Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) Prior to
commencing gaming operations, a slot machine licensee shall establish a
comprehensive system of internal controls addressing the opening, counting and
recording of the contents of slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes.
The internal controls shall be submitted to and approved by the Board under
§
465a.2 (relating to internal
control systems and audit protocols) and must include:
(1) A workflow diagram which indicates the
location of all equipment used in the count, including tables, baskets and
bins, and the flow of all currency and paperwork from the start of the count to
the conclusion of the count. The approved workflow diagram shall also be filed
with the surveillance department.
(2) A description of all computer equipment,
software, files or reports used in the counting and recording process and all
other systems, if any, that communicate with that computer equipment. The
submission must include:
(i) The names of all
revenue files, the names of the employees who have access and what type of
access they have to those files.
(ii) Controls to prevent access to any count
room information by anyone outside of the count room until the entire count
process is concluded.
(3)
The procedures for conducting each required count, which must include, at a
minimum, the following:
(i) In full view of
the surveillance cameras, the contents of each slot cash storage box or table
game drop box shall be emptied on the count table and either manually counted
separately on the count table or counted in a currency counting machine located
in a conspicuous location on, near or adjacent to the count table.
(ii) After the contents of each slot cash
storage box or table game drop box have been emptied on the count table, the
inside of the slot cash storage box or table game drop box shall be held up to
the full view of the surveillance cameras to assure that all contents of the
slot cash storage box or table game drop box have been removed, after which the
slot cash storage box or table game drop box shall be locked and placed in the
storage area.
(iii) The contents of
each slot cash storage box or table game drop box shall be segregated by a
count team member into separate stacks on the count table by each denomination
of currency and by the type of required forms or documents. A slot machine
licensee may utilize a machine to automatically sort currency by
denomination.
(iv) Mutilated or
torn currency shall be separated by denomination and recorded as revenue if the
bill includes one entire serial number and one letter and number of the serial
number from the other half of the bill.
(v) Mutilated or torn currency that is not
recorded as revenue shall be placed in a sealed transparent envelope or
container and transferred to the main bank by the main bank cashier or cage
supervisor at the end of the count.
(vi) Except as provided in subparagraph
(vii), each denomination of currency shall be counted separately by one count
team member who shall place individual bills of the same denomination on the
count table in full view of the surveillance cameras. The currency shall then
be counted by a second count team member who is unaware of the result of the
original count and who, after completing this count, shall confirm the accuracy
of the total, either verbally or in writing, with that reached by the first
count team member.
(vii) A slot
machine licensee may aggregate counts by denomination of all currency collected
in substitution of the second count required under subparagraph (vi), if the
original counts are being performed automatically by a machine that counts and
automatically records the value of currency, and the accuracy of the machine
has been suitably tested and proven in accordance with subparagraph
(viii).
(viii) Currency counting
machines utilized to count and strap currency, gaming vouchers and coupons may
be used if:
(A) Prior to the start of each
slot or table game count, the counting machine is tested in accordance with the
procedures contained in the slot machine licensee's internal controls to verify
the accuracy of the counting machine.
(B) The counting machine automatically
provides two separate counts of the funds at different stages of the count
process and, if the separate counts are not in agreement, document the
discrepancy.
(C) The counting
machine is capable of determining the value of a gaming voucher or coupon by
independently examining information printed on the gaming voucher or coupon.
The information is used by the counting equipment to either calculate the value
internally or obtain the value directly from the gaming voucher system or
coupon system in a secure manner. When the gaming voucher system is utilized to
obtain the value of a gaming voucher or coupon, the gaming voucher system must
perform a calculation or integrity check to ensure that the value has not been
altered in the system in any manner since the time of issuance.
(ix) A gaming voucher or coupon
deposited in a slot cash storage box or table game drop box from a fully
automated electronic gaming table or an electronic wagering terminal shall be
counted and included in the calculation of revenue without regard to the
validity of the gaming voucher or coupon.
(4) Procedures for scheduled breaks to be
taken by the count team members during the count. This submission must also
address the use of restroom facilities that are located in the count
room.
(5) Procedures governing the
proper wearing and immediate inspection of jumpsuits worn by the count team
members to ensure that items are not taken from the count room without proper
authority and that the jumpsuits have not been altered in any way. The count
team is prohibited from removing the jumpsuits from the licensed
facility.
