C.M.R. 16, 633, ch. 5, app 633-5-A
I. Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in the Minimum Internal Control Standards, shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise.
"Announced bet" refers to a bet where a player announces the intention to bet a certain way and actually puts the wager on the table.
"Ante" refers to a player's initial wager or predetermined contribution to the pot prior to the dealing of the first hand.
"Applicant" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(1).
"Asset number" means a unique number permanently assigned to a slot machine or table game and its cash storage box for purposes of tracking that machine or table game and storage box while used by an operator.
"Associated equipment" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(2).
"Bill validator" means any mechanical, electrical, or other device, contrivance, or machine designed to interface with a slot machine or electronic table game for the purpose of accepting currency or tickets equal to the amount inserted into the bill validator system for the registering of credits for subsequent play.
"Bird cage" is a clear hard plastic container used to carry chips to and from gaming tables.
"Board" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(4).
"Cage or general cashier" is defined as any person who has custody of the cage inventory comprising currency, coin, chips, forms, documents, and records normally associated with the operation of a cage and other functions normally associated with a cashier.
"Cage supervisor" means any person whose job allows that person to supervise personnel and functions within the cashiers' cage.
"Call" refers to a wager made in an amount equal to the immediately preceding wager.
"Call bet" refers to an announced bet but no money is placed on the table. Call bets are not to be used in the State of Maine.
"Card room bank" refers to an imprest fund which is a part of and accountable to the licensee's casino cage or bankroll but which is maintained in the card room exclusively for the purposes providing cashier services to the card room.
"Card table bank" refers to an imprest inventory of cash and chips physically located in the table tray on the card table and controlled by the licensee through accountability established with the card room bank.
"Cash" means U.S. currency and/or coin.
"Cash equivalents" means:
A. Certified checks, cashier's checks, treasurer's checks, traveler's checks, or money orders, any of which are made payable to the Slot Machine Operator, "bearer," or "cash."
B. Certified checks, cashier's checks, treasurer's checks, or money orders, any of which are made payable to the presenting patron and endorsed in blank, provided, however, that no such instrument shall be accepted as a cash equivalent if the I instrument was originally made payable to any person other than the presenting patron.
"Cash storage box" refers to a secure container in a slot machine or electronic table game that accepts and retains currency or tickets from the bill validator.
"Cashiers' cage" refers to a physical structure that houses the cage cashiers and serves as the central location for the following:
A. The custody of the cage inventory comprising currency, chips, coin, forms, documents, and records normally associated with the operation of a cage.
B. Such other functions normally associated with the operation of a cage.
"Casino" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001 (5-A).
"Casino operator" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001 (5-B).
"Central site monitoring system" refers to the hardware, software, and network components which link and support all slot machines and the central site.
"Central site monitoring system provider" refers to a person with whom the Board has contracted for the purpose of providing and maintaining a central communication system and the related management facilities with respect to operating and servicing the slot machines.
"Certification" refers to the authorization by the Board in accordance with its inspection and approval process of slot machines and slot games, such certification to relate to either hardware or software.
"Change person" means a person who possesses an imprest inventory of currency to be used for the even exchange with patrons of currency, chips, and tickets.
"Chapter" means any one of sections I through III of these Minimum Internal Control Standards.
"Check" refers to a player's decision to waive the right to initiate the wagering, but to retain the right to call after all the other players have either wagered or folded.
"Chip" means a non-metal or partly metal representative of value, redeemable for cash, and issued and sold by a casino operator for use at table games at a casino.
"Comp" means a complimentary service or item provided directly or indirectly by a slot machine operator to its patrons at no cost or at a reduced price.
"Control" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(7).
"Count room" is a secure room or rooms for the counting of tickets, chips and/or currency.
"Credit" refers to the opportunity provided to a player to play a slot machine or redeem that opportunity for cash.
"Credit slip" refers to a form used to record the amount of money or chips removed from a table game (i.e., table tray), or the transfer of customer deposit withdrawal from a table game to the cashiers' cage.
"Dealer" means a trained and licensed employee who operates table games that may use electronics as part of the game's operation in connection with the collection and storage of game outcome, accounting and significant-event data.
"Dealer-operated electronic table game" or "dealer-operated ETG" refers to an electronic table game operated by a live dealer.
"Decal" refers to the stamp or marker that is displayed on a slot machine or table game which has been certified by the Board.
"Department" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(8).
"Director" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(9).
"Distribute" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(10).
"Drop" means the amount of cash and tickets in a cash storage box, or money and chips contained in the table drop boxes if applicable.
"Drop box" refers to a locked container in a table that is permanently marked to indicate the game theme, table number and shift. All markings must be clearly visible. The container must be locked to the table, separately keyed from the container itself. All monies exchanged for chips at the table and other such items or documents as management may direct pertaining to transactions at the table must be put into the container.
"Electronic table game" or "ETG" refers to a table game that is played in an electronic or electromechanical format that replicates a table game either in full or in part. Electronic table games are table games and include electronic facsimiles as defined by 8 M.R.S.A. §1001 (13-A). Electronic table games include both dealer-operated electronic table games and independently operated table games.
"Emergency drop" means an unscheduled drop that is required due to an emergency situation.
"Emergency situation" means an unplanned event that could not have been readily anticipated, jeopardizes public safety and that renders a slot machine, table game or electronic table game inoperable for play.
"Employee numbers" means am operator-assigned number that identifies an employee and is used to sign all operational documents.
"Fill slip" refers to a form used to record the amount of money or chips furnished to a table game (i.e., table tray) from the cashiers' cage.
"Gambling activity" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(15).
"Gambling facility" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(16).
"Gambling services" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(17).
"Gambling services vendor" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(18).
"Game" refers to any game played on a slot machine or table game, such as a variation of poker, blackjack, line-up or mechanical reel games.
"Games summary" refers to a form used to record, by shift and day, the individual table games winnings and/or losses. The form reflects the total count of opening and closing table tray inventories, fills and credits, drop, and win/loss per gaming table.
"Gaming employee" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(20).
"Gross slot machine income" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(21).
"Gross table game income" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001 (21-A).
"Hand" refers to one game in a series, one deal in a card game, or the cards held by a player.
"Imprest" refers to an advance of money.
"Incompatible function" means a function, for accounting control purposes that places any person or department in a position to both perpetrate and conceal errors or irregularities in the normal course of that person's duties. Anyone recording transactions and having access to assets ordinarily is in a position to perpetrate errors or irregularities. Persons shall be deemed to have incompatible functions if such persons are members of departments that have supervisors not independent of each other.
"Independently operated electronic table game" or "independently operated ETG" refers to an electronic table game that is fully automated and operates without a live dealer.
"Internal controls" refers to the slot machine or casino operator's system of internal procedures and administrative and accounting controls.
"Jackpot" means any money, merchandise, or thing of value to be paid to a patron as the result of a specific combination(s) of characters indicated on a slot machine
"Junket services" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(26).
"Key employee" refers to an individual employee of an applicant or licensee who has the power to exercise considerable influence over significant decisions concerning the applicant's or licensee's business.
"Key executive" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(27).
"Lammer button" (marker button) refers to a numbered, chip like implement placed on the gaming table indicating the amount of house chips that have been removed from a table tray during a table credit slip transaction.
"License" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(28).
"Licensee" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A §1001(29).
"Linked progressive" refers to a group of slot machines connected by a local or central controller that all contribute to the same progressive jackpot amount. When a progressive jackpot has been won, all slot machines that are connected to the same progressive will reset.
"Live gaming device" refers to a table game, where cards or dice are used to play the game.
"Location number" means the number assigned to an area of the floor that identifies the site where the slot machine or table game is positioned.
"Machine malfunction" means an occurrence during which an electronic or computer function of a slot machine does not operate in the manner in which it was programmed to operate. The definition does not include a mechanical malfunction, such as a paper jam.
"Main bank" refers to a physical structure within the cashiers' cage that is designed and constructed to provide maximum security for the materials housed and the activities performed therein. It houses the cashiers and serves as the central location for the following:
A.) The custody and storage of currency, coin, chips, forms, documents, and records normally generated or utilized by cage cashiers, or change people.
B.) The exchange of currency, coin, chips, and coupons, for supporting documentation, including tickets.
C.) The responsibility for the overall reconciliation of all documentation generated by cage cashiers and change people.
D.) The receipt of coins, chips, and currency from the count rooms.
E.) Such other functions normally associated with the operation of the main bank.
"M.E.A.L." refers to the Machine Entry Authorization Log. When a machine door is opened for any reason, certain information is recorded on this log. All entries made in this log should be clearly legible.
"Non-routine event" refers to:
A.) Any suspicious or possible criminal incident that occurs on the licensee's property.
B.) Any incident where a patron's or employee's safety is or could be endangered.
C.) Any incident involving the protection of a patron or the operator's property.
D.) Any other type of incident that the Board or Department deems non-routine.
"Operate" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(31).
"Operator" means a casino or slot machine operator (see definition of a "Slot machine and Casino operator").
"Operator monitoring system" refers to the hardware, software, and network components which operate each electronic table game separately or link multiple devices together.
"Or above" refers to a higher or superior employment position (manager is above a supervisor).
"Owner" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(32).
"Payback percentage" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(34).
"Person" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(35).
"Player" means an individual who plays a slot machine or table game.
"Pot" refers to the total amount anted and wagered by players during a hand.
"Premises" means the physical enclosed structure that connects to the casino floor, including but not limited to the employee back of house areas, supports areas, hotel, atriums, restaurants, lounges and does not include parking areas and garages.
"Progressive jackpot" means a system on one or more slot machines or table games, which, in addition to normal payouts, sets aside a percentage of each bet placed for the award of a progressive jackpot. The jackpot increments every time a bet is placed on any of the designated slot machines or table games and is paid out when a pre-assigned combination is displayed.
"Progressive controller" refers to hardware and software that control communications among devices that calculate the values of the progressive jackpots and display the information within a progressive gaming device link and on the associated progressive meter.
"Raise" refers to a wager made in an amount greater than the immediately preceding wager.
"Rake-off" refers to a percentage of the pot which may be taken by the licensee for maintaining or dealing the game. Rake-offs cannot exceed 10% of all sums anted and wagered in the hand.
"Sensitive keys" refers to the keys used to remove cash storage and drop boxes from slot machines, table games and card games; content keys used to gain access to the contents of cash storage and drop boxes and keys used for the carts to transport boxes to the count room.
"Serial number" means a unique number assigned to a slot machine or a component that may or may not be the manufacturer's serial number for identification and control purposes.
"Slot attendant" means an employee of an operator who provides machine related customer service to a patron on the gaming floor.
"Slot machine" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(39).
"Slot machine facility" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(41).
"Slot machine operator" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(42).
"Slot technician" means any person who performs service, maintenance, and repair operations on slot machines or table games.
"Soft count" refers to the procedure for counting the total amount of currency and tickets.
"Stake" refers to the funds with which a player enters a game.
"Stakes player" refers to a person financed by the licensee to participate in a game under an arrangement or understanding whereby such person is entitled to retain all or any portion of his winnings.
"Statistical drop" refers to the drop plus pit credit repaid with chips.
"Statistical win" refers to table games gross revenue.
"Support areas" refers to areas supporting the financial activity on the gaming floor such as cashier cages, banks, chip windows and count and storage rooms.
"Table game" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001 (43-A) and includes an electronic table game.
"Table tray inventory" (bank) refers to the total of coins and chips in the table rack.
"Table tray" refers to a receptacle used to hold the card table inventory (bank).
"Ticket" refers to the receipt issued from a Ticket-In, Ticket-Out (TITO) slot machine for payment of credits. A ticket may be presented for redemption by or on behalf of a patron or may be used by a patron in lieu of cash for game play on a slot machine. Once redeemed by the slot machine operator, the ticket becomes supporting documentation for accounting purposes.
"Time" refers to the 24-hour military time.
