Pennsylvania Code
Title 58 - RECREATION
Part VII - GAMING CONTROL BOARD
Subpart K - Table games
Chapter 603a - TABLE GAME EQUIPMENT
Section 603a.16 - Cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use

(a) When decks of cards are received from a manufacturer or supplier, the cards shall immediately be unloaded under the supervision of at least two people, one of whom shall be an assistant table games shift manager or above and one employee from the security department, and transported to a secure area which is covered by the slot machine licensee's surveillance system. The boxes of decks of cards shall then be inspected by an assistant table games shift manager or above and one employee from the security department to assure that the seals on each box are intact, unbroken and free from tampering. Boxes that do not satisfy these criteria shall be inspected at this time to assure that the decks of cards contained therein conform to the requirements of this chapter and there is no evidence of tampering. Boxes satisfying these criteria, together with boxes having unbroken, intact and untampered seals shall then be placed for storage in a storage area, the location and physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(f) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment). A certificate holder may have separate cabinets or storage areas for decks of cards to be used at the game of Poker. The location and physical characteristics of the cabinets or separate storage areas shall be approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(f).

(b) Approved storage areas must have two separate locks. The security department shall maintain one key and the table games department shall maintain the other key. A person employed by the table games department below an assistant table games shift manager in the organizational hierarchy may not have access to the table games department key for the approved storage areas. If the certificate holder has a separate Poker storage area, a person below a Poker shift manager in the organizational hierarchy may not have access to the table games department key to the Poker storage area.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (g), immediately prior to the commencement of each gaming day and at other times as may be necessary, an assistant table games shift manager or above, in the presence of a security department employee, shall remove the appropriate number of decks of cards for that gaming day from the approved storage area. The assistant table games shift manager or above and the security department employee who removed the decks shall distribute sufficient decks to the pit managers or above and, if applicable, to the Poker shift manager. The number of decks distributed must include extra decks that shall be placed in the pit stand for the 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 pit managers or above or the Poker shift manager or above.

(d) If the decks are to be inspected at open gaming tables in accordance with subsection (h), the pit manager or above shall distribute the decks to the dealer at each table or the Poker shift manager shall transport the decks to the Poker pit stand for subsequent distribution to the dealer at each Poker table either directly by the Poker shift manager or through the floorperson assigned to supervise the dealer.

(e) If the decks are to be preinspected and preshuffled at a closed gaming table as permitted under subsection (u), the pit manager or above or Poker shift manager shall deliver the decks to the dealer and the floorperson or above at the closed gaming table where the preinspection and preshuffling shall be performed.

(f) If the decks have already been preinspected, preshuffled, sealed in containers and placed in the card storage area as permitted under subsection (u)(8)(ii) or (v), the assistant table games shift manager or above and a security department employee shall transport the number of sealed containers of cards needed for that gaming day to the gaming pits where the cards will be utilized and shall ensure that the containers are locked in the pit stand. A record of the removal of the sealed containers of cards from the approved storage area and the distribution of sealed containers to the gaming pits shall be maintained by the security department in a manner consistent with the certificate holder's internal controls filed in accordance with § 465a.2 (relating to internal control systems and audit protocols).

(g) If the decks of cards to be used for Poker for that gaming day are removed from the Poker storage area, the Poker shift manager or above and a security department employee shall, prior to the commencement of each gaming day and at other times as may be necessary, remove the appropriate number of decks from the Poker storage area and distribute the decks in accordance with subsection (d), (e) or (f). The number of decks distributed must include extra decks that shall be placed in the pit stand for the 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 manager or above.

(h) Except for decks of cards that are preinspected and preshuffled in accordance with subsection (u) or (v), the dealer shall sort the cards in each deck according to suit and in sequence to verify that all cards are present and visually inspect the backs of the cards for any defects that might compromise the integrity or fairness of the game. The floorperson or above shall verify the inspection.

(i) If while inspecting the cards in accordance with subsection (h), the dealer finds that a card is unsuitable for use, a card is missing from the deck or an extra card is found, the following procedures shall be observed:

(j) Envelopes and containers used to hold or transport cards must be:

(k) If any cards in a deck appear to be damaged during the course of play, the dealer shall immediately notify a floorperson or above. If after inspection, the floorperson or above determines that the card is damaged and needs to be replaced, the floorperson shall notify the pit manager or above or the Poker shift manager.

(l) Decks of cards that were used for play shall be put into envelopes or containers when removed from active use at the table.

(m) A certificate holder shall remove any deck of cards at any time during the day if there is any indication of tampering, flaws or other defects that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game, or at the request of a casino compliance representative or other Board employee.

(n) Extra decks or packaged sets of multiple decks in the 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 the decks were placed in the envelope or container and the signature of the floorperson or above for decks used for Poker and the pit manager or above for decks used for all other games.

(o) At the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming day, as designated by the certificate holder and approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g), and at other times as may be necessary, a security department employee shall collect and sign all envelopes or containers with damaged decks of cards, decks of cards required to be removed that gaming day and all extra decks in the card reserve with broken seals and return the envelopes or containers to the security department.

(p) At the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming day, as designated by the certificate holder and approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g), and at other times as may be necessary, an assistant table games shift manager or above may collect all extra decks with intact seals in the card reserve. If the certificate holder maintains a separate storage area for Poker cards, a Poker shift manager or above may collect all extra decks in the card reserve for the game of Poker. If collected, all sealed decks shall either be cancelled, destroyed or returned to the storage area.

(q) When the envelopes or containers of used cards and reserve cards with broken seals are returned to the security department, the cards shall be inspected for tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair play as follows:

(r) Certificate holders shall submit to the Bureau of Gaming Operations for approval, in accordance with § 465a.2, internal control procedures for:

(s) Decks of cards in an envelope or container that are inspected as required under subsection (q) and found to be without any indication of tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair play, with the exception of plastic cards used at Poker which are of sufficient quality for reuse, shall be destroyed or cancelled within 5 days of collection. Cards submitted to the Board shall be destroyed or cancelled within 5 days of release from the Board.

(t) 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 under subsection (q)(3), before the deck may be reused at a Poker table, the deck shall be inspected by a Poker shift manager or floorperson. A satisfactory inspection shall be documented by the Poker shift manager or floorperson. If the Poker shift manager 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 the deck was placed in the envelope or container and shall be signed by the Poker shift manager or floorperson. At the end of the gaming day or at other times as may be necessary, the envelope or container shall be collected by a security department employee and returned to the security department for destruction or cancellation in accordance with subsection (s).

(u) If a certificate holder elects to preinspect and preshuffle cards at a closed gaming table prior to the delivery of the cards to an open gaming table, the procedures in this subsection shall be performed by a dealer and supervised by a floorperson or above with no concurrent supervisory responsibility for open gaming tables. A schedule of the proposed time and location for the preinspection and preshuffling shall be provided to the casino compliance representatives at least 24 hours prior to commencement of the process. The procedures required under paragraphs (1)-(7) shall be recorded by the surveillance department and each recording shall be retained by the certificate holder for at least 7 days.

(v) A certificate holder may use preinspected and preshuffled decks or batches of decks obtained from a licensed manufacturer or supplier in the same manner as decks or batches of decks that are preinspected and preshuffled under subsection (u) if the licensed manufacturer or supplier has been approved to provide preinspected and preshuffled decks or batches of decks by the Board's Executive Director.