(b) A slot
machine licensee shall file with the Bureau of Casino Compliance, in accordance
with §
601a.10(g)
(relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment), a schedule
setting forth the times during which the contents of slot cash storage boxes,
table game drop boxes from table games that are not fully automated electronic
gaming tables or electronic wagering terminals and table game drop boxes from
table games that are fully automated electronic gaming tables or electronic
wagering terminals are to be counted and recorded. The slot machine licensee
shall file notice with the Bureau of Casino Compliance and obtain verbal
approval from the casino compliance supervisor at the licensed facility prior
to deviating from the count schedule.
(c) Immediately prior to the commencement of
the count, a count room employee shall notify the surveillance department that
the count is about to begin so that surveillance can record the entire count
process as required under §
465a.9(e)(8)
(relating to surveillance system; surveillance department control; surveillance
department restrictions).
(d)
Except as otherwise provided in this section, access to the count room during
the counting process shall be limited to the count team and those individuals
whose presence is necessary to complete the count. The count team shall consist
of at least three employees. Employees in the count room who are conducting the
count may not, during the counting process, enter a storage area for slot cash
storage boxes, table game drop boxes or other items that are part of the count
room to perform any function that is not directly related to the counting
process.
(e) The opening, counting
and recording of the contents of table game drop boxes from table games that
are not fully automated electronic gaming tables or electronic wagering
terminals may not commence until a casino compliance representative is present
in the count room. If the casino compliance representative has to leave the
count room during the table game count, the count shall be suspended and all
personnel in the count room shall vacate the count room until a casino
compliance representative is available to observe the resumption of the
count.
(f) All count team members
and the casino compliance representative observing a count shall sign a Count
Room Attendance Sheet. Any individual who enters or leaves the count room due
to an emergency shall sign and record the time of entry or exit on the Count
Room Attendance Sheet. When the individual exiting the count room is unable to
sign the document due to the emergency, the count room supervisor shall record
the individual's name and time of exit and a notation describing the emergency
on the Count Room Attendance Sheet. At the conclusion of the count, a copy of
the Count Room Attendance Sheet shall be given to the casino compliance
representative.
(g) Individuals who
are in or who enter the count room when uncounted funds are present shall wear
a full-length, one-piece, pocketless jumpsuit with the exception of
representatives of the Board, the Department, the Pennsylvania State Police,
the security department and the internal audit department.
(h) Individuals present in the count room
when uncounted funds are present may not:
(1)
Carry a handbag or other container unless it is transparent.
(2) Remove their hands from or return them to
a position on or above the count table or counting equipment unless the backs
and palms of the hands are first held straight out and exposed to the view of
other members of the count team and a surveillance camera.
(i) Once the counting process has started,
the doors to the count room shall only be opened for one of the following
purposes:
(1) To allow the entire count team
to take a scheduled work break.
(2)
To allow for a change of casino compliance representatives.
(3) To allow a main bank cashier or cage
supervisor to enter the count room to perform the responsibilities in
subsection (n) or (o)(6).
(4) To
allow the placement of a slot cash storage box or table game drop box or to
remove a trolley, empty slot cash storage boxes or table game drop boxes from
the count room.
(5) To allow the
count team and the casino compliance representative to exit the room at the
conclusion of the count.
(6) In the
event of an emergency.
(j) If any individual enters or leaves the
count room during the counting process, employees remaining in the count room
shall display their hands and step away from the count table, banking table and
counting equipment until the individual has entered or left the count room.
(k) The counting and recording
process shall be discontinued when less than three count team members are
present in the count room. When the entire count team takes a scheduled break,
all cash that has been removed from the slot cash storage boxes or table game
drop boxes shall be counted at least once and secured in a manner approved by
the Bureau of Casino Compliance before any member of the count team may leave
the count room.
(l) Once the
counting process has been started, a member of the count team shall notify
surveillance when the count room door will be opened.
(m) All table game drop boxes from table
games that are not fully automated electronic gaming tables or electronic
wagering terminals shall be counted and recorded at least once each gaming day.
The slot machine licensee shall designate which slot cash storage boxes and
table game drop boxes from fully automated electronic gaming tables and
electronic wagering terminals will be counted and recorded each gaming day. The
following shall be counted and recorded separately:
(1) Slot cash storage boxes and table game
drop boxes from fully automated electronic gaming tables and electronic
wagering terminals.
(2) Table game
drop boxes from banking games that are not fully automated electronic gaming
tables or electronic wagering terminals.