"Time buy-in" refers to a charge to a player, determined on a time basis, by the licensee for the right to participate in a game.
"Uniform location agreement" has the same meaning as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. §1001(44) and as further defined by the rules of the Gambling Control Board.
"Verifier" refers to any licensed slot operations employee who witnesses and signs a document confirming an approved transaction as permitted in these Minimum Internal Control Standards.
"Vigorish" (commissions) refers to a commission (usually 5-10% of the wager) charged and retained by the casino for certain bets, including betting on the banker's hand in baccarat and buy and lay bets in craps (similar to a rake in poker).
"Win" means the amount determined by subtracting the coin out from the coin in or by subtracting the ticket out and hand pays from the total of the ticket in and cash in.
II. Miscellaneous controls
II-A Operator's system of internal controls
A.) Each Operator shall submit to the Board and to the Department a description of its system of internal procedures and administrative and accounting controls. Such submission shall be made at least 60 days before gaming operations are to commence, unless otherwise directed by the Board. Each such submission shall contain narrative (and diagrammatic where appropriate) representations of the internal control system to be utilized by the Operator and shall include, without limitation, the following:
1) Administrative controls which include, without limitation, the procedures and records that are concerned with the decision-making processes leading to management's authorization of transactions.
2) Accounting controls, which have as their primary objectives, the safeguarding of assets and the reliability of financial records and are consequently designed to provide reasonable assurance that:
a.) Transactions are executed in accordance with management's general and specific authorization;
b.) Transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets;
c.) Access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management authorization; and
d.) The recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
B.) The procedures contained within the Operator's internal controls submission shall be consistent with the minimum internal control standards ("MICS") set forth herein unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Board.
C.) The Board shall review all submissions and, with the advice of the Department, shall determine whether it conforms to the requirements of the Maine Statute and the Board's rules and whether the system submitted provides adequate and effective controls for the operations of the Operator. If the Board finds any insufficiencies, it shall specify such insufficiencies in writing to the Operator, which shall make appropriate alterations. When the Board determines a submission to be adequate in all respects, it shall so notify the Operator. No Operator shall commence gaming operations unless and until its system of internal controls is approved by the Board.
D.) Each Operator shall submit to the Board and the Department any proposed changes to its previously approved system of internal procedures and administrative and accounting controls. This submission shall include the following steps:
1) The requesting Operator shall complete the Internal Control Standards Change Request Form MGCB-4000 with a detailed reason for the change and shall include any available statistics (such as money, savings, revenue increases etc.). Additional pages shall be attached if necessary.
2) The Operator shall attach to the form MGCB-4000 the unchanged original section to which changes are going to be made and the same section with the proposed changes. Any deletions from the original document or last revised document shall be completed with a strike through and any additions shall be underlined.
3) The form MGCB-4000 and the actual change document shall be forwarded to the Director.
4) The Director and designated personnel shall review the request. After the review is completed, the Director shall communicate to the Operator, in writing, the result of the review and:
a.) Shall accept the change as submitted, or
b.) Reject the submission as not in the best interest of the State of Maine and the Board, or
c.) Propose a revision. In this case, the Director will communicate in writing to the Operator about further changes that will have to be made to the submission before presentation to the Board for final approval.
5) If the Operator accepts the Director's recommended changes, the Operator shall make the changes as suggested by the Director and re-submit the request for change document.
6) If the Operator does not accept the suggested changes, the Operator may request that its request for change document be presented to the Board for review or steps 4 and 5 shall be repeated until the Director is completely satisfied with presenting the internal control changes to the Board at the next regular meeting.
7) With Board approval, the Director shall send to the Operator an accepted version of the submitted request for change form MGCB 4000 with the date and Chair's signature signifying approval.
8) The Board will make every effort to make a determination concerning a submission for change no later than 60 days following receipt of the proposed change unless the Board and the Operator agree to extend the period for making such a determination. No Operator shall alter its internal controls unless and until such changes are approved in writing by the Board.
II-B Storage and destruction of books, records, and documents
A.) All original books, records, and documents pertaining to the Operator's operations shall be:
1) Prepared and maintained in a complete, accurate, and legible form;
2) Retained on site in an approved building or at another secure location approved by the Board or its designee;
3) Immediately available for inspection by the Board and the Department; and
4) Organized and indexed in such a manner so as to provide immediate accessibility to the Board and the Department; and destroyed only after:
a.) Expiration of the minimum retention period as specified in the Rules of the Gambling Control Board, unless otherwise directed by the Board in certain circumstances; and
b.) Written notice to the Board or its designee.
B.) For the purposes of this section, "books, records, and documents" shall be defined as any book, record, or document pertaining to, prepared in, or generated by operations including, but not limited to, all forms, reports, accounting records, ledgers, subsidiary records, computer generated data, internal audit records, email, written correspondence, and personnel records. This definition shall apply without regard to the medium through which the record is generated or maintained.
C.) An Operator may petition the Board at any time for approval of a facility off the site of the approved building to be used to generate or store original books, records, and documents. Such petition shall include:
1) A detailed description of the proposed off-site facility, including security and fire safety systems; and
2) The procedures pursuant to which the Board and the Department will be able to gain access to the original books, records, and documents retained at the off-site facility.
D.) An Operator shall notify the Board in writing at least 30 days prior to the scheduled destruction of any original book, record, or document. Such notice shall list each type of book, record, and document scheduled for destruction, including a description sufficient to identify the books, records, and documents included; the retention period; and the date of destruction. Each Operator shall retain this record of destruction.
E.) Such original book, record, or document may thereafter be destroyed only upon notice from the Board or by order of the Board upon the petition of the Operator or by the Board on its own initiative.
F.) The Operator may utilize the services of a disposal company for the destruction of any books, records, or documents.
G.) Nothing herein shall be construed as relieving an Operator from meeting any obligation to prepare or maintain any book, record, or document required by any other federal, state, or local governmental body, authority, or agency.
II-C Surveillance
A.) Each Operator shall install in its establishment a surveillance system according to specifications herein and shall provide access, on the Operator's premises, to the system or its signal by the Board and/or the Department.
B.) Every applicant for a gaming license shall submit to the Gambling Control Board or its designee, a surveillance system plan no later than ninety (90) days prior to the start of gaming operations and shall comply with the requirements set forth in this regulation no later than seven (7) days prior to the start of gaming operations.
C.) The surveillance system plan must include a gaming floor plan that shows the placement of all surveillance equipment in relation to the locations required by this regulation to be covered, and a detailed description of the casino surveillance system and its equipment. In addition, the plan may include other information that evidences compliance with this regulation by the applicant.
D.) Every licensee shall submit, prior to implementation, to the Gambling Control Board or its designee for approval, any proposed change to its surveillance system in any area required by this regulation.
E.) Each Operator shall provide for the following:
1) Operator Surveillance System - One monitoring room, surveillance equipment and personnel for monitoring the activities on the premises and any other areas as approved by the Board. The Operator Surveillance System shall be capable of monitoring all gambling related activities and support areas on the premises. This system shall have over-ride capabilities over all other surveillance cameras on the Operator's property.
2) Regulatory Surveillance System - A second monitoring room and surveillance equipment for exclusive use by the Department. This system shall have all capabilities included in the Operator Surveillance System except that the Operator Surveillance System retains over-ride capability. It shall also meet the requirements of Chapter 17 of the Rules of the Gambling Control Board.
F.) The surveillance systems above shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) Light sensitive cameras with zoom, scan, and tilt capabilities to effectively and clandestinely monitor in detail and from various vantage points.
2) Digital recording units with real time and date insertion capabilities for recording what is being viewed by any camera of the system.
3) Audio capability in the soft count room.
4) Cameras equipped with lenses of sufficient magnification to allow the operator to clearly distinguish the value of chips, cards, dice and currency.
G.) Adequate lighting shall be present in all areas where surveillance is required to enable clear camera coverage. The coverage shall be of sufficient quality to produce clear digital images and still picture reproductions.
H.) The Operator shall be required to maintain a surveillance log of all mandatory surveillance activities as specified throughout the minimum internal controls and of all non-routine events. The log shall be maintained by monitor room personnel in the monitor room and shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1) Date and time of surveillance initiated;
2) Camera number(s);
3) Person initiating surveillance;
4) Reason for surveillance;
5) Time of termination of surveillance;
6) Summary of the results of the surveillance; and
7) Record of any equipment or camera malfunctions.
I.) The surveillance log shall be available for inspection at any time by the Board or the Department.
J.) By June 1, 2023, or an extended date with written approval by the Board, all surveillance recordings of the gaming floor and support areas where money, chips and other financial documents are counted shall be held for a minimum of 14 days. Surveillance recordings of all other areas shall be held for a minimum of 7 days.
K.) All surveillance recordings that are determined by the Board or the Department to be of potential evidentiary value shall be stored until released by the Board or the Department.
L.) All digital recordings of money handling areas such as cages and count rooms shall be done in real time and each camera shall be recorded on separate recorders or their equivalent.
M.) Surveillance department employees assigned to monitor activities shall be independent of all other departments.
N.) The Operator Surveillance monitoring room, as described in II-C, E. 1) above, shall be staffed, at a level set by the operator in their internal control standards and approved by the Board or its designee.
O.) No surveillance department employee shall be permitted to transfer to any other department unless authorized by the Board.
P.) Surveillance department employees shall be provided training by the Operator or Board approved training program. The training programs developed and/or used by the Operators shall be submitted to the Board.
Q.) Entrances to the surveillance rooms shall not be visible or accessible from the gaming area.
R.) Surveillance cameras shall not be moved after initial inspection by the Department without prior approval of the Board or its designee via written request. Scale drawings of camera locations shall be provided to the Board or its designee initially and with any proposed changes.
S.) Any and all significant, non-routine events and unusual surveillance system failures shall be reported immediately to the Department's Inspector on duty by telephone or in person and the Department's Inspector Supervisor and Director by email. Repairs to such failed systems shall be accomplished expeditiously.
T.) Every licensee who operates table games or a card room shall install, maintain and operate at all times a surveillance system that shall monitor and record clear and unobstructed views of the following:
1) All table game and card room areas with sufficient clarity to permit identification of all dealers, patrons, spectators and pit personnel;
2) All drop boxes and table numbers;
3) Simultaneous coverage of both the table game area and the table game surface;
4) Continuous, uninterrupted and simultaneous coverage of the table game surface, any secondary bonus event and the progressive meter of any table game with a progressive jackpot; and 5) All card room or podium banks, including any drawers, cabinets and safes contained therein.
U.) The surveillance system may view and record in black and white, except that any transactions occurring at the casino cage and views of all table games must be viewed and recorded in color.
II-D Operator's organization
A.) Each Operator's system of internal controls shall include tables of organization. Each Operator shall be permitted, except as otherwise provided in this section, to tailor its organizational structure to meet the needs or policies of its own particular management philosophy. The proposed organizational structure of each Operator shall be approved by the Board if there is no conflict between the organizational structure and the criteria listed below, which criteria are designed to maintain the integrity of operations. Each Operator's tables of organization shall provide for:
1) A system of personnel and chain of command which permits management and supervisory personnel to be held accountable for actions or omissions within their areas of responsibility;
2) The segregation of incompatible functions so that no employee is in a position both to commit an error or to perpetrate a fraud and to conceal the error or fraud in the normal course of the employee's duties;
3) Primary and secondary supervisory positions which permit the authorization or supervision of necessary transactions at all relevant times; and
4) Areas of responsibility which are not so extensive as to be impractical for one person to monitor.
