La. Admin. Code tit. 42 § I-1911

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

Section I-1911 - Machine Specifications

A. Prior to approval for use in the state, each machine must meet the following specifications with respect to its operation.

1. It shall offer only the game of bingo.

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

3. The field of numbers shall be mixed after each game by using a random number generator.

4. A field of numbers from 1-75 shall be utilized.

5. After the field of numbers has been mixed and before the start of the game, the field of numbers is to be frozen with all numbers used for play taken in order from the top of the frozen field.

6. When only one bingo card is displayed, the machine may allow the player the option of manually selecting the numbers on the card. In all other cases, the bingo cards shall be generated by the random number generator and no two cards during one game may be identical.

7. Any variable data, e.g., promotional graphics, shall not reside on EPROMs that contain game programs.

8. Payout shall be not less than 80 percent and not more than 90 percent.

9. The maximum prize awarded shall not exceed $1,000 per game.

10. The machine shall not dispense cash.

11. One credit shall equal $ 0.25 in value.

12. The maximum allowable bet shall not exceed $1 per game.

13. The machine may have two mechanisms that accept coins. These mechanisms must have devices referred to as "lockouts" which prohibit the machine from accepting coins during periods when the machine is inoperative.

14. The machine may have a mechanism that accepts cash in the form of bills that do not exceed $20. This mechanism must have a device referred to as a "lockout" which prohibits the machine from accepting bills during periods when the machine is inoperative.

15. The game payable shall be prominently displayed and understandable to the player. The payable must follow a progression in proportion to the amount wagered so that the player receives at least the benefit of the initial coin with each additional coin.

16. The game of play shall conform to standard rules of bingo.

17. Each card shall contain 24 numbered spaces per card and one free spot.

18. The machine shall designate the winning arrangement of numbers prior to commencing play.

19. The player shall have a choice of cards on which to play.

20. All winning cards shall be available for display on the screen, including any that may be played by the machine in any game.

21. The machine shall display the number of balls picked and the credits awarded for the number of balls drawn in order to obtain a bingo.

22. Each game shall produce a bingo. All ties are credited to the player.

23. The machine shall pass a static test consisting of 30,000 volts plus or minus 10 percent produced by a high frequency generator for no more than one minute.

B. Prior to approval for use in the state, each electronic video bingo machine must meet the following specifications with respect to its hardware.

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

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

3. The machine shall be designed to 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 game.

4. The machine shall be equipped with a surge protector that will feed all A.C. electrical current to the machine and a nonvolatile memory to maintain the accuracy of all electronic meters displaying information required by these rules during power fluctuations and loss. Each machine must maintain accuracy of all electronic meters and critical game information for 180 days after the power is disconnected from the machine.

5. The machine shall not have any switches, jumpers, wire posts, or other means of manipulation that could affect the operation or outcome of a game. The machine may not have any functions or parameters adjustable by and through any separate video display or input codes except for the adjustment of features that are wholly cosmetic or other operational parameters as approved by the division. This is to include devices known as "knockoff switches."

6. The machine shall have locked doors to two separate areas-one containing the logic beard and software for the game and one containing the cash.

7. The ticket printing mechanism shall be located in a locked compartment of the machine to ensure the safekeeping of the audit copy.

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

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

10. 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 original ticket voucher and the duplicate audit copy must remain legible for three years. The minimum information printed on the ticket voucher shall consist of the following:

a. the name of the licensed establishment;

b. the serial number of the machine;

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

d. the date on which the ticket was printed;

e. the sequential number of the ticket voucher;

f. the value of the prize.

11. The logic board shall have a legible, unique serial number that is stamped in permanent ink or engraved.

12. Game EPROMs contained on the logic board must be readily accessible from the front of the machine.

13. 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.

14. The machine shall have a nonremovable identification tag affixed by the manufacturer to the machine's exterior side. The tag information must include the following:

a. manufacturer's name;

b. serial number;

c. model;

d. date of manufacture (required only on machines manufactured after April 1, 1991);

e. any other information required by the division.

C. Prior to approval for use in the state, each machine must meet the following specifications with respect to its metering system.

1. The machine shall be equipped with four nonresettable mechanical meters housed in a readily accessible locked machine area.

2. The mechanical meters shall be manufactured in such a way as to prevent access to the internal parts without destroying the meter.

3. The mechanical meters shall be hardwired as no quick connects are allowed in the meter wiring system.

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

a. coins in (including the equivalent of four coins per $1 bill inserted in the bill acceptor);

b. credits played;

c. credits won;

d. credit paid.

5. The machine shall contain electronic metering whereby meters record and display on the video screen a minimum of the following information:

a. total coins in for mechanism l;

b. total coins in for mechanism 2 (if applicable);

c. total coins in for the bill acceptor (if applicable);

d. combined total of coins in;

e. total credits played;

f. total credits won;

g. total credits paid.

6. The electronic meters shall have the capability to maintain correct totals no less than eight digits in length.

La. Admin. Code tit. 42, § I-1911

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, LR 17:482 (May 1991).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Adopted in accordance with R.S. 40:1485.4 and R.S. 33:4861.17.