Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) When sets of
tiles are received from a manufacturer or supplier, the tiles must 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 tiles shall then be
inspected by the 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 tiles 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).
(b) Sets of tiles which are to be distributed
to gaming pits or tables for use in gaming shall be distributed from the
approved storage area.
(c) The
approved storage area 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 organization hierarchy may not have access to the
table games department key.
(d)
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 sets of tiles for that gaming day from the approved storage area.
(e) Envelopes and containers used to hold or
transport tiles must be:
(1)
Transparent.
(2) Designed or
constructed with seals so that any tampering is evident.
(3) Submitted to the Bureau of Gaming
Operations and approved in accordance with § 601a.10(a).
(f) The assistant table games
shift manager or above shall distribute sufficient sets of tiles to the pit
manager or above in each Pai Gow pit.
(1) The
pit manager or above shall then distribute the sets of tiles to the dealer at
each Pai Gow table and place extra sets of tiles in the reserve in the pit
stand.
(2) Sets of tiles in the
reserve shall be placed in a locked compartment in the pit stand, keys to which
shall be in the possession of the pit manager or above.
(g) If during the course of play any damaged
tile is detected, the dealer or a floorperson shall immediately notify the pit
manager or above. The pit manager or above shall bring a substitute set of
tiles to the table from the reserve in the pit stand to replace the entire set
of tiles.
(1) The set of damaged tiles shall
be placed in an envelope or container, identified by table number, date and
time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed
by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the
pit manager or above.
(2) The pit
manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelope or container in a secure
place within the pit until collection by a security department
employee.
(h) The
floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above
shall collect used tiles which shall be placed in an envelope or container when
removed from active use.
(1) A label shall be
attached to each envelope or container which identifies the table number, date
and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and
signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table
or the pit manager or above.
(2)
The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelopes or containers in a
secure place within the pit until collection by a security department
employee.
(i) A
certificate holder shall remove any tiles at any time of the gaming 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.
(1) A
label shall be attached to each envelope or container which identifies the
table number, date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container
and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for
supervising the table or the pit manager or above.
(2) The pit manager or above shall maintain
the sealed envelopes or containers in a secure place within the pit until
collection by a security department employee.
(j) Extra sets of tiles in the reserve which
have been opened shall be placed in an envelope or container with a label
attached to each envelope or container which identifies the date and time the
tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and is signed by the
pit manager or above.
(k) 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 tiles, tiles used
during the gaming day, and all extra tiles in the reserve which have been
opened, and return the envelopes or containers to the security
department.
(l) 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), at
other times as may be necessary, an assistant table games shift manager or
above may collect all extra sets of tiles in the reserve which have not been
opened. If collected, all unopened sets of tiles shall either be cancelled,
destroyed or returned to the approved storage area.
(m) When envelopes or containers of used
tiles and reserve sets of tiles which have been opened are returned to the
security department, the tiles shall be inspected for tampering, marks,
alterations, missing or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair
play.
(1) The procedures for inspecting sets
of tiles must include the following, at a minimum:
(i) The sorting of tiles by pairs.
(ii) The visual inspection of the sides and
back of each tile for tampering, markings or alterations.
(iii) The inspection of the sides and back of
each tile with an ultraviolet light.
(2) The individual performing the inspection
shall complete a work order form which details the procedures performed, lists
the tables from which the tiles were removed and the results of the inspection.
The individual shall sign the form upon completion of the inspection
procedures.
(3) The certificate
holder shall submit the training procedures for the employees performing the
inspections required under this subsection in its internal controls.
(4) Evidence of tampering, marks,
alterations, missing or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair
play discovered during the inspection, or at any other time, shall be
immediately reported to the casino compliance representatives by the completion
and delivery of a two-part Tile Discrepancy Report.
(i) The two-part report must include the
tiles which are the subject of the report.
(ii) The tiles shall be retained by the
casino compliance representatives for further inspection.
(iii) The casino compliance representative
receiving the tiles shall sign the original and duplicate copy of the tile
discrepancy report and retain the original. The duplicate copy shall be
retained by the certificate holder.