B.) In addition to satisfying the requirements of A.) above, each Operator's system of internal controls shall include, at a minimum, the following departments and supervisory positions. Each of these departments and supervisors shall be required to cooperate with, yet perform independently of, all other departments and supervisors. Mandatory departments are as follows:
1) A surveillance department supervised by a key employee reporting to the general manager, owner, corporate officer or board of directors of the Operator. The surveillance department shall be responsible for, without limitation, the following:
a.) The clandestine surveillance of the operation of the casino gaming floor and support areas;
b.) The clandestine surveillance of the operation of the cashiers' cage;
c.) The audio-video recording of activities in the soft count room;
d.) The detection and recording of cheating, theft, embezzlement, and any other illegal activities in the Board's interest in public safety on the Operator's property and the notification of the appropriate supervisors and the Department upon the detection of listed activities;
e.) The digital recording of illegal and unusual activities monitored; and
f.) The digital recording of the presence of any person who is required to be excluded pursuant to voluntary and involuntary exclusions, once that person has been positively identified as an excluded person on the gaming floor.
2) A management information system ("MIS") department supervised by a key employee reporting to the general manager or head of accounting/finance. The MIS department shall be responsible for the quality, reliability, and accuracy of all computer systems used by the Operator in the conduct of operations including, without limitation, specification of appropriate computer software, hardware, and procedures for security, physical integrity, audit, and maintenance of:
a.) Access codes and other data-related security controls used to insure appropriately limited access to computers and the system-wide reliability of data;
b.) Computer tapes, disks, or other electronic storage media containing data relevant to operations; and
c.) Computer hardware, communications equipment, and software used in the conduct of operations.
3) A slot operations department supervised by a key employee reporting to the general manager or the equivalent. The slot operations department shall be responsible for the operation of the slot machines.
4) A table game operations department supervised by a key employee reporting to the general manager or the equivalent. The table game operations department shall be responsible for the operation of table games.
5) A security department supervised by a key employee reporting to the general manager or the equivalent. The security department shall be responsible for the overall security of the establishment including, without limitation, the following:
a.) The physical safety of patrons in the establishment;
b.) The physical safety of personnel employed by the establishment;
c.) The physical safeguarding of assets transported to and from the slot machines, table games and cashiers' cages as required;
d.) The protection of the patrons' and the establishment's property;
e.) The detention of persons in accordance with 8 M.R.S.A. §1061;
f.) The control and maintenance of a system for the issuance of Temporary Access Badges; and
g.) The maintenance of a security log of all non-routine security department events and assignments. Each incident, without regard to materiality, shall be assigned a sequential number and, at a minimum, the following information shall be recorded in indelible ink in a bound notebook, on pages that are sequentially numbered and which cannot be removed from the book, or in an electronic format approved by the Board or their designee. The ability to alter the log will be restricted and the positions having such ability will be subject to board approval.
1. The log number;
2. The date and time of the incident;
3. The nature of the incident;
4. The person involved in the incident, if the incident involves potentially criminal conduct the name, date of birth, address and phone number of the non-licensed persons involved will be listed;
5. A narrative that will give the reader a clear understanding of what occurred.
6. The security department employee assigned; and
7. The action taken and the final resolution of the matter, if applicable.
6) An accounting department supervised by a key employee reporting to the general manager, owner or corporate officer of the Operator. The accounting department shall be responsible for, without limitation, the following:
a.) Accounting controls;
b.) The preparation and control of records and data;
c.) The control of stored data, the supply of unused forms, and the accounting for and comparing of forms used in operations; and
d.) The operation of the count rooms.
7) A cashier cage supervised by a key employee reporting to the head of the accounting or finance department, who shall be responsible for:
a.) The control and supervision of the cage cashiers;
b.) The custody of currency, coin, and documents and records normally associated with the operation of a cashiers' cage; and
c.) Such other functions normally associated with the operation of a cashiers' cage.
C.) Operator's personnel shall be trained in all internal and accounting control practices and procedures relevant to each employee's individual function. Special instructional programs may be developed by the Operator or other Board approved entity in addition to any on-the-job instruction sufficient to enable all members of the departments required by this section to be thoroughly conversant and knowledgeable with the appropriate and required manner of performance of all transactions relating to their functions. A written description of all instructional and on-the-job training to be and being provided shall be made available to the Board for review upon request.
D.) All licensed personnel must visibly display on their person their State of Maine gambling license while working on the gaming floor except in case of an emergency situation. Dealer licenses may be displayed in an easily visible location on the table where the dealer is currently working.
E.) Licensed employees shall notify their Supervisor and the Department's on duty Inspector of a lost or stolen or destroyed State of Maine gambling license. This notification will be made as soon as possible after the loss or destruction is recognized.
F.) Surveillance personnel are exempt from displaying their State of Maine gambling license when conducting an investigation or observation on the gaming floor when anonymity is necessary to effectively accomplish the objective. All instances shall be documented in the surveillance daily log or incident report.
II-E Machine malfunction/patron disputes
A.) Whenever there is a machine malfunction, the following action steps shall be taken by:
Floor Personnel
1) Protect the slot machine from any further play to the satisfaction of Department inspectors or personnel. This may include, without limitation, stationing an employee of the operator at the slot machine or placing tape on the slot machine to prevent play. The slot machine shall not be cleared until approved by the Department.
2) Visually examine the machine in question, compare it to adjacent machines and note any abnormalities that can be detected.
3) Prior to any physical examination, make sure that surveillance has the event on a digital recorder or take a photograph of the gaming machine clearly showing reel positions. The digital recording shall be held by surveillance until notified by the Department, or 60 days, whichever is shorter.
Slot Personnel
1) A Slot Supervisor or above must conduct an interview with patron(s), slot personnel, slot technicians, and witnesses and file reports referencing the incident.
2) The Slot Supervisor in 1) above must obtain copies of all internal slot accounting system reports that would be applicable to the investigation.
3) If there is evidence of a machine malfunction, the Operator shall notify the Department Inspectors.
Forensic Laboratory
1) The Department may require a forensic examination of the slot machine, in which case the Operator shall not ram clear or shut down the machine until approved by the Department.
2) If the Department requires that the slot machine be shipped from the facility, the Operator will ensure that all shipping instructions are followed.
II-F Power outages
A.) Each Operator shall submit its procedures regarding power outages within its internal controls for Board approval. Included in the submission shall be the procedures to protect cash and other assets and the process to inform the Department Inspector on duty of the power outages and the start and restoration times.
B.) If activity within the gambling facility cannot be captured by surveillance and the Central Site Monitoring System, the gambling facility shall be shut down.
II-G Key control
A.) Each Operator shall develop and utilize a lock and key control system that limits or restricts access to secure compartments and sensitive areas as identified in Title 8 M.R.S., chapter 31 and/or Board Rules. Locks and keys shall be received, secured and maintained by the Operator's security department. Duplicate copies shall be maintained by the security and finance departments. Locks and keys to secured compartments and sensitive areas shall be purchased from a Board licensed gambling service vendor and installed by a licensed master locksmith or similarly qualified employee of the Operator.
B.) The Operator will maintain a list of all keys under the Operator's control, listed by end use and quantity, and a list of positions authorized to sign out these keys. The lists must be audited annually and updated whenever changes occur.
C.) The Operator must maintain a separate list that identifies persons authorized by the Operator to possess keys providing access to the following compartments or sensitive areas:
1) Slot cash storage box release keys;
2) Slot cash storage box content keys;
3) Table game drop box release keys;
4) Table game drop box content keys;
5) Table tray release keys;
6) Table game pit podium keys;
7) Card and dice storage;
8) Drop cart keys to transport boxes to count rooms;
9) Count rooms;
10) Areas in which slot cash storage boxes are located, if located outside the count room;
11) Currency, redemption (kiosk) cans and chip cabinets or drawers;
12) Each separately keyed compartment of a slot machine or electronic table game; and
13) Any other keys as directed by the Board.
D.) Keys identified in C) above that leave the Operator's premises shall be reported to the Board or its designee, which may result in the re-keying of the areas or devices affected for integrity purposes as directed by the Board.
E.) Keys shall be accessed or distributed by electronic or manual means. If electronic means are used, a backup manual procedure shall be established should the electronic means become disabled.
F.) Each Operator shall implement a Key Control Log system. The system shall document access to any secure key listed in C.) above and any additional keys that the Operator directs the security department to control. The Operator must document the following information:
1) The pre-designated key number;
2) The date and time the key was signed out;
3) The name and employee number of the employee signing out the key;
4) The name and employee number of the security person escorting the employee with the key to the secure area as a second signature signing out the key, as required;
5) The name and employee number of the security person issuing the key, if manual;
6) The names and employee numbers of the employee and security person returning the key, if manual; and 7) The date and time the key was returned or signed back in.
G.) Each Operator shall establish procedures and report to the Department whenever any one of the following measures takes place regarding keys listed in C) above:
1) Keys are missing, lost or stolen;
2) Replacement keys are issued; and
3) Keys are destroyed.
II-H Signatures
A.) Employee signatures shall:
1) Be, at a minimum, the signer's signature and an Operator assigned employee number.
2) Be immediately adjacent to or above the clearly and legibly printed, or preprinted title of the signer.
3) Signify that the signer has prepared forms, records, and documents and/or authorized, observed, and/or participated in a transaction to a sufficient extent to attest to the accuracy of the information recorded thereon, in conformity with this regulation and the Operator's system of internal accounting control.
4) "Electronic signatures may be utilized on forms when entered in conjunction with unique passwords and must include the signer's signature and an operator assigned employee number."
B.) Signature records shall be prepared for each person who is authorized to sign records and documents and shall include specimens of signatures and titles of signer and the date the signature was obtained. Such signature records shall be maintained on a dated signature card filed alphabetically by last name. The signature records shall be adjusted every six months to reflect the current status of personnel.
C.) Signature records shall be securely stored in the accounting and human resources departments.
D.) This section shall apply to any signature required in an Operator's approved system of internal controls.
II-I Currency transaction reporting
A.) Each Operator shall properly report all transactions required to be reported under the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. § 5311, et seq.) (the "Act") and its regulations ( 31 C.F.R. Part 1021), and regulations promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service. To accomplish these objectives, an Operator must, at a minimum:
1) Establish a system of internal policies, procedures and controls tailored to assure ongoing compliance;
2) Employ a compliance officer to oversee the compliance of policies, procedures and controls;
3) Train licensed personnel who have direct interaction with patrons or who handle or review patron transactions subject to the Bank Secrecy Act, including;
a.) Slot machine and table game employees;
b.) Cage employees;
c.) Surveillance employees;
d.) Accounting and audit employees; and
e.) Senior management;
4) Conduct an internal and/or external independent audit to test for compliance and provide copies of the results of the audit to the Board on at least an annual basis; and
5) Employ the use of automated programs to aid in assuring compliance when automated processing systems are in use.
B.) To ensure compliance with this section, each Operator shall submit to the Board each year:
1) A copy of the results of an independent audit to test for compliance and a report from the Operator's compliance officer that addresses any exceptions encountered and management responses within 30 days of receipt of the final report;
2) Personnel training completed; and
3) Any changes made to the Operator's policies, procedures or controls to meet the requirements of this section.
III. Specific controls
III-A Legal age requirements
A.) At each public entry point, and posted in prominent locations throughout the facility, the following statement will be posted: "Maine law requires a person to be 21 years of age or older in order to play slot machines or table games." The statement shall be clearly readable by any patron entering the facility. The Operator shall be responsible for the statement being displayed at all times.
B.) Each Operator, as part of its internal controls, shall indicate the forms of identification that it accepts as verification that someone is of legal age to be on the gaming floor.
III-B Slot machines
III-B-1 Ticket-in, Ticket-out (TITO) slot machines
A.) Each Operator that operates TITO machines shall be equipped with an accounting system that is capable of monitoring and recording all machine transactions including the printing of tickets. The TITO machines shall be equipped with a printer and their bill acceptor assembly shall also have the capability of receiving and validating tickets.
B.) When a ticket is inserted into a slot machine of a different denomination from which the original ticket was generated, the appropriate amount of credits up to the last available unit of current denomination shall be credited on the machine's credit meter. Any remaining amount shall be returned to the patron as a ticket.
