Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. A
player receives an electronic pull-tab in return for consideration. A player
wins if the player's electronic pull-tab contains a combination of symbols or
numbers that was designated in advance of the game as a winning combination.
There may be multiple winning combinations in each game. Electronic versions of
instant bingo and pull-tabs, as authorized by the department, shall only
utilize electronic gaming devices that allow players to play electronic
pull-tabs. An electronic gaming device shall meet the following minimum
requirements:
1. A player may purchase an
opportunity to play an electronic pull-tab by:
a. Insertion of United States currency (bills
only);
b. Purchase made at a point
of sale terminal; or
c. Withdrawing
deposits available in a player account.
2. The available games, flare, and rules of
play shall be displayed on the electronic gaming device's video screen. Rules
of play shall include all winning combinations.
3. Any number of game themes may be
selectable for play on any given electronic gaming device. Only one of the game
themes shall be playable at any given time.
4. An electronic gaming device shall be
clearly labeled so as to inform the public that no one younger than 21 years of
age is allowed to play.
5. An
electronic gaming device shall not be capable of displaying any enticing
animation while in an idle state. An electronic gaming device may use simple
display elements or screen savers to prevent monitor damage.
6. The results of the electronic pull-tab
shall be shown to the player using a video display. No rolling, flashing, or
spinning animations are permitted. No rotating reels marked into horizontal
segments by varying symbols are permitted.
7. Any sound or music solely intended to
entice a player to play is prohibited. Any sound or music emitted by an
electronic gaming device must not be played at a level sufficient to disturb
other players or patrons.
8. The
electronic gaming device shall have one or more buttons, electromechanical or
touch screen, to facilitate the following functions:
a. Viewing of the game "help"
screens;
b. Viewing of the game
rules;
c. Initiating game
play;
d. Cashout or logout;
and
e. One or more buttons
designated to reveal the pull-tab or instant bingo windows.
9. Following play on an electronic
gaming device, the result shall be clearly shown on the video display along
with any prizes that may have been awarded. Prizes may be dispensed in the form
of:
a. Voucher;
b. Added to the machine balance meter;
or
c. Added to the player's account
balance.
10. An available
balance may be collected from the electronic gaming device by the player
pressing the "cashout" button or logging off of the electronic gaming device at
any time other than during:
a. A game being
played;
b. While in an audit mode
or screen;
c. Any door
open;
d. Test mode;
e. A machine balance meter or win meter
incrementation unless the entire amount is placed on the meter when the
"cashout" button is pressed; or
f.
An error condition.
11.
The default electronic gaming device display, upon entering game play mode,
shall not be the top award.
B. An electronic gaming device shall not have
hardware or software that determines the outcome of any electronic pull-tab,
produce its own outcome, or affect the order of electronic pull-tabs as
dispensed from the distributed pull-tab system. The game outcome shall be
determined by the distributed pull-tab system as outlined within this
chapter.
C. Game themes shall not
contain obscene or offensive graphics, animations, or references. The
department shall determine what constitutes obscene or offensive graphics,
animations, or references.
D. Prior
to approval for use, each electronic gaming device must meet the following
specifications with respect to its operation:
1. After accepting an allowable cash payment
from the player, the player shall press a "play" button to initiate a
game.
2. The electronic gaming
device shall not display in any manner, the number of electronic pull-tabs of
each finite category, or how many cards remain.
3. Awards of merchandise prizes in lieu of
cash are prohibited.
4. The player
must interact with the device to initiate a game and reveal a win or loss. This
may involve a button press on the console or on the touch screen.
5. The electronic pull-tab must be initially
displayed with a cover and require player interaction to reveal the symbols and
game outcome.
6. In no event may an
electronic gaming device simulate play of roulette, poker, keno, lotto or
lottery, twenty-one, blackjack, or any other card game, or simulate play of any
type of slot machine game, regardless of whether the machine has a payback
feature or extra play awards.
7.
Card symbols such as ace, king, queen, or heart are acceptable, provided the
device abides by the prohibition in subdivision 6 of this subsection.
8. Games must not contain any elements of
skill.
E. Each electronic
gaming device must meet the following specifications with respect to its
metering system:
1. An electronic gaming
device shall contain electronic metering whereby meters record and display on
the video screen the following information at a minimum:
a. Total cash in for the bill acceptor if
equipped with a bill acceptor;
b.
Total cash played;
c. Total cash
won;
d. Total cash removed from
electronic gaming device;
e. Total
count of electronic pull-tabs played; and
f. Total count of electronic pull-tabs
won.
2. An electronic
meter shall be capable of maintaining correct totals and be of no less than 10
digits in length.
3. An electronic
gaming device shall not be capable of displaying the number of electronic
pull-tabs that remain in the game set or the number of winners or losers that
have been drawn or still remain in the game set while the game set is still
being played.
4. An electronic
meter shall not be capable of being automatically reset or cleared, whether due
to an error in any aspect of the meter's or a game's operation or
otherwise.
5. Currency meters shall
be maintained in dollars and cents.
Statutory Authority: § 18.2-340.15 of the Code of
Virginia.