(n) If after completing the inspection
procedures required in subsection (m), it is determined that a complete set of
32 tiles removed from a gaming table is free from tampering, markings or
alterations, the set shall be packaged separately and sealed before being
returned to the Pai Gow storage area for subsequent use. The certificate holder
shall develop internal control procedures for returning the repackaged tiles to
the tile inventory in accordance with subsection (p).
(o) Individual tiles from different sets may
not be used to make a complete set for subsequent gaming. A certificate holder
may, in accordance with its approved internal controls, create replacement and
reconstructed sets in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) If after completing the inspection
procedures required under subsection (m), it is determined that any tiles have
scratches or other markings on the back, sides or edges which make the tiles
unsuitable for continued use, the tiles shall be removed from the set and
destroyed in accordance with subsection (q). The remaining usable tiles from
the set shall then be designated as a replacement set. The individual removing
the tiles from a set shall complete a two-part form. The duplicate copy of the
form shall be retained with the replacement set and the security department
shall retain the original. The two-part form must:
(i) Include the date and time the tiles were
removed from the set.
(ii) Identify
the specific tile or tiles removed from the set and sent for
destruction.
(iii) Contain the name
and signature of the individuals involved.
(2) The assistant table games shift manager
or above shall return the replacement set, accompanied by the duplicate copy of
the form, to the tile inventory in accordance with subsection (p). Replacement
sets shall be inventoried and stored separately from any stored and new, used
or complete reconstructed sets.
(3)
Tiles in one or more replacement sets may be used to create a complete
reconstructed set of tiles in accordance with the following procedures:
(i) The assistant table games shift manager
or above shall conduct an inspection of each reconstructed set in the storage
area, in the presence of a security department employee, and ensure that any
replacement tile possesses the same color, texture and finish as all other
tiles in the reconstructed set. The assistant table games shift manager or
above shall sort the tiles by pairs and verify the needed replacement tile or
tiles and visually inspect the sides, backs and edges of each tile in the
reconstructed set for tampering, markings and alterations and for comparison as
to shading, texture and finish.
(ii) Once a complete set of tiles has been
satisfactorily reconstructed from replacement sets, the assistant table games
shift manager or above shall attach a label to the envelope or container for
the reconstructed set. The label must include the date and time of
reconstruction and contain the signature of the assistant table games shift
manager or above and the security department employee who witnessed the
inspection. The label must also identify the inspection steps that were
followed to determine that the reconstructed set of tiles is suitable for use
in gaming.
(iii) The certificate
holder shall submit internal control procedures for returning the reconstructed
sets into inventory, identifying all reconstructed sets and maintaining an
accurate inventory balance of remaining replacement sets.
(p) Certificate holders shall
submit internal control procedures, in accordance with §
465a.2 (relating to internal
control systems and audit protocols), for:
(1) An inventory system which includes
records of at least the following:
(i) The
balance of sets of tiles on hand.
(ii) The sets of tiles removed from
storage.
(iii) The sets of tiles
returned to storage or received from a manufacturer or supplier.
(iv) The date of each transaction.
(v) The signatures of the individuals
involved.
(2) A
reconciliation on a daily basis of:
(i) The
sets of tiles distributed.
(ii) The
sets of tiles destroyed or cancelled.
(iii) The sets of tiles returned to the
approved storage area.
(iv) The
sets of tiles in the tile reserve in a pit stand.
(3) A physical inventory of the sets of tiles
at least once every 3 months.
(i) The
inventory shall be performed by an individual with no incompatible functions
and shall be verified to the balance of the sets of tiles on hand required in
paragraph (1)(i).
(ii)
Discrepancies shall immediately be reported to the casino compliance
representatives.
(q) Destruction or cancellation of tiles
other than those retained for Board inspection, shall be completed within 5
days of collection. The method of destruction or cancellation shall be included
in the certificate holder's internal controls. The destruction or cancellation
of tiles shall take place in a secure location in the licensed facility covered
by the slot machine licensee's surveillance system, the physical
characteristics of which shall be approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance
in accordance with §
601a.10(f).
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §
603a.18 (relating to Pai Gow
tiles; physical characteristics).