C.) Certain terminals located on the gaming floor shall also be connected to the TITO accounting system and shall be capable of redeeming ticket.
D.) Tickets shall be capable of being redeemed, or wagered, in any TITO ready slot machine by inserting it into the machine's bill acceptor assembly. Tickets inserted into the bill acceptor shall be considered redeemed at the time of insertion and the credits from the tickets shall be displayed on the machine.
E.) Once a ticket has been redeemed, the TITO accounting system shall not allow it to be redeemed a second time.
F.) Signs shall be posted on the gaming floor notifying patrons that tickets may be redeemed at the cage or may be reinserted into the bill acceptor assembly on a TITO enabled slot machine.
G.) Tickets issued at an Operator location shall only be redeemed at that facility.
H.) No ticket shall be accepted as payment for any goods or services.
I.) All tickets shall be dated and valid for one (1) year from the date imprinted on the slip.
J.) No payment for a ticket shall be made unless the credit slip meets the following requirements:
1) It is presented on a fully legible, valid, printed ticket on paper approved by the Board, containing the information as required;
2) It is not mutilated, altered, unreadable, or tampered with in any manner, or previously paid;
3) It is not counterfeit in whole or in part; and
4) It is presented by a person authorized to play.
III- B-2 Access to and keys
A.) Upon arrival at the Operator's facility, all slot machine locks shall be replaced with in-house locks.
B.) Keys to each slot machine, with the exception of the key(s) to the area where the cash storage box is located, shall be maintained in a secure place and controlled by Security. The key(s) to the area where the cash storage box is located shall be controlled by an electronic two-party authentication system or a manual two-signature system. One of those signatures must be that of a member of the security department.
C.) Whenever it is required that a slot machine be opened for service, certain information shall be recorded on a "Machine Entry Authorization Log" ("MEAL"). The information shall include, at a minimum, the date, time, purpose of opening the machine or device, and signature or electronic recording on a device approved by the Board of authorized employees opening the machine or device. The Machine Entry Authorization Log may be maintained in the slot machine and shall be accounted for by an asset number.
III- B-3 Identification and signs
A.) Unless otherwise authorized by the Board, each slot machine shall have the following identifying features:
1) A mechanical, electrical, or electronic device that automatically precludes a player from operating the slot machine after a jackpot requiring a manual payout. An attendant is required to reactivate the machine;
2) A light on the pedestal above the slot machine that automatically illuminates when the door to the machine, or any connected device which may affect the operation of the machine, is opened; and
3) Asset and location numbers affixed to the outside of the machine and of sufficient height and size to be clearly visible and readable by the surveillance system.
C.) If the slot machine offers a payout of merchandise or some other thing of value, the word "Jackpot" shall be displayed on the machine itself. A sign, as approved by the Board, shall be displayed at a location near the machine. The sign shall contain a description of the merchandise or thing of value, including its cash equivalent value (unless the payout is an annuity jackpot), the dates the merchandise or thing of value will be offered if the Operator establishes a time limit for offering the merchandise or thing of value, and the availability or unavailability to the patron of the optional cash equivalent value.
III-B-4 Location and movements
A.) No slot machine shall be moved from its approved installed position without the prior written approval of the Department.
B.) Once a slot machine has been placed in the slot machine facility, movements of these machines from or to a location is recorded by a slot operations department member in a Slot Control Log which shall include the following:
1) The serial number;
2) The asset number of the slot machine;
3) The date and time of the movement of the machine;
4) The location from which the machine was moved; and 5) The location to which the machine was moved.
C.) Prior to removing a slot machine from the gaming floor, the cash storage box, if applicable, shall be removed and transported to the count room and all meters read and recorded. The removal and transportation procedure shall be performed after notification by electronic mail to the MGCB Inspector Supervisor.
D.) No relocated slot machine shall become operational unless approved by the Department.
III-B5 Cash storage boxes
A.) Each bill validator shall have contained in it a container known as a "cash storage box" in which shall be deposited all cash and tickets inserted into the bill acceptor. Each cash storage box shall:
1) Have at least one lock securing the compartment that holds the cash storage box that is keyed separately from the slot machine door key and the cash storage box content key;
2) Have an opening through which currency and tickets can be inserted into the cash storage box;
3) Have a mechanical arrangement or device that prohibits removal of currency or tickets from the opening at any time; and
4) Have an asset or a serial number that is permanently imprinted, affixed or impressed on the outside of the cash storage box, which is sufficient in size to be clearly visible and readable by the surveillance system. This number should correspond to the asset number of the slot machine or have an electronic means to track the box to the machine, to which the bill acceptor has been attached, however, emergency cash storage boxes may be maintained without such number, provided the word "emergency" is permanently imprinted, affixed, or impressed thereon, and when put into use, are temporarily marked with the asset number of the slot machine to which the cash storage box is attached.
B.) The key(s) to the lock securing the contents of a cash storage box shall be maintained and controlled by the accounting or the security department. The accounting/security department shall establish an electronic or manual sign-out procedure for all keys removed.
III-C Jackpots
III-C-1 Payouts not paid directly from the slot machine
A.) An operator shall include in its system of internal controls with specificity the following approved by the Board:
1) Description and procedures for automated, manual, overrides and voided jackpot slips;
2) Required information from each form used in 1) above;
3) Procedures for payouts not paid directly from slot machines, to include manual and automated payouts in increments of $1,200.00 to $4,999.99, $5,000.00 to $9,999.99 and $10,000.00 or more;
4) Procedures for payments to players with a previous win in the same gaming day;
5) Procedures to ensure appropriate government forms are completed;
6) Procedures to ensure surveillance coverage is kept of all jackpots over $1,200.00 are saved for a minimum of 14 days; and
7) Procedures to ensure the logging of events and the availability of records to permit an effective audit of the conduct of jackpot payouts and the reporting of revenue.
III-C-2 Payouts of merchandise or other things of value
A.) This section shall apply to all jackpot payouts of merchandise or other things of value.
B.) The cash equivalent of all merchandise or things of value offered as part of a payout shall be included in the total of winnings paid to patrons for purposes of determining gross revenue. The cash equivalent value of such merchandise or thing of value will be recorded at an amount based upon the actual cost to the Operator of acquiring such merchandise or thing of value.
C.) Prior to the initial offering or any substitution, the Operator shall provide documentation to the Board relating to the acquisition and valuation of any merchandise or thing of value to be offered as a payout. The documentation shall include the following:
1) A detailed description of the merchandise or thing of value;
2) A copy of the invoice from the vendor for the merchandise or thing of value;
3) Any time limitation on the offering;
4) Language to be included on the posted sign;
5) Starting date for the offering; and
6) Asset numbers of the slot machines that will offer the merchandise or thing of value as prizes.
D.) A quarterly report shall be filed with the Board, on a form prescribed by the Board, which shall, at a minimum, provide the current quarter and year-to-date itemized listing of the cash equivalent value, number of payouts, dates won, and descriptions of the merchandise or things of value paid to patrons.
E.) Whenever a patron wins a jackpot which includes any merchandise or thing of value, an accounting representative with no incompatible functions shall prepare a Jackpot Payout Slip. Jackpot Payout Slips shall be serially numbered forms, each series of which shall be used in sequential order, and the series of numbers of all Jackpot Payout Slips received by an Operator shall be accounted for by employees independent of the cashiers' cage and the slot operations department. All original and duplicate void Jackpot Payout Slips shall be marked "Void" and shall require the signature of the preparer.
F.) On the original and all copies of the Jackpot Payout Slip, or in stored data, the preparer shall record, at a minimum, the following information:
1) The asset number of the slot machine on which the jackpot was registered;
2) The number of credits played;
3) The date and time when the jackpot occurred;
4) A description of the merchandise or thing of value won and its cash equivalent value;
5) The selection of merchandise or its cash equivalent value as made by the patron;
6) The time of the Jackpot Payout Slip's preparation; and
7) The signature or, if computer prepared, identification code of the preparer.
G.) Signatures attesting to the accuracy of the information contained on the Jackpot Payout Slip shall be, at a minimum, of the following personnel:
1) The original:
a.) An accounting representative with no incompatible functions upon preparation; and
b.) A slot supervisor or above.
2) The duplicate:
a.) An accounting representative with no incompatible functions upon preparation; and
b.) A slot supervisor or above; and
c.) A security department member.
3) Upon meeting the signature requirements as described in G. 1) and 2) above, the slot department shall maintain and control the duplicate and subsequently place it in a locked accounting box which will be located on the premises and will be accessible only by accounting. The accounting department shall maintain and control the original.
H.) At the end of each gaming day, at a minimum, the original and duplicate of the Jackpot Payout Slip shall be forwarded as follows:
1) The original shall be used by the accounting department for agreement with the triplicate copy or stored data.
2) The duplicate shall be picked up by the accounting department for agreement with the triplicate copy or stored data.
I.) Except as otherwise provided in 2.) below, any merchandise or thing of value to which a patron is entitled as a result of a payout shall be given to the patron. Documentation supporting the receipt by the patron of such merchandise, thing of value or, in accordance with 2.) below, cash equivalent value shall be prepared by a representative of the Operator having no incompatible functions and shall agree to the triplicate copy of the Jackpot Payout Slip or stored data.
J.) An Operator may, at any time, establish a time limit of not less than 30 days for the offering of a jackpot of merchandise or other thing of value by providing notice of the time limit.
K.) The Operator may permit winning patrons to request and receive the exact cash equivalent value of the merchandise or thing of value in lieu of the merchandise or thing of value. If an Operator chooses to offer patrons this option, the Operator shall so state on a sign visible to all.
L.) Any advertising involving payouts of any merchandise or thing of value by the Operator shall include an accurate description of the merchandise or thing of value, the dates the merchandise or thing of value will be offered if the Operator establishes a time limit for offering the merchandise or thing of value pursuant to K.) above, and the cash equivalent value of the merchandise or thing of value.
M.) For establishments in which Jackpot Payout Slips are manually prepared, each series of Jackpot Payout Slips shall be a three-part form, at a minimum, and shall be inserted in a locked dispenser that will permit an individual slip in the series and its copies to be written upon simultaneously while still locked in the dispenser, and that will discharge the original and duplicate while the triplicate remains in a continuous unbroken form in the dispenser. Access to the triplicate copy shall be maintained and controlled at all times by employees responsible for controlling and accounting for the unused supply of Jackpot Payout Slips, placing Jackpot Payout Slips in the dispensers, and removing from the dispensers each day the triplicate copy remaining therein. These employees shall have no incompatible functions.
N.) For establishments in which Jackpot Payout Slips are computer prepared, each series of Jackpot Payout Slips shall be a two-part form, at a minimum, and shall be inserted in a printer that will: simultaneously print an original and duplicate and store, in machine readable form, all information printed on the original and duplicate; and discharge the original and duplicate. The stored data shall not be susceptible to change or removal by any personnel after preparation of a Jackpot Payout Slip.
III-C-3 Inspection of slot machine jackpots
A.) Prior to the payment of any slot jackpot which has a total value in cash and/or merchandise of at least $25,000, or any jackpot where there is evidence of a malfunction, an Operator will notify the central site monitoring system provider that a winning combination or malfunction has been registered. The central site monitoring system provider will conduct a system check on the slot machine and will notify the Department immediately if any irregularities are noted. Upon notification of a jackpot or malfunction, the Department shall respond at its earliest convenience to conduct an inspection and/or investigation. The Operator may award payment of the jackpot to the winning patron at its discretion once the central site monitoring system provider has been notified. The Operator will provide the Department with:
1) A photocopy of the patron's W-2G;
2) A photocopy of the Jackpot Payout Slip;
3) The photo identification used by the winning patron;
4) A surveillance photo of the patron; and 5) A photo of the winning combination display.
