Pennsylvania Code
Title 58 - RECREATION
Part VII - GAMING CONTROL BOARD
Subpart K - Table games
Chapter 685a - DOWN UNDER BLACKJACK
Section 685a.7 - Procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play

(a) All cards shall be dealt from a dealing shoe which must be located on the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment). Once the procedures under § 685a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards) have been completed, the stacked cards shall be placed in the dealing shoe by the dealer or by an automated card shuffling device.

(b) Each card shall be removed from the dealing shoe with the hand of the dealer that is closest to the dealing shoe and placed on the appropriate area of the layout with the opposite hand. The dealer may deal cards to the two betting positions closest to the dealing shoe with the same hand.

(c) After each full batch of cards is placed in the shoe, the dealer shall remove the first card and place it in the discard rack. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also remove one card and place it in the discard rack before dealing any cards to the players.

(d) If the cover card appears as the first card in the dealing shoe at the beginning of a round of play or appears during play, the cover card shall be removed and placed to the side and the hand will be completed. The dealer shall then:

(e) After all Blackjack and optional Match-the-Dealer Wagers have been placed, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's left and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, deal the cards as follows:

(f) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, but prior to any additional cards being dealt or before the dealer's hole card is placed in the Masque Card Reader device, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, settle the player's optional Match-the-Dealer Wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers. If a player placed a Match-the-Dealer Wager and either or both of the player's initial two cards match the rank of the dealer's up card, the dealer shall pay the winning Match-the-Dealer Wager in accordance with § 685a.11(c) (relating to payout odds). Any card with a face value of 10 or a point value of 10 (a jack, queen or king) shall only match an identical card without regard to value.

(g) Immediately after the dealer settles the optional Match-the-Dealer Wagers, if the dealer's first card is an ace, the dealer shall offer the Insurance Wager or even money in accordance with § 685a.8 (relating to Insurance Wager).

(h) After the procedures in subsection (g) have been completed, if applicable, the dealer shall determine the value range of the dealer's hole card. The dealer shall insert the hole card into the Masque Card Reader device by moving the card face down on the layout without exposing it to anyone at the table, including the dealer. If the dealer's hole card is in the Small value range (2-3-4-5), the Masque Card Reader device will illuminate a blue light. If the dealer's hole card is in the Medium value range (6-7-8-9), the Masque Card Reader device will illuminate a red light. If the dealer's hole card is in the Large value range (10-J-Q-K-A), the Masque Card Reader device will illuminate a yellow light. The dealer will then place his hand in the corresponding area on the layout as described in § 685a.2(b)(3) (relating to Down Under Blackjack table; Masque Care Reader device; physical characteristics; inspections). If the dealer's first card and hole card are both in the Large value range, the dealer's hole card shall be exposed to the players prior to the beginning of action. If the dealer has a Blackjack, additional cards may not be dealt and if a player:

(i) If the dealer's hole card did not give the dealer Blackjack, the dealer shall start with the player farthest to the dealer's left and continue around the table in a clockwise direction and if the player:

(j) As each player indicates his decision, the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate the player's decision.

(k) A player may elect to draw additional cards whenever his point count total is less than 21, except that:

(l) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional cards have been dealt, the dealer shall turn the hole card face up, unless the hole card has already been exposed in accordance with this section.

(m) The dealer shall draw additional cards until he has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22. Any additional cards required to be dealt to the hand of the dealer shall be dealt face up. The dealer shall announce the dealer's total point count after each additional card is dealt.

(n) After all additional cards have been drawn, if the total point count of the dealer's hand:

(o) A player shall win and be paid in accordance with § 685a.11 for the Bet Wager if:

(p) A Bet Wager shall tie and be returned to the player if the total point count of the player's hand does not exceed 21 and is the same as the total point count of the dealer's hand.

(q) A player's Bet Wager shall lose and shall be collected if:

(r) The dealer shall collect all losing wagers and settle all winning wagers in accordance with one of the following procedures designated in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):

(s) After all wagers have been settled, the dealer shall remove any remaining cards from the table and place them in the discard rack in a manner that permits the reconstruction of each hand in the event of a question or dispute.

(t) Players and spectators may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Down Under Blackjack.