(3) Table game drop boxes from nonbanking
games.
(n) After the
contents of slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes from fully
automated electronic gaming tables and electronic wagering terminals have been
removed and counted, a count team member shall present the currency to a main
bank cashier or cage supervisor in the count room who shall recount, either
manually or mechanically, the currency prior to having access to the
information recorded by the count team.
(o) Table game drop boxes from table games
that are not fully automated electronic gaming tables or electronic wagering
terminals shall be counted and recorded as follows:
(1) As the contents of each table game drop
box are counted, a count team member shall manually record the results of the
count on the Daily Banking Table Game Count Report and the Daily Nonbanking
Table Game Count Report or a computer system. The Daily Banking Table Game
Count Report and the Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report must be a
three-part form consisting of an original and two duplicates. The distribution
of the Daily Banking Table Game Count Report and the Daily Nonbanking Table
Game Count Report shall be as follows:
(i) The
original shall be delivered to revenue audit by the count room supervisor
immediately after leaving the count room at the conclusion of the
count.
(ii) The second copy shall
be retained by the casino compliance representative observing the
count.
(iii) The third copy shall
be retained by the cage supervisor or main bank cashier.
(2) After the contents of each table game
drop box from a banking table game are counted, a member of the count team
shall record, manually on the Daily Banking Table Game Count Report or
electronically on a computer system, the following information for each banking
table game drop box:
(i) The value of each
denomination of currency counted.
(ii) The total value of all denominations of
currency counted.
(iii) The gaming
date of the items being recorded, the total number of banking table game drop
boxes opened and counted and the date that the Daily Banking Table Game Count
Report is being prepared or generated.
(3) After the contents of each table game
drop box from a nonbanking table game are counted, a member of the count team
shall record, manually on the Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or
electronically on a computer system, the following information for each
nonbanking table game drop box:
(i) The value
of Poker rake chips counted.
(ii)
The value of value chips counted.
(iii) The total value of Poker rake chips and
value chips counted.
(iv) The
gaming date of the items being recorded, the total number of nonbanking table
game drop boxes opened and counted and the date that the Daily Nonbanking Table
Game Count Report is being prepared or generated.
(4) After preparation of the Daily Banking
Table Game Count Report and the Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or the
electronic equivalents prepared on a computer system, the count team members
and the count room supervisor shall sign the reports attesting to the accuracy
of information recorded thereon. The count room supervisor shall verify that
all of the table game drop boxes from table games that are not fully automated
electronic gaming tables or electronic wagering terminals that were collected
and opened by count team members have been recorded on the reports.
(5) Once all currency has been counted and
the final count totals have been obtained, employees may not be permitted to
leave the count room, except in an emergency, until the recount and
presentation procedures in paragraph (6) have been completed.
(6) After the contents of all table game drop
boxes from table games that are not fully automated electronic gaming tables or
electronic wagering terminals have been removed and counted, all cash, value
chips and Poker rake chips shall be presented in the count room by a count team
member to a main bank cashier or cage supervisor who, prior to having access to
the information recorded on the Daily Banking Table Game Count Report and the
Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or electronic equivalents and in the
presence of the count team members and the casino compliance representative,
shall recount, either manually or mechanically, the currency, value chips and
Poker rake chips presented in accordance with the following requirements:
(i) The main bank cashier or cage supervisor
shall have physical access to all currency, value chips and Poker rake chips
presented for recounting. Currency, value chips or Poker rake chips for
recounting may not be wrapped or placed in a sealed bag or container until the
entire recount has been completed and the Daily Banking Table Game Count Report
and the Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or electronic equivalents have
been signed by the entire count team, the count room supervisor, the main bank
cashier or cage supervisor and the casino compliance representative.
(ii) The main bank cashier or cage supervisor
may bulk count all strapped currency.
(iii) All partial straps, loose currency,
mutilated or torn currency, value chips and Poker rake chips shall be recounted
by the main bank cashier or cage supervisor either by hand or with an approved
counting device.
(iv) The casino
compliance representative may direct that currency straps of any denomination
be recounted by the main bank cashier or cage supervisor, either by hand or by
counting equipment, if a discrepancy either in denomination total or grand
total is discovered during the initial bulk recount.
(v) Upon completion of the recount, the main
bank cashier or cage supervisor shall attest by signature on the Daily Banking
Table Game Count Report and the Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or
electronic equivalents the amounts of currency, value chips and Poker rake
chips counted, after which the casino compliance representative shall sign the
report evidencing his presence during the count and the fact that both the main
bank cashier or cage supervisor and count team have agreed on the total amounts
of currency, value chips and Poker rake chips counted.