B.) Failure of the Department to object to the payment of the jackpot upon completion of the inspection shall not constitute waiver or estoppel of any charge, issue, or claim raised in any criminal or regulatory complaint subsequently filed against any person in connection with the winning or payment of that jackpot.
III-C- Progressive Jackpots
A.) Banks of progressive slot machines will have an overhead progressive meter(s). This requirement may be waived for individual progressive slot machines if there is a progressive meter installed in the slot machine, and the meter is visible to the player.
B.) The Operator will be liable for payment of a Progressive Jackpot and will maintain a sufficient bankroll for such payment.
C.) All progressive controllers must be certified for use in Maine according to Chapter 19.
D.) The reset or base value and the rate of increment of a progressive jackpot game must be filed with the Board prior to implementation. A reset or base value of all progressive jackpots must be equal to or exceed the equivalent non-progressive jackpot payouts for each individual machine linked to that jackpot.
E.) All progressive controllers will be in a secured area by physical key, access control or by use of security tape to detect any unauthorized access to the controller approved by the Board or its designee.
F.) Access to adjust settings or reset controller will be controlled by dual key access of which one key will be assigned to the Department.
G.) All Operators and CSMS controllers or access thereto must always also be kept under continual surveillance coverage for a period of no less than 14 days.
H.) All progressive controllers that do not have the capability of connecting directly to the Board's central site monitoring system will communicate through linked slot machines to the central site monitoring system and will be inspected by a Board inspector to verify operation and check incrementation rates, reset values, and rules of the progressive before the controller is secured and brought up initially for play.
I.) Once a controller is approved for play, any adjustments to rate, seed amount, current progressive amount, hidden amounts, etc. will be adjusted after approval by the Board or its designee and in the presence of a Board inspector.
J.) Through the use of security tape or surveillance coverage, if a controller is ever found unsecured or tampered with, the progressive controller and linked machines shall disable and secured until an investigation is completed by the Department.
K.) The Board may request that the controller and linked progressive machines be fully tested by an independent testing laboratory before being released for play.
L.) An Operator may impose a limit on the progressive jackpot payout of a slot machine if the limit imposed is filed with the Board prior to the progressive being placed into play. The Operator must prominently display a notice informing the public of the limit.
M.) No progressive meter may be altered unless one of the following circumstances occurs:
1) The amount shown on the progressive meter is paid to a player as a jackpot;
2) It is necessary to change the progressive indicator because of game malfunction; or
3) The jackpot is being moved to other progressive(s).
Incremental percentage rates may be used, including an overflow for the reserve pool.
G.) All progressive controllers shall have the ability to record the following information for each progressive amount:
1) The current prize amount;
2) The number of progressive wins;
3) The history of at least the last five progressive awards;
4) The starting award value;
5) The jackpot award value limit, if applicable;
6) The initial incremental percentage rate at which an award is increased;
7) The secondary incremental percentage rate at which an award is increased after the jackpot limit is reached;
8) The overflow incremental percentage increment rate for the reserve pool, if applicable;
9) The base reset amount after the progressive jackpot is awarded; and
10) The slot machines participating in the progressive jackpot.
H.) Any modification of a progressive controller or reset of a progressive jackpot amount shall require:
1) Prior written notification to the Board or its designee; and
2) The presence of a Board inspector.
All linked progressive jackpots not normally reported to the central site monitoring system provider, shall be reported as soon as reasonably possible after the jackpot is won.
All progressive jackpot amounts shall be equal to or greater than the reset amount of each progressive slot machine.
All progressives' records must be maintained that record on a daily basis the date, time, progressive (name/number), progressive type, bank(s)/slot machine(s), and progressive amounts. The records and documents must be retained for a period of five years unless permission to destroy them earlier is given in writing by the Board.
III-D Cashiers' cages
A.) Each establishment shall have on or immediately adjacent to the gaming floor a physical structure known as a cashiers' cage satisfying the definition in Section I.
B.) Each establishment shall have within the cashier cage or in such other area as approved by the Board a main bank satisfying the definition of "main bank" in Section I.
C.) The cage shall be designed and constructed to provide maximum security and shall contain the following features:
1) Fully enclosed except for openings through which materials such as cash, records, and documents can be passed to service the public.
2) Manually triggered silent alarm systems connected, at a minimum, directly to the monitoring rooms of the surveillance department.
3) Double door entry and exit system that will not permit a person to pass through the second door until the first door is securely locked. In addition:
a.) The first door adjacent to the floor of the double door entry and exit system shall be controlled by the security or surveillance department. The second door of the double door entry and exit system shall be controlled by the cashiers' cage or the security department.
b.) The system shall be monitored by the surveillance department and shall include both visual and audio monitoring.
c.) Any entrance to the cage that is not a double door entry and exit system shall be an alarmed emergency exit door only.
4) Separate locks on each door of the double door entry and exit system, the keys to which shall be different from each other, or magnetic locks on each door of the double door entry and exit system, the release buttons to which shall be different from each other.
D.) Any licensed employee, who has a legitimate purpose for doing so, may enter the cashiers' cage. Any non-licensed employee or non-employee who is authorized to enter the cashiers' cage must be accompanied by a security officer or player services supervisor. Authorization may come from a cashiers' cage supervisor or above.
III-D-1 Accounting controls for the cashiers' cage
A.) The assets for which the cage cashiers are responsible shall be maintained with an imprest amount. At the end of each shift, the cashiers assigned to the outgoing shift shall record on a Cashiers' Count Sheet the face value of each cage inventory item counted and the total of the opening and closing cage inventories and shall reconcile the total closing inventory with the total opening inventory.
B.) At the opening of every shift, in addition to the imprest funds normally maintained by the cage cashiers, each Operator shall have on hand in the cage or readily available thereto, a reserve cash bankroll necessary for normal operations.
C.) All currency and coin counting machines shall be tested weekly for accuracy and the results of the tests shall be documented.
D.) The cashiers' cage shall be physically segregated by personnel and function as follows:
1) Cage cashiers shall operate with individual imprest inventories of cash and such cashiers' functions shall be, but are not limited to:
a.) Receiving and paying out cash and cash equivalents, tickets and checks (excluding child support, public assistance, welfare and unemployment checks, and any others specified by the Board).
2) Cashiers' functions shall be, but are not limited to, the following:
a.) Receive cash, cash equivalents, original copies of Jackpot Payout Slips and checks (excluding child support, public assistance, welfare and unemployment checks, and any others specified by the Board).
b.) Receive currency, coin and chips from cage cashiers in exchange for proper documentation.
c.) Provide cage cashiers with currency, coin and chips in exchange for proper documentation, including tickets.
d.) Receive currency, coin and chips from the currency count rooms.
e.) Prepare the overall cage reconciliation and accounting records.
f.) Prepare the daily bank deposit for cash, coin, and checks.
g.) Receive from cage cashiers' documentation with signatures thereon, required to be prepared for the effective segregation of functions in the cashiers' cage.
h.) Be responsible for the reserve cash bankroll.
E.) Signatures attesting to the accuracy of the information contained on the Cashiers' Count Sheet shall be, at a minimum, of the following cashiers after preparation of the Cashiers' Count Sheet:
1) The cage cashiers assigned to the incoming and outgoing shifts; or 2) The cashier supervisors or above assigned to the incoming and outgoing shifts.
F.) At the end of each gaming day, at a minimum, a copy of the Cashiers' Count Sheets and related documentation shall be forwarded to the accounting department for reconciliation of activity during the shift the cashier worked.
G.) The above reconciliation may be performed by a cashier supervisor or above prior to forwarding to the accounting department.
III-D-2 Expired unclaimed prizes and tickets
A.) No ticket or jackpot claim shall be redeemed by an Operator more than one year from the date of issuance of the ticket or the date of occurrence of the jackpot. This one-year redemption policy shall be prominently displayed on the premises of an Operator.
B.) An Operator shall report expired unclaimed jackpots and tickets on a daily basis to the Board on form MGCB 2300. Daily amounts added minus those redeemed by the Operator shall be a part of the financial reporting of revenue for that day.
C.) An Operator shall maintain an Expired Unclaimed Jackpot Report and an Expired Ticket Report setting forth the aggregate value of unclaimed prizes and tickets for the past five years. In addition, the report shall contain, at a minimum, the following information on unclaimed prizes and tickets over $1 in value:
1) Customer name (if known);
2) Date won/issued;
3) Amount won/issued (and expired);
4) Asset Number; and
5) Ticket Number.
III-E Removal of drop boxes and cash storage boxes
A.) For each slot machine game or electronic table on the gaming floor, the cash storage box shall be removed at least once a week on specific days and at times designated by the Operator for each table game the drop box will be removed at least daily. The Operator shall complete both drops on a schedule which shall be filed with the Board and the Department. No drop box or cash storage box shall be emptied or removed from its compartment at other than the times specified on such schedule except under emergency situations. The Operator shall keep the Department Inspector Supervisor notified of any changes in the schedule. Prior to emptying or removing any drop box or cash storage box, an Operator shall notify the surveillance department of the transportation route that will be utilized.
B.) When a cash storage box is removed to investigate any problem or malfunction, the removal shall be witnessed by at least three employees consisting of a security department member, a surveillance department member and a slot operations employee. In the event of a patron dispute, the Operator shall move the cash storage box to a location approved by the Board or its designee in order to open the box using a cash storage box content key to resolve the dispute. All movements of the cash storage box shall be monitored by surveillance and escorted by security.
C.) Procedures and requirements for removing cash storage boxes from the gaming floor shall be the following:
1) The cash storage box shall be removed from its compartment; an empty cash storage box shall be placed in the compartment; and after which the compartment door shall be closed and locked.
2) All cash storage boxes that are removed from a slot machine or electronic table game shall be transported and secured in the count room for the counting of their contents by a drop team consisting of a minimum of three individuals with one security department member assigned to the cart and two other licensed employees from the accounting department that would not create an incompatible function. The security department member must be physically present during any such removal, and the removal shall be continuously monitored and recorded by surveillance.
3) All persons participating in the cash storage box removal procedure, except for security department employees and representatives of the Board and Department, shall wear as outer garments one-piece coveralls with no pockets and with openings only for the arms, feet, and neck.
D.) Procedures and requirements for removing drop boxes from table games shall be the following:
1) The removal of a drop box shall be performed by a drop team consisting of a minimum of three individuals with two security department members, one of which shall be assigned to the drop cart, and one table game supervisor or above.
2) Surveillance must continuously record at all times the removal and placement of drop boxes from the table games onto the drop carts and the transportation of the drop cart to the count room.
III-F Unsecured currency
A.) Whenever currency is found inside a bill acceptor but outside the cash storage box ("unsecured currency"), a slot department representative in the presence of security shall immediately complete an unsecured currency envelope.
B.) Whenever currency is found inside a drop box compartment but outside the drop box ("unsecured currency"), a table games department representative in the presence of security shall immediately complete an unsecured currency envelope.
C.) An unsecured currency envelope shall contain the following information:
1) The asset number of the cash storage box or the table game number of the drop box in which the unsecured currency was found;
2) The date on which the unsecured currency was found; and
3) The total dollar amount of the unsecured currency.
D.) The slot department or table games department representative and the security department member shall then sign the envelope as evidence of the total dollar amount being transported, seal the envelope and transport the envelope directly to the count room or other secured area approved by the Board.
E.) At the end of the gaming day, the count team shall count all cash contained in unsecured currency envelopes relevant to areas collected during the drop. The cash counted from each asset shall be recorded as drop. The envelope prepared pursuant to the above shall be forwarded to the accounting department along with the recording documentation.
F.) When unsecured currency is found during the collection of cash storage or drop boxes, the completion of the envelope shall be performed by a count team member and a security department member. The envelope shall be transported with the cash storage or drop boxes to the count room. The unsecured currency shall be counted and recorded with the contents removed from the corresponding cash storage or drop box. The envelope shall be forwarded to the accounting department with the recording documentation.
