection process has
occurred, the slot machine must:
(i) Display
an accurate representation of the randomly selected outcome.
(ii) Not make a secondary decision which
affects the result shown to the person playing the slot machine.
(e) A slot machine is
prohibited from automatically altering any function of the slot machine based
on internal computation of the hold percentage.
(f) The available winning combinations and
applicable rules of play for a slot machine shall be available at all times the
slot machine is idle to the patron playing the slot machine. The award schedule
of available winning combinations may not include possible aggregate awards
achievable from free plays. A slot machine that includes a strategy choice must
provide mathematically sufficient information for a patron to use optimal
skill. Information regarding a strategy choice need not be made available for
any strategy decisions whenever the patron is not required, in addition to the
initial wager, to make an additional wager and, when as a result of playing a
strategy choice, the patron can not lose any credits earned thus far during
that game play.
(g) Slot machines
approved for use in a licensed facility must be equipped with the following
meters that comply with the technical standards adopted by the Board and
published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and posted on the
Board's website:
(1)
Coin in.
A meter that accumulates the total value of all wagers, whether the wager
results from the insertion of currency, gaming vouchers, coupons, downloaded
credits, credits won or any other means. This meter must:
(i) Not include subsequent wagers of
intermediate winnings accumulated during game play sequence such as those
acquired from "double up" games.
(ii) For multigame and
multidenomination/multigame slot machines, monitor the information necessary,
on a per paytable basis, to calculate a weighted average actual payout
percentage.
(2)
Coin out. A meter that accumulates the total value of all
amounts directly paid by the slot machine as a result of winning wagers,
whether the payout is made directly from the printer by issuance of a gaming
voucher, directly to a credit meter or by any other means. This meter may not
record amounts awarded as the result of an external bonusing system or a
progressive payout.
(3)
Attendant paid jackpots. A meter that accumulates the total
value of credits paid by an attendant resulting from a single winning alignment
or combination, the amount of which is not capable of being paid by the slot
machine itself. This meter may not record amounts awarded as the result of an
external bonusing system or a progressive payout. This meter is to record only
amounts specifically listed in the manufacturer's par sheet.
(4)
Attendant paid cancelled
credits. A meter that accumulates the total value of all amounts paid
by an attendant resulting from a player initiated cash-out that exceeds the
physical or configured capability of the slot machine.
(5)
Bill in. A meter that
accumulates the total value of currency accepted. The slot machine must also
have a specific meter for each denomination of currency accepted that records
the number of bills accepted for each denomination.
(6)
Voucher
in-cashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of
cashable gaming vouchers accepted by the slot machine.
(7)
Voucher
in-cashable/count. A meter that accumulates the total number of
cashable gaming vouchers accepted by a slot machine.
(8)
Voucher
out-cashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of
cashable gaming vouchers issued by the slot machine.
(9)
Voucher
out-cashable/count. A meter that records the total number of cashable
gaming vouchers issued by a slot machine.
(10)
Voucher
out-noncashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of
noncashable gaming vouchers issued by the slot machine.
(11)
Voucher
out-noncashable/count. A meter that records the total number of
noncashable gaming vouchers issued by the slot machine.
(12)
Cashable electronic in.
A meter that accumulates the total value of cashable credits electronically
transferred to the slot machine by means of an external connection between the
slot machine and a cashless funds transfer system.
(13)
Noncashable electronic
in. A meter that accumulates the total value of noncashable credits
electronically transferred to the slot machine by means of an external
connection between the slot machine and a cashless funds transfer
system.
(14)
Coupon
in-cashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of
cashable coupons accepted by the slot machine.
(15)
Coupon
in-cashable/count. A meter that accumulates the total number of
cashable coupons accepted by the slot machine.
(16)
Coupon
in-noncashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of
noncashable coupons accepted by the slot machine.
(17)
Coupon
in-noncashable/count. A meter that accumulates the total number of
noncashable coupons accepted by the slot machine.
(18)
Slot machine paid external bonus
payout. A meter that accumulates the total value of additional amounts
awarded as a result of an external bonusing system and paid by the slot
machine.
