La. Admin. Code tit. 42 § I-1809

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-1809 - Machine, Hardware and Software Specifications

A. General Specifications. Detailed specifications for electronic video bingo machines are required by the department. Such specifications are required to ensure the legal operation and integrity of each machine and provide the department with methods to monitor machines.

B. Hardware Specifications. An electronic video bingo machine must include the following hardware specifications.

1. All electrical and mechanical parts and design principles shall follow acceptable codes and standards in both design and manufacture.

2. An electronic video bingo machine shall be designed to ensure that the player will not be subjected to any unreasonable physical, electrical, or mechanical hazards.

3. A machine shall be equipped with a surge protector that will feed all AC, electrical current to the machine and a battery backup power supply to maintain the accuracy of all electronic meters displaying information required by the Act and these rules during power fluctuations and loss. The battery must be in a state of charge during normal operation of the machine.

4. The design of a machine shall ensure there are no readily accessible game function-related points which would allow any input and that there is no access to input or output circuits unless it is necessary for the proper operation of the machine.

5. The nonresettable mechanical meters required must meet the following specifications:

a. either the meters must be located so they can be viewed and read externally from the front of the machine or the keys to the cash area must be immediately available at the permitted premises;

b. the meters shall be situated in a left to right or top to bottom configuration according to function and visibly labeled as follows:

i. coins in;

ii. credits played;

iii. credits won;

iv. credits paid; and

c. the mechanical meters shall be manufactured in such a way as to prevent access to the internal parts of the meter.

6. The department may require and provide a valid identification sticker to be attached to the mechanical meters to verify the meters are assigned to a specific permitted machine.

7. A machine must have a separate and locked area for the logic board and software. The department must be allowed immediate access to this locked area upon request. Permittee must notify the department if access to this area becomes necessary and make application for authorization to access area on forms prescribed by the department. Seals may be broken only in the presence of department personnel after having made application for and receiving authorization.

8. The ticket printing mechanism must be located in the locked logic area to ensure the safekeeping of the audit copy. The printing mechanism must produce a printed original and duplicate that will remain legible throughout the retention period required by these rules.

9. The logic and printer interface boards shall be mounted within the logic area so they are not visible upon operating the logic area door.

10. A machine must have a nonremovable identification device attached externally to the machine which shall include the following information about the machine:

a. manufacturer;

b. serial number;

c. model or make; and

d. any other information required by the department.

11. The logic board must have a unique serial number that may be used to identify the board for approval and inspection purposes. The serial number shall be in 10 symbol configuration. The first four symbols shall identify the manufacturer and the last six symbols shall identify the board.

12. The electronic meters shall be able to maintain totals no less than eight digits in length.

13. Printing of all totals from the electronic meters shall occur automatically, by means of a switch attached to either the door or the lock for the door, each time access to either the logic compartment or the cash area occurs.

14. Any necessary resetting of electronic meters shall be done only after requesting authorization by the department. Seals may be broken only in the presence of department personnel after having made application for and receiving authorization.

15. The face of each machine shall be clearly labeled so as to inform the public that no one under age 18 years is allowed to play.

16. The printer mechanism shall have a paper sensing device that will prevent play if there is insufficient paper to print a ticket for a customer or an audit ticket. Upon setting a "paper low" or "paper out" condition the machine must display a message to that effect on the monitor.

17. The machine printer shall print a ticket voucher to the player at the completion of game play if there are any remaining credits on the game. The information printed on the ticket shall consist of the following:

a. the serial number of the machine;

b. the time of day that the ticket was printed in hours and minutes in a 24-hour format; and

c. the date on which the ticket was printed;

d. all of the electronic meter readings as described in this Section.

C. Software Specifications. A machine is required to possess software specifications that enable it to play the game of electronic video bingo with operation set forth by the Act. The software logic must have the following characteristics.

1. The logic of the program must not interfere in any way with expected random play.

2. The random number selections process shall conform to an acceptable random order of occurrence and uniformity of distribution.

D. Modifications. All hardware and software modifications made to a permitted electronic video bingo machine must be submitted to the department for approval prior to installation.

E. Restrictions on Optional Game Format or Features

1. A machine shall only offer the game of electronic video bingo as provided by the Act and these rules and shall not offer any other game or variant which will award free games or credits which deviate from the award of games or credits for games of bingo.

2. The department shall determine what optional features may be allowed and such features must be approved by the department prior to inclusion in a machines game format.

F. Prohibited Machines

1. Any machine including amusement machines which, in substance simulates the game of bingo without conforming to the requirements of the Act and is placed in service for play by the public is prohibited. The machine is subject to immediate seizure and destruction in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 15:31.

2. Any person who owns or operates or possesses a machine described in Paragraph 1 above, is in violation of the Act, and these rules.

G. Possession of Electronic Video Bingo Machines. A manufacturer, distributor, owner, or repair service may possess or own electronic video bingo machines, logic boards, meters, and machine components which conform to the statutory requirements and rules relating to electronic video machines. Such machines possessed or owned may not be operated except when inspected, permitted, and placed on a permittee's premises.

La. Admin. Code tit. 42, § I-1809

Promulgated by the Department of Justice, Corrections, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Division, LR 11:795 (November 1988).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 33:4861.17.