G.) If the count team has an unsecured currency envelope in its possession and the corresponding cash storage or drop box is not being counted that day, the envelope shall be placed in a clear Plexiglas box, which shall be kept locked in the count room or other secured area approved by the Board. The key to this box shall be maintained in a double lock box in the cashiers' cage or other secured area approved by the Board and shall be signed out by soft count personnel each day during the duration of the count. A count team member shall check the box each day and remove the unsecured currency envelopes for the corresponding cash storage or drop boxes being counted that day.
III-G Count procedures:
III-G -1 Count room characteristics
A.) Each Operator shall have a room or rooms specifically designated for counting the contents of drop boxes and cash storage boxes. These rooms shall be known as "count rooms."
B.) Count rooms shall be used exclusively for slot or casino operations unless otherwise authorized by the Board.
C.) Count rooms shall be designed and constructed to provide maximum security for the materials housed therein and for the activities conducted therein. They shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1) A metal door with a one-way security glass so that one can see out of the count room but not in or by other means such as surveillance. The door shall be equipped with at least one lock securing the interior of the count room, the key to which shall be different from the keys to the locks securing the contents of the drop box and cash storage box. The key shall be maintained and controlled by cage personnel and/or security; and
2) An alarm device connected to the entrance of the count room in such a manner as to cause a signaling to the monitors of the surveillance system whenever the door to the count room is opened.
D.) Located within a count room shall be:
1) A table whose surface is constructed of clear glass or similar transparent material for the emptying, counting, and recording of the contents of cash storage or drop boxes which shall be known as the "count table." The surface of this table must remain transparent at all times and is subject to periodic approval and review by the Board and/or the Department;
2) A device or methodology by which the content key to the cash storage box or drop box is attached to the above table such that a cash storage box or drop box has to be brought to the table in order to be opened; and
3) Surveillance camera and microphone wired to monitoring rooms capable of, but not limited to, the following:
a.) Effective and detailed audio-video monitoring and recording of the entire count process and any other activities in the count room; and
b.) Effective, detailed video-monitoring of the interior of the count room, including storage cabinets or trolleys used to store drop boxes and cash storage boxes.
III-G -2 Opening, counting, and recording contents of cash storage boxes and drop boxes
A.) The contents of the cash storage boxes and drop boxes shall be counted and recorded in the count room in conformity with this section.
B.) Each Operator shall place on file with the Board and the Department the specific times during which the contents of cash storage boxes and drop boxes are to be counted and recorded. Counting and recording of cash storage boxes, at a minimum, shall be once a week. Counting and recording of drop boxes, at a minimum, shall be once a week, counting and recording each day separately.
C.) The opening, counting, and recording of the contents of cash storage boxes and drop boxes shall be performed in the presence of at least two employees with no incompatible functions ("count team").
D.) All persons present in the count room during the counting process, except representatives of the Board and the Department, shall wear as outer garments, one-piece coveralls with no pockets and with openings only for the arms, feet, and neck.
E.) No person shall:
1) Carry a pocketbook or other container unless it is transparent.
2) Remove that person's hands from or return them to a position on or above the count table unless the backs and palms of the hands are first held straight out and exposed to the view of other members of the count team and the surveillance camera.
F.) Immediately prior to opening the cash storage boxes or drop boxes, the doors to the count room shall be securely locked and, except for the entrance of a cage cashier at the conclusion of the count and/or members of the Board or Department, no person shall be permitted to enter or leave the count room, except during a normal work break or in an emergency, until the entire counting, recording, and verification process is completed. During a work break or in the event of an emergency, or to permit cash storage boxes or drop boxes to be secured in the count room for the count of the contents, the counting and recording process shall be discontinued unless the appropriate number of personnel as described in C) above is present. Surveillance must be notified prior to any person entering or exiting the count room.
In the event that the count (drop) cannot be completed in a timely manner, such as equipment failure or other circumstances beyond the control of the Operator, or in the event that excess cash has accumulated during a count, a partial count will be accepted by the main bank. The normal end of count procedures set forth above will be followed. In addition, surveillance will be notified, the partial count will be clearly segregated on the count table, verified by the count team, verified by the cage cashier and properly documented.
G.) Immediately prior to the commencement of the count, one count team member shall notify surveillance that the count is about to begin, after which surveillance shall make an audio-video recording, with the time and date inserted thereon, of the entire counting process which shall be retained by the surveillance department for at least fourteen days from the date of recordation unless otherwise directed by the Board or the Department.
H.) Procedures and requirements for conducting the count shall be the following:
1) As each cash storage box or drop box is placed on the count table, one count team member shall verbalize, in a tone of voice to be heard by all persons present and to be recorded by the audio recording device, the asset number marked thereon for cash storage boxes or drop box.
2) The contents of each cash storage box or drop box shall be emptied on the count table.
3) The inside of the cash storage box or drop box shall be in full view of a surveillance camera and shall be shown to at least one other count team member to assure all contents of the cash storage box or drop box have been removed, after which the cash storage box or drop box shall be locked and placed in the cart for cash storage boxes or drop boxes.
4) The contents of each cash storage box or drop box shall be segregated by a count team member into separate stacks on the count table by tickets and by denominations of currency except that the Board may permit the utilization of a machine to automatically separate tickets from currency and sort currency by denomination.
5) Each denomination of currency shall be counted separately by one count team member who shall place individual bills of the same denomination on the count table in full view of a surveillance camera after which the currency shall be counted by a second count team member who is unaware of the result of the original count and who, after completing this count, shall confirm the accuracy of the total, either orally or in writing, with that reached by the first count team member. The Board may permit an Operator to perform an aggregate count by denomination of all currency collected in substitution of the second count if the Board is satisfied that the original count is being performed automatically by a machine that counts and automatically records the amount of currency and that the accuracy of the machine has been suitably tested and proven prior to each count.
6) The number of tickets contained in the cash storage box shall be counted by a count team member manually or by placing the tickets into a device approved by the Board. The number of tickets counted must be compared to the number of tickets on the Cash Storage Box Report.
7) As the contents of each cash storage box are counted, or at the completion of the count, one count team member shall record on the Cash Storage Box Report or supporting documentation the following information:
a.) The asset number of the slot machine to which the cash storage box contents correspond;
b.) The amount of each denomination of currency counted;
c.) The amount of all denominations of currency counted;
d.) The total number and dollar amount of tickets; and
e.) Any additional information as may be required on the Cash Storage Box Report by the Board.
8) As the contents of each table game drop box are counted, one count team member shall record on the count documentation, in ink or by computer, the type of game, table number, shift (if applicable), and the following information:
a.) The amount of each denomination of currency counted;
b.) The amount of all denominations of currency counted;
c.) The amount of chips counted;
d.) The total amount counted;
e.) The amount of the opener;
f.) The amount of the closer;
g.) The serial number and amount of each fill;
h.) The amount of all fills;
i.) The serial number and amount of each credit;
j.) The amount of all credit;
k.) The win or loss; and
l.) The amount of coupons authorizing chip purchases.
m.) If the licensee's system of internal controls provides for the recording on the master game report or supporting documents of fills, front money deposits, and table inventory slips prior to commencement of the count, a count team member shall compare for agreement the totals of the amounts recorded thereon to the fills, credits, and table inventory slips removed from the drop boxes.
9) After preparation of the Drop Box Report, each count team member shall sign the reports attesting to the accuracy of the information recorded thereon.
I.) At the conclusion of the count:
1) The cage cashier will enter the count room, bulk count all strapped currency, count all the loose (unstrapped) currency and test count at least one strap of each denomination of cash. The cage cashier will compare this total with the count team's total prior to having access to the Count Transfer Sheets and in the presence of a count team member; attest to the amount of cash received by signing the Count Transfer Sheets; and then will transport all monies directly to the main bank.
2) The Count Transfer Sheets, after signing, as well as all tickets removed during the count, will be transported directly to the accounting department. The accounting department will record the figures from the Count Transfer Sheets and calculate the total drop for that gaming day.
III-G -3 Usage and initialization of currency counting machines
A.) The Board shall permit the utilization of currency counting machines. The Operator will submit a plan to the Board to verify that all currency counting machines to be used during the "soft count" are accurate prior to any count. At a minimum, this process shall involve two members of the "count team." One member of the team will be designated as "lead" or similar title. The "lead" member will be responsible for the verification process and will attest in writing as to the results.
III-H Chips
III-H -1 Approval of chips and tokens; applications and procedures
A.) A licensee shall not issue any chips for use in its gaming establishment or sell or redeem any such chips unless the chips have been approved in writing by the Gambling Control Board or its designee. A licensee shall not issue any chips for use in its gaming establishment or sell or redeem any such chips that are modifications of chips previously approved by the Gambling Control Board or its designee unless the modifications have been approved in writing by the Gambling Control Board or its designee.
B.) Applications for approval of chips and modifications to previously approved chips must be made, processed, and determined in such manner and using form MGCB-3000. Each application must include, in addition to such other items or information as the Gambling Control Board or its designee may require:
1) The names of the licensee and person requesting approval;
2) An exact drawing, in color or in black-and-white, of each side and the edge of the proposed chip drawn to actual size or drawn to larger than actual size and in scale, and showing the measurements of the proposed chip in each dimension;
3) Written specifications for the proposed chips;
4) The name and address of the manufacturer;
5) The licensee's intended use for the proposed chips; and
6) Two Sample chip(s) in final, manufactured form. The Board shall retain sample chips.
C.) If, after receiving and reviewing the items and information described in subsection B.), the Gambling Control Board or its designee is satisfied that the proposed chips conform with the requirements of this regulation, the Gambling Control Board or its designee shall approve the proposed chips and notify the licensee in writing. As a condition of approval of chips issued for use at a specific table, the Gambling Control Board or its designee may prohibit the licensee from using the chips other than at the specified game.
III-H-2 Specifications for chips
A.) Chips must be designed, manufactured, and constructed in compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations, and policies of the United States, and this state, so as to prevent counterfeiting of the chips to the extent reasonably possible. Chips must not deceptively resemble any current or past coinage of the United States or any other nation.
B.) In addition to such other specifications as the Gambling Control Board or its designee may approve:
1) The name of the issuing gaming establishment must be inscribed on one side of each chip, and the city or other locality and the state where the establishment is located must be inscribed on at least one side of each chip;
2) The value of the chip must be inscribed on one side of each chip, other than chips used exclusively at roulette;
3) The manufacturer's name or a distinctive logo or other mark identifying the manufacturer must be inscribed on at least one side of each chip; and
4) Each chip must be designed so that when stacked with chips of other denominations and viewed on closed-circuit, black-and-white television, the denominations of the chip can be distinguished from that of the other chips in the stack.
C.) The names of the city or other locality and the state where the establishment is located must be inscribed on at least one side of each chip unless the Gambling Control Board or its designee finds, after application by a licensee, that such an inscription is not necessary because:
1) The name of the issuing establishment is unique to one readily identifiable establishment in all gaming jurisdictions; and
2) The inclusion of the city or other locality and the state is not necessary or beneficial for any regulatory purpose relating to the applicant.
D.) Any application submitted pursuant to subsection III-H-1. must be signed by the general manager of the applicant and be on form MGCB-3000.
III-H-3 Reception and inspection of chips
A.) The Operator will inspect all chips upon receipt from the manufacturer or distributor to ensure, at a minimum, that:
1) The quantity and denomination of the chips that are actually received from the manufacturer or distributor agree with the quantity and denomination of such the chips listed on the shipping documents.
2) There are no physical defects in the chips that were received.
B.) The inspection required by A.) above will be conducted by at least three people ("inspection team") and the Department inspector on duty. Each inspection team will consist of at least one representative from each of the following departments under surveillance:
1) Accounting;
2) Cashier's Cage; and
3) Security.