(19)
Attendant
paid external bonus payout. A meter that accumulates the total value
of additional amounts awarded as a result of an external bonusing system and
paid by a slot attendant.
(20)
Slot machine paid progressive payout. A meter that accumulates
the total value of credits paid as a result of progressive awards paid directly
by the slot machine. This meter may not record awards paid as a result of an
external bonusing system.
(21)
Attendant paid progressive payout. A meter that accumulates
the total value of credits paid by a slot attendant as a result of progressive
awards that are not capable of being paid by the slot machine. This meter may
not include awards paid as a result of an external bonusing system.
(22)
Additional
requirements. Other meters required by technical standards adopted by
the Board and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and
posted on the Board's website.
(h) A slot machine that does not meter one or
more of the events required to be metered under subsection (g) may be approved
where a slot machine licensee's system of internal controls establishes that
the meter is not required to capture all critical transactions occurring on the
slot machine.
(i) The meters
required under subsection (g) must continuously and automatically increment in
units equal to the denomination of the slot machine or, in the case of a slot
machine configured for multidenomination play, must display the required
information in dollars and cents.
(j) A slot machine approved for use in a
licensed facility must be equipped with the following noncumulative meters:
(1)
Credits wagered. A
meter, visible from the front exterior of a slot machine, known as a credit
wagered meter that advises the patron of the total value of amounts wagered in
a particular game or round of slot play.
(2)
Win meter. A meter,
visible from the front exterior of the slot machine, known as a win meter that
advises the patron of the total value of amounts won in the immediately
concluded game or round of slot play.
(3)
Credits paid. A meter,
visible from the front exterior of the slot machine, known as a credits paid
meter that advises the patron of the total value of the last:
(i) Cash out initiated by the
patron.
(ii) Attendant paid
jackpot.
(iii) Attendant paid
cancelled credit.
(4)
Credit meter. A meter, visible from the front exterior of the
slot machine and specifically labeled as a credit meter, which advises the
patron as to the number of credits or monetary value available for wagering on
the slot machine. The credit meter need not distinguish between cashable
credits and noncashable credits.
(k) A slot machine must have a meter which
stores the number of games played, in the manner and for a duration specified
in this subpart or in technical standards adopted by the Board and published in
the Pennsylvania Bulletin and posted on the Board's website,
since the following events:
(1) Power
reset.
(2) Door close.
(3) Game initialization (random access memory
(RAM) clear).
(l) A slot
machine must be equipped with a device, mechanism or method for retaining the
total value of all meters required under subsection (g) for 72 hours subsequent
to a power loss.
(m) The required
meters on a slot machine must be accessible and legible without access to the
interior of the slot machine.
(n) A
slot machine must be equipped with a tower light capable of effectively
communicating the status of the slot machine in accordance with technical
standards on tower lights and error conditions under §
461b.2 (relating to slot machine
tower lights and error conditions).
(o) A slot machine must be equipped with a
device, mechanism or method for detecting, displaying and communicating to a
slot monitoring system error conditions. The error conditions detected,
displayed and communicated by a slot machine, and the method to be utilized to
clear the message with regard to the error condition, must be in accordance
with technical standards on tower lights and error conditions under §
461b.2.
(p) A slot machine must, in
accordance with section 1324 of the act (relating to protocol information),
comply with the comprehensive protocol specifications necessary to enable the
slot machine to communicate with the Department's central control computer as
that protocol is amended or supplemented, for the purpose of transmitting
auditing program information, real time information retrieval and slot machine
activation and disabling.
(q) A
slot machine must lock up and preclude further play whenever a jackpot occurs
that is not able to be paid completely by the slot machine and requires a hand
pay. When the jackpot occurs, the slot machine can offer a predetermined number
of double-up wagers before the slot machine locks up.
(r) Printers incorporated into a slot machine
must be:
(1) Designed to allow the slot
machine to detect and report a low paper level, paper out, presentation error,
printer failure and paper jams.