(vi) When all required signatures have been
obtained, the second copy of the Daily Banking Table Game Count Report and the
Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or electronic equivalents shall be
given to the casino compliance representative and the third copy shall be
retained by the cage supervisor or main bank cashier.
(vii) The original Daily Banking Table Game
Count Report and the Daily Nonbanking Table Game Count Report or electronic
equivalents, the Requests for Fills, the Fill Slips, the Requests for Credits,
the Credit Slips, the issuance copy of the Counter Checks, the Table Inventory
Slips and any other supporting documentation shall be transported directly to
the accounting department and may not be available to cage personnel.
(7) A count room employee, in the
presence of the casino compliance representative who observed the count, shall
conduct a thorough inspection of the entire count room and all counting
equipment located therein to verify that no currency, value chips, Poker rake
chips, Counter Checks, gaming vouchers, coupons or supporting documentation
remains in the room.
(p)
If any problems occur with the slot or table count procedures or machines (for
example, computer interface malfunctions or strap overages or shortages), the
problems shall be brought to the immediate attention of a casino compliance
representative and a detailed written report explaining the problem, the reason
for the problem and the corrective action taken shall be filed by the count
room supervisor or above with the casino compliance representatives within 24
hours of the conclusion of the count.
(q) Notwithstanding the requirements of this
section and §
465a.18 (relating to
transportation of slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes to and from
the gaming floor; storage), a slot machine licensee may submit, as part of its
internal controls, alternate procedures for the separate collection,
distribution, opening and counting of nonbanking table game drop boxes in a
room, other than the count room, provided that:
(1) The room for the counting of nonbanking
table game drop boxes shall be dual access controlled by the finance department
and the security or surveillance department and covered by the slot machine
licensee's surveillance system.
(2)
Immediately prior to the commencement of the nonbanking table game count, an
employee of the finance department who is participating in the count shall
notify the surveillance department that the count is about to begin so that
surveillance can record the entire count process as required under §
465a.9(e)(8).
(3) The count shall
be conducted by at least two employees of the finance department who are not
assigned as Poker room cage employees on that gaming day and who have no
incompatible duties.
(4) The
opening, counting and recording of the contents of nonbanking table game drop
boxes may not commence until a casino compliance representative is present. If
the casino compliance representative has to leave or if less than two finance
department employees are present, the count will be suspended until at least
two finance department employees and a casino compliance representative are
present.
(5) Individuals who
participate in the nonbanking table game count may not remove their hands from
or return them to a position on or above the count table unless the backs and
palms of the hands are first held straight out and exposed to the view of other
finance department employees involved in the count and a surveillance
camera.
(6) The contents of each
nonbanking table game drop box shall be counted and recorded in accordance with
subsection (o)(1) and (3). After preparation of the daily nonbanking table game
count report or the electronic equivalents prepared on a computer system, the
finance department employees who participated in the count shall sign the
report attesting to the accuracy of the information recorded thereon. Once the
contents of the nonbanking table game drop boxes has been counted and the final
count totals have been obtained, employees may not leave the room, except in an
emergency, until the recount and presentation procedures in paragraph (7) have
been completed.
(7) The cash, value
chips and Poker rake chips removed from the nonbanking table game drop boxes
shall then be presented to a cage supervisor who did not participate in the
count and shall be recounted and recorded in accordance with subsection
(o)(6).
(8) The slot machine
licensee shall submit procedures governing how scheduled work breaks will be
conducted, if any, during the nonbanking table game count.
The provisions of this § 465a.25 amended under
4
Pa.C.S. §§
1202(b)(30),
1207, 13A 02(1)-(6), 13A25,
13A62(a) and 1322.
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §
465a.36 (relating to table
inventories); 58 Pa. Code §
465b.2 (relating to prepaid access
instrument transactions-technical standard); 58 Pa. Code §
601a.9 (relating to table game
taxes and gross table game revenue); 58 Pa. Code §
601a.10 (relating to approval of
table game layouts, signage and equipment); 58 Pa. Code §
603a.20 (relating to Match Play
Coupons; physical characteristics and issuance); and 58 Pa. Code §
609a.19 (relating to use of an
electronic credit system for the processing of Counter Checks and customer
deposits).