C.) The inspection team will report to the Department inspector promptly after an inspection required by B.) the following:
1) The shipment contains defective chips, or
2) The quantity and denomination of the chips actually received do not agree with quantity and denomination listed on the shipping documents.
D.) After the receipt and inspection of the chips, the cage cashier from the inspection team will record on the Chips Receipt Log the following information:
1) Date of receipt;
2) Description and denomination of the chips received;
3) Number of the chips shipped from the manufacturer or distributor (invoice);
4) The actual amount by denomination of the chips received;
5) Any variance between the number of the chips on the invoice and the actual number of the chips received;
6) Total dollar amount received;
7) Signature and license number of the cage cashier representative;
8) Signature and license number of the accounting department representative; and
9) Signature and license number of the security department representative.
E.) The cage cashier will then add the additional chips delivered to the chip inventory log.
F.) The Operator shall supply two chips of each denomination to the Board or its designee prior to their usage.
III-H-4 Use of chips
A.) A licensee that uses chips at its gaming establishment shall:
1) Comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, and policies of this state and of the United States pertaining to chips;
2) Sell chips only to patrons of its gaming establishment and only at their request;
3) Promptly redeem its own chips from its patrons;
4) Post conspicuous signs at its establishment notifying patrons that the use of the licensee's chips may not be used outside the licensee's establishment for any monetary purpose whatsoever;
5) Take reasonable steps, including examining chips and segregating those issued by other licensees to prevent sales to its patrons of chips and tokens issued by another licensee; and
6) Not accept chips as payment for any goods or services offered at the licensee's gaming establishment with the exception of the specific use for which the chips were issued and payment of tips and gratuities for food and beverages on the gaming floor. The licensee shall not give chips as change in any other transaction.
B.) A licensee shall not redeem its chips if presented by a person who the licensee knows or reasonably should know is not a patron of its gaming establishment, except that a licensee shall promptly redeem its chips if presented by:
1) Another licensee who represents that it redeemed the chips from its patrons and received them unknowingly, inadvertently, or unavoidably; or
2) An employee of the licensee who presents the chips in the normal course of employment.
C.) A licensee shall not knowingly sell, use, permit the use of, accept, or redeem chips issued by another licensee, except as follows:
1) A licensee may redeem chips issued by another licensee if:
a.) The chips are presented by a patron for redemption at the cashiers' cage of the licensee's gaming establishment; or
b.) The chips are presented by a patron at a table game and the licensee redeems the chips with chips of its own, places the redeemed chips in the table's drop box, and separates and properly accounts for the redeemed chips during the count performed pursuant to the licensee's system of internal controls.
D.) Chips whose use is restricted to uses other than at table games or other than at specified table games may be redeemed by the issuing licensee at table games or non-specified table games if the chips are presented by a patron, and the licensee redeems the chips with chips issued for use at the game, places the redeemed chips in the table's drop box, and separates and properly accounts for the redeemed chips during the count performed pursuant to the licensee's system of internal controls.
III-H-5 Redemption and destruction of chips
III-H-5-1 Redemption of chips
A.) A licensee that permanently removes from use or replaces approved chips at its gaming establishment, or that ceases operating its gaming establishment whether because of closure or sale of the establishment or any other reason, must prepare a plan for redeeming discontinued chips that remain outstanding at the time of discontinuance. The licensee must submit the plan in writing to the Gambling Control Board or its designee not later than thirty (30) days before the proposed removal, replacement, sale, or closure, unless the closure or other cause for discontinuance of the chips cannot reasonably be anticipated, in which event the licensee must submit the plan as soon as reasonably practicable. The Gambling Control Board or its designee may approve the plan or require reasonable modifications as a condition of approval. Upon approval of the plan, the licensee shall implement the plan as approved.
B.) In addition to such other reasonable provision as the Gambling Control Board or its designee may approve or require, the plan must provide for:
1) Redemption of outstanding, discontinued chips in accordance with this regulation for at least 120 days after the removal or replacement of the chips or for at least 120 days after operations cease as the case may be, or for such longer or shorter period as the Gambling Control Board or its designee may for good cause approve or require;
2) Redemption of the chips at the premises of the gaming establishment or at such other location as the Gambling Control Board or its designee may approve;
3) Publication of notice of the discontinuance of the chips, the redemption and the pertinent times and locations in at least two newspapers of general circulation in this state at least twice during each week of the redemption period, subject to the Gambling Control Board or its designee's approval of the form of the notice, the newspapers selected for publication and the specific days of publication;
4) Conspicuous posting of the notice described in paragraph (3) at the gaming establishment or other redemption location; and 5) Destruction or such other disposition of the discontinued chips as the Gambling Control Board or its designee may approve or require.
III-H-5-2 Destruction of chips
A.) The destruction of chips, if carried out by the Operator, will take place in the presence of at least three (3) representatives of the following departments and a department inspector;
1) Security;
2) Accounting; and
3) Cashier's Cage.
B.) The Operator has the option of using a vendor for the destruction of chips on the Operator's premises in front of those representatives in A.) above.
C.) If the Operator decides to use a licensed vendor for the destruction of chips, the Operator shall maintain a document that confirms the receipt and the destruction of the chips from the vendor. This document shall be readily available for inspection by the Board and the Department.
D.) The amount and description of all chips destroyed by the Operator or vendor will be recorded in the Chip Destruction Log. The Chip Destruction Log will contain:
1) Date of destruction;
2) Denomination of the chips being destroyed;
3) Total number of chips being destroyed by denomination;
4) Total dollar amount of the chips being destroyed by denomination;
5) Total dollar amount of all chips being destroyed;
6) Signature and employee number of the Cashiers' Cage representative;
7) Signature and employee number of the accounting department representative; and
8) Signature and employee number of the security department representative.
III-H-6 Counterfeit chips
A.) As used in this section, "counterfeit chips" mean any chip-like objects that have not been approved pursuant to this regulation, but not including coins of the United States or any other nation.
B.) The Operator must turn over any and all counterfeit chips to the Department's Inspector Supervisor with an Operator's security and/or surveillance department report containing, at a minimum:
1) Date and time the chips were discovered;
2) The names of the individuals who discovered them;
3) The denomination of the chips;
4) Number of chips by denomination;
5) Total amount of all chips;
6) The names of the individuals who presented the chips for play or redemption, if known; and 7) The names of any other interested parties to the transaction.
III-H-7 Promotional and tournament chips
A.) As used in this section, "promotional chip" means a chip object issued by a licensee for use in promotions or tournaments at the licensee's gaming establishment.
B.) Promotional chips must be designed, manufactured, approved, and used in accordance with the provisions of this regulation applicable to chips, except as follows:
1) Promotional chips must be distinguishable from other chips as determined by the Gambling Control Board or its designee.
2) Each side of each promotional chip must conspicuously bear the inscription "No Cash Value";
3) Promotional chips must not be used, and licensees shall not permit their use, in transactions other than the promotions or tournaments for which they are issued; and
4) The provisions of section III-H-6 of this regulation shall not apply to promotional chips.
III-H-8 Inventory of chips
A.) Chips shall be taken from or returned to the reserve chip inventory in the presence of at least two (2) individuals. The denominations, number and amount of chips so taken or returned shall be recorded in the chip inventory ledger together with the date and signatures of the individuals carrying out this process.
B.) Each licensee shall, on a monthly basis, compute and record the unredeemed liability for each denomination of chips and record the result of such inventory in the chip inventory ledger. On a monthly basis, each licensee shall conduct an inventory of chips in reserve and record the result of such inventory in the chip inventory ledger. If the reserve chips are stored in a locked compartment that is sealed and tamper resistant, a physical inventory must be conducted annually, unless the compartment is opened, at which time an inventory must be conducted.
C.) During nongaming hours all chips in the possession of the licensee shall be stored in the main bank or chip bank, or in a locked compartment in a cashiers' cage, except that chips may be locked in a transparent compartment on gaming tables under continuous surveillance coverage.
III-I Table games
A.) Access to playing cards, dice and other instruments used in the playing of table games
1) New and used playing cards to be issued to a table shall be maintained in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access and reduce the possibility of tampering. Used playing cards that are not to be re-used shall be properly canceled and removed from service.
2) All dice or playing cards that are not being utilized at a live gaming device shall be kept in locked compartments.
3) Dice and playing cards shall not be left at a live gaming device while unattended.
4) Casino licensees shall maintain an inventory of all dice and playing cards on forms prescribed by the Board. The inventory shall contain all of the following information:
a.) The date on which dice and playing cards are received;
b.) The quantity of the dice and playing cards received;
c.) The name, business address, and business telephone number of the manufacturer from which the dice or playing cards are received;
d.) The quantity of dice and playing cards that are placed into play each day;
e.) The quantity of dice and playing cards that are removed from play due to suspected tampering and the date of the removal; and
f.) The quantity of dice and playing cards that are removed from play and canceled each day.
5) A casino licensee shall conduct a physical inventory of the dice and playing cards every 3 months. A casino licensee shall record the results of the physical inventory on forms prescribed by the Board. A casino licensee shall reconcile inventory maintained in sub rule (III-I-A-4) of this rule with the results of the physical inventory. A casino licensee shall immediately report any discrepancies in the inventory forms and the physical inventory to the Board.
B.) Playing card specifications
1) All playing cards utilized by a casino licensee shall be in compliance with all of the following specifications:
a.) Unless otherwise provided in this part or in the rules of the game document, all decks of cards shall be 1 complete standard deck of 52 cards in 4 suits. The 4 suits shall be hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit shall consist of all of the following numerical cards:
1. Two to 10.
2. A jack.
3. A queen.
4. A king.
5. An ace.
b.) The backs of each card in a deck shall be identical, and no card shall contain any marking, symbol, or design that will enable a person to know the identity of any element printed on the face of the card or that will differentiate the back of that card from any other card in the deck.
c.) All edges shall be perfectly square with each side at a precise 90-degree angle to each adjacent side of the card.
d.) The radius of all 4 corners shall be exactly the same.
e.) The name, trade name, or logo of the casino licensee or casino license applicant shall be imprinted on the back side of each playing card twice in a mirror image. The mirror imaged name, trade name, or logo of the casino licensee or casino license applicant shall be spaced a minimum of 3/4 of an inch apart.
f.) If playing cards have a white border, then the border shall be a minimum of 3/16 of an inch on each side of the card.
g.) In the hearts suit, the hearts shall be a burgundy red color.
h.) In the diamonds suit, the diamond pips shall be a burgundy red color.
i.) In the spades suit, the spades shall be a black color
j.) In the clubs suit, the trefoil-shaped figure shall be a black color.
k.) All finished card decks are to be packaged using a cellophane or shrink wrap in single deck boxes that have a tamper-resistant security seal and a tear band.
l.) The manufacturer's identification name shall be placed on each deck box.
m.) The manufacturer's identification name shall be placed on each box containing individual decks of playing cards.
C.) Dice specifications.
1) All dice utilized by a casino licensee shall be in compliance with all of the following specifications:
a.) Each die must be formed in the shape of a perfect cube and of a size no smaller than 0.750 inches on each side nor larger than 0.775 inches on each side.
b.) The name, trade name, or logo of the casino licensee shall be imprinted on or in each die utilized by the casino licensee or casino license applicant.
c.) Each die must be transparent and made exclusively of cellulose, except for the following:
1. Spots.
2. Name, trade name, or logo of the casino licensee.
3. Serial number or letters, or both.
d.) The surface of each side of the die shall be perfectly flat, and the spots contained in each side of the die shall be perfectly flush with the area surrounding the spots.
e.) The edges and corners of each die shall be perfectly square and form 90-degree angles with each adjacent side.
f.) The texture and finish of each side shall be exactly identical to the texture and finish of all other sides.
g.) The weight of each die shall be equally distributed throughout the cube, and no side of the cube may be heavier or lighter than any other side of the cube.
h.) Each die must have 6 sides bearing white circular spots from 1 to 6, respectively, with the diameter of each spot equal to the diameter of every other spot on the die.
i.) Each die must have spots arranged so that all of the following provisions are satisfied:
1. The side containing 1 spot is directly opposite the side containing 6 spots.
2. The side containing 2 spots is directly opposite the side containing 5 spots.
3. The side containing 3 spots is directly opposite the side containing 4 spots.
j.) Each spot shall be placed on the die by drilling, or the equivalent, into the surface of the cube and filling the drilled-out portion with a compound that is equal in weight to the weight of the cellulose drilled out and that forms a permanent bond with the cellulose cube.