(2)
Mounted inside a lockable compartment within the slot machine.
(s) Seating made available by a
slot machine licensee for use during slot play may be fixed and stationary or
nonfixed. When fixed and stationary seating is used, it must be installed in a
manner that effectively precludes its ready removal by a patron but permits
controlled removal, for example for American With Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) (42 U.S.C.A.
§§
12101-12213) purposes, by
slot operations department personnel. When nonfixed seating is used, the slot
machine licensee shall:
(1) Maintain a minimum
aisle width of 48 inches, measured from the seat back to seat back when the
nonfixed seating is vacant and is touching or is as close as possible to the
slot machine at which the nonfixed seating is being used.
(2) Provide to the Bureau of Gaming
Operations copies of a certification obtained from the local building code or
fire safety officials or a certification from an architect registered in this
Commonwealth that the use of the nonfixed seating complies with applicable
building and fire safety code requirements.
(t) Unless a slot machine licensee's slot
monitoring system is configured to automatically record all of the information
required by this subsection, the slot machine licensee shall be required to
physically house in each slot machine the following entry authorization logs:
(1) A machine entry authorization log that
documents each time a slot machine or any device connected thereto which may
affect the operation of the slot machine is opened. The log must contain, at a
minimum, the date, time, purpose for opening the slot machine or device and the
signature and license or permit number of the person opening and entering the
slot machine or device. Each log must have recorded thereon a sequence number
and the manufacturer's serial number or the asset number corresponding to the
slot machine in which it is housed.
(2) A progressive entry authorization log
that documents each time a progressive controller not housed within the cabinet
of the slot machine is opened. The log must contain, at a minimum, the date,
time, purpose for accessing the progressive controller and the signature and
license or permit number of the person accessing the progressive controller.
Each log must be maintained in the progressive controller unit and have
recorded thereon a sequence number and the manufacturer's serial number of the
progressive controller.
(u) A slot machine must be equipped with a
lock controlling access to the card cage door securing the microprocessor, the
key to which must be different from any other key securing access to the slot
machine's components including its belly door or main door, bill validator or
slot cash storage box. Access to the key securing the microprocessor shall be
limited to a supervisor in the slot operations department, and that department
shall establish a sign out and sign in procedure with regard to this
key.
(v) A slot machine must be
equipped with a mechanism for detecting and communicating to a slot monitoring
system any activity with regard to access to the card cage door securing its
microprocessor.
(w) A slot machine
that does not require a full-time attendant for operation must be equipped with
a service button designed to allow the player of a slot machine to request
assistance. The service button must:
(1) Be
visible to and within easy reach of the player of the slot machine.
(2) Communicate directly or through the slot
machine to the slot machine's tower light which will provide a signal that is
in compliance with the technical standards on slot machine tower lights under
§ 461b.2.
(x) A slot
machine approved for use in a licensed facility must be configured to wager
credits available for play in the following order:
(1) Noncashable credits.
(2) Cashable credits.
(y) A slot machine on the gaming floor must
have a label on the top of the slot machine and on the front of the slot
machine near the bill validator that displays the asset number and the gaming
floor plan location number of the slot machine. The labels must have white
lettering on a black background or other color combination approved by the
Bureau of Gaming Operations, may not be easily removed and must be easily
visible to the surveillance department. The label on the top of the slot
machine must be at least 1.5 inches by 5.5 inches and the label on the front of
the slot machine must be at least 1 inch by 2.5 inches or other sizes approved
by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
The provisions of this § 461a.7 amended under
4
Pa.C.S. §§
1202,
1205,
1206(f) and (g), 1207,
1208(1)(iii), 1209(b), 1212, 1213, 1320, 1321, 1322, 13A11, 13A12-13A14, 13A15,
1517 and 1802 and Chapter 13.
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §
461a.12 (relating to progressive
slot machines); 58 Pa. Code §
461a.20 (relating to server
supported slot systems); 58 Pa. Code §
810a.5 (relating to random number
generator standards); and 58 Pa. Code §
810a.11 (relating to
controls).
