Pennsylvania Code
Title 58 - RECREATION
Part VII - GAMING CONTROL BOARD
Subpart K - Table games
Chapter 637a - POKER
Section 637a.16 - High Hand Jackpot payout; posting of rules; contributions; counting and displaying of payout amount; procedures for implementation

(a) A certificate holder may, if specified in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), offer a High Hand Jackpot payout for a Qualifying High Hand made during a qualifying period. A High Hand Jackpot payout shall be made from a separate fund created from pot contributions required at tables where a High Hand Jackpot payout is offered and shall be paid in accordance with the procedures established under this section.

(b) A certificate holder shall post at each Poker table that offers a High Hand Jackpot payout notice advising patrons of eligibility for the High Hand Jackpot payout. The certificate holder shall display the current amount of the High Hand Jackpot payout and post in a conspicuous location within the Poker room the High Hand Jackpot payout rules which must include:

(c) A certificate holder shall extract from each pot at a Poker table designated for participation in a High Hand Jackpot payout a prescribed contribution to the High Hand Jackpot payout. The contribution amount shall be collected in accordance with the High Hand Jackpot payout rules as specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2. After the dealer has extracted the rake, the amount from each pot to be contributed to a High Hand Jackpot payout shall be determined, segregated from the pot and deposited into the High Hand Jackpot payout box.

(d) At the end of each qualifying period, a certificate holder shall count the accumulated contents of each High Hand Jackpot payout box. The counting shall occur at a closed Poker table, the main cage or a satellite cage, in accordance with the certificate holder's approved internal controls, as follows:

(e) Once each High Hand Jackpot payout box or locked container is delivered to the main cage or satellite cage, a cashier shall count the contents of each box or, if the contents of the boxes were previously counted by Poker room personnel and combined in a locked container for transport, verify the aggregate count. The finance department shall maintain the official record of the amount of contributions to the High Hand Jackpot payout.

(f) At the start of each qualifying period, dealers shall begin tracking hands. When a player has a full house, as defined in § 637a.6(b) (relating to Poker rankings), the dealer shall call a floorperson or above who shall verify the hand and record the value on the High Hand Tracking Slip. As the value of the hands increase during the qualifying period, the value of the next higher hand shall be announced and the floorperson or above shall record on the High Hand Tracking Slip the next higher value hand. The High Hand Tracking Slip must contain:

(g) When the qualifying period has ended, the contribution amount collected during the qualifying period shall be counted, verified and taken to the main cage or satellite cage in accordance with subsections (d) and (e). The pooled contribution amounts from all Poker tables that participated in the qualifying period shall then be announced and displayed.

(h) The player or players with the highest Qualifying High Hand during the qualifying period shall be awarded the High Hand Jackpot payout. High Hand Jackpot payouts shall be paid from the main cage or satellite cage. If, however, a full house was not made by any player during the qualifying period, the High Hand Jackpot payout contribution amounts shall be added to the next High Hand Jackpot payout qualifying period.

(i) The certificate holder shall specify in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 the procedure for distributing High Hand Jackpot payouts which have not been collected within the time period specified in subsection (b)(6).