D.) Inspection of cards
1) When playing cards are accepted for play at a live gaming device, the licensee accepting the playing cards shall inspect the playing cards to ensure the playing cards comply with this rule.
2) On at least a daily basis, playing cards shall be inspected by sorting the cards sequentially by suit and inspecting the sides of the cards for crimps, bends, cuts, shaving, or any other defect that would affect the integrity or fairness of the game.
E.) Inspection of dice.
1) Before dice are placed into play at a live gaming device, the pit boss, or the pit boss's equivalent, shall inspect the dice to ensure the dice comply with this rule.
2) Dice shall be inspected by all of the following methods on a flat surface that allows the inspection of the dice to be monitored by the surveillance system:
a.) A micrometer or any other approved instrument that performs the same function.
b.) A balancing caliper.
c.) A steel set square and magnet.
3) A casino licensee shall store the micrometer or other approved instrument, the balancing caliper, and the steel set square and magnet in a secure place that is not accessible by the public.
F.) Removal of cards or dice from play.
1) A casino licensee shall remove any dice or playing cards if there is an indication of any of the following:
a.) The dice or playing cards have been tampered with.
b.) The dice or playing cards are flawed.
c.) The dice or playing cards are defective, and the defect may affect the integrity or fairness of the game.
2) If there is an indication that dice or playing cards have been tampered with, then the pit boss, or the pit boss's equivalent, shall place the dice or playing cards in an envelope, seal the envelope, and give the envelope to the Department. The pit boss, or the pit boss's equivalent, shall note all of the following information on the outside of the envelope:
a.) The date and time the dice or playing cards were removed from play.
b.) The live gaming device from which the dice or playing cards were removed from play.
c.) The characteristics that indicate that the dice or playing cards were tampered with.
d.) The name of all licensees at the live gaming device from which the dice or playing cards were removed, and the name of the pit boss, or the pit boss's equivalent, who removed the dice or playing cards from play.
3) Except for dice that are removed from play due to the possibility of tampering, all dice shall be canceled when removed from play. Dice may be canceled by any of the following means:
a.) Drilling a circular hole that is not less than 1/4 of an inch in diameter through the center of each die.
b.) Destroying the die by shredding.
c.) Canceling the die in any other manner approved by the Board or its designee.
4) Except for playing cards that are removed from play due to the possibility of tampering, all playing cards shall be canceled by 1 of the following methods:
a.) Drilling a circular hole that is no less than 1/4 of an inch in diameter through the center of each card in the deck.
b.) Shaving not less than 2 corners of each playing card so that each side is no longer at 90-degree angles with each adjacent side.
c.) The cards are destroyed by shredding.
d.) Canceling the cards by any other method approved by the Board or its designee.
5) This rule shall not prevent a licensee from removing cards and dice from a game at any time in its discretion.
G.) Table limits
1) The rules of the game submitted by the casino licensee or casino license applicant shall require that table limits for each table will be clearly posted for the public.
2) A casino licensee may amend the minimum and maximum wager at a table if the new maximum wager is not above the house maximum wager for the game. A casino licensee may amend the minimum and maximum wagers of a table if both of the following actions are taken:
a.) A sign is posted at the gaming table advising patrons of the new minimum and maximum wagers in effect for the table.
b.) Patrons at the table are advised of the change.
3) A casino licensee may raise the house limit for individual patrons by following procedures for raising the limits that have been submitted with the rules of the game and approved in accordance with these rules.
III-I -1 Handling of cash and chips
A.) All games shall be conducted only with the use of chips that have been approved by the Board or its designee or with lawful currency or coinage of the United States of America. All table game payouts by licensees shall be made in the form of chips and/or coins only. Each employee in gaming operations, owner or licensee who receives currency of the United States (other than tips or gratuities) from a patron in the gaming area of a gaming establishment must promptly place the currency in the table game drop box or, in the case of a cashier, in the cash drawer.
B.) When a patron redeems chips, the gaming establishment shall immediately return the full value of the chips to the patron in the form of cash or check.
C.) All chips shall be the standard colors commonly accepted for each denomination within the industry. Those colors are:
1) One dollar ($1.00), white;
2) Two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50), pink;
3) Five dollars ($5.00), red;
4) Ten dollars ($10.00), blue;
5) Twenty dollars ($20.00), yellow;
6) Twenty-five dollars ($25.00), green;
7) One hundred dollars ($100.00), black;
8) Five hundred dollars ($500.00), purple; and
9) One thousand dollars ($1,000), chips will be orange.
D.) All Operators shall create internal controls related to the acceptance and distribution of tips and gratuities for approval by the Board.
III-I-2 Fill and credit slips
A.) All fill slips and credit slips shall be serially numbered forms and shall be in triplicate in a continuous series utilizing the property identification logo, so that no facility may ever utilize the same documents.
B.) Only one series of each type may be used at a time.
C.) For Operators at which fills, or credits are manually prepared, each series must be inserted in a consecutive order in a locked machine that will permit the original and duplicate to be utilized in accordance with the detailed rules for each type of slip set forth and will only permit the third copy to be retained intact in a continuous unbroken form by a member of the accounting department.
D.) The third series, after use, must not be available to personnel in table game or cashiers' cage operations who have access to the original and duplicate of the series, and must be retained in a secure place in the accounting department. All series numbers must be accounted for.
E.) All voided slips shall be marked "VOID" and shall require the signatures and employee number of two employees voiding the slip. One of those employees must be a cashier supervisor.
F.) Information on the fill or credit slip must include:
1) The time and date of the fill or credit;
2) The game and table number to which the gaming chips are to be distributed or returned;
3) The denomination of gaming chips to be distributed to the gaming tables or being returned; and
4) The total amount of each denomination of gaming chips.
G.) For Operators at which fills or credits are computer prepared, each series shall be a two (2) part form and shall be inserted in a printer that will simultaneously print an original and a duplicate and store, in machine readable form, all information printed on the original and duplicate. The stored data shall not be susceptible to change or removal by any personnel after preparation.
III-I-3 Procedure for distributing gaming chips to and from game tables (fills and credits)
A.) An operator shall include in its system of internal controls with specificity, the following to be approved by the Board:
1) Description and procedures for table fills and credits;
2) Procedures to ensure appropriate government forms are completed;
3) Procedures to ensure surveillance coverage is kept of all table fills and credits; and
4) Procedures to ensure the logging of events and the availability of records to permit an effective audit of the conduct of table fills and credits for the proper reporting of revenue.
III-I-4 Procedure for incorrect fills
A.) The Operator must utilize the following procedures when the fill has an incorrect denomination, total amount or table assignment and the incorrect fill is discovered before the original fill slip is dropped in the table drop box.
B.) The security officer must return the fill to the cashiers' cage.
C.) The cage cashier counts, verifies and accepts the return of the fill.
D.) The cage cashier and cage supervisor must:
1) Mark all voided fill slips "VOID";
2) Sign and note employee number on the voided fill slip; and
3) Forward the voided fill slip to accounting to provide a means of reconciliation of fill slips.
E.) The Operator must utilize the following procedures when the fill has an incorrect denomination, total amount or table assignment and the incorrect fill is discovered after the original fill slip has already been dropped in the table drop box.
F.) Regardless of how an incorrect fill is found after the original fill slip is dropped into the table drop box, the table games supervisor shall complete a notification of error slip and drop that slip into table drop box to alert the count team and accounting of the error.
G.) The table games supervisor must notify surveillance about the error, record the error and report the error to the Department inspector on duty.
III-I-5 Procedure for closing gaming tables
A.) At the end of the gaming day, the dealer or boxperson must count the gaming chips and coins in the table tray.
B.) The table games supervisor or above must:
1) Observe the count of the gaming chips and coins; and
2) Record the gaming chips and coins counted on a table inventory slip, which must be a three-part form. On the original copy of the slip ("closer") and the duplicate of the slip ("opener"), the table games supervisor must record:
a. The date and identification of the shift ended;
b. The game and table number;
c. The total value of each denomination of gaming chips and coins remaining on the table; and
d. The total value of all denominations of gaming chips and coins remaining at the table.
C.) The dealer or boxperson and table games supervisor or above must:
1) Sign the inventory slip attesting to the accuracy of the information recorded for closing the table.
2) The dealer or boxperson then must deposit the closer in the drop box and place the opener in the table tray before placing the cover on the tray and securing the chips.
III-I-6 Procedure for opening gaming tables
A.) When the table is going to be opened for play, the dealer shall count the chips and coin in the tray and attest by signature on the opener that the inventory is correct. The dealer then must place the opener in the drop box.
B.) If a discrepancy exists between the opener and the table inventory, the table games supervisor shall notify surveillance and complete a discrepancy or similar report.
III-J Electronic Table Games (ETGs)
A.) The operator monitoring system or independently operated ETG shall be under access or dual-key control by the Operator's accounting or finance department and another authorized department as set forth in the Operator's system of internal controls approved by the Board.
B.) An operator shall include in its system of internal controls for either an operator monitoring system or independently operated ETG the following:
1) Procedures to ensure the physical security of the computer or server and related hardware, software and other devices;
2) Procedures to ensure the integrity and security of all sensitive data and software;
3) Procedures to ensure that access to sensitive data and software is limited to appropriate licensed personnel only;
4) Procedures to accept and record table game player incentives as described in Chapter 29 §2 of the Rules of the Gambling Control Board; and
5) Procedures to ensure the logging of events and the availability of records to permit an effective audit of the conduct of the ETG system and the reporting of revenue.
III-J-1 Independently operated ETGs
A.) An independently operated ETG shall have software or hardware installed that distinguishes it from a slot machine.
B.) An independently operated ETG shall have the capability to accept currency or gaming vouchers and to issue a gaming voucher to a player for any winnings.
C.) An independently operated ETG shall be equipped with all meters to support reporting in III-J(B)(5) above.
III-J-2 Dealer operated ETGs
A.) A dealer operated ETG shall have the ability to authenticate the transmission of data between the various components of the ETG system.
B.) A dealer operated ETG must send or display a notification to the surveillance department whenever a door or cabinet at an ETG is open and whenever there is a malfunction in the operation of the ETG system, or any component thereof, including whenever a printer or currency jam occurs.
III-K Poker games
III-K -1 Minimum standards of internal controls for poker games
A.) Poker rooms for the play of poker games approved by the Board shall be located separately from slot machine and casino table games areas.
B.) A table games supervisor or above shall be present at all times the poker room is operating.
C.) Poker table tray inventory must be used only for the purposes of making change or handling player buy-ins. The poker room bank is to be used only for the purchase and redemption of chips by players.
D.) Transfers between the poker room bank and the casino cage are to be properly authorized and documented by the poker room supervisor, cage cashier and a security department member.
E.) When the poker table bank is to be replenished with chips from the poker room bank, the chips to be transferred must be counted down by the dealer in public view on the poker table and verified by the poker room supervisor and the dealer under surveillance coverage.
F.) Rake-off, which is a percentage of the pot taken by the licensee for maintaining or dealing a game, shall only be pulled from the pot by the dealer in an obvious manner after call or at the completion of the hand.
G.) The rake-off shall be placed in a designated rake circle and shall remain there until a winner is declared and paid. The rake-off shall then be deposited into the drop box. The amount of any rake-off must be conspicuously posted at or near the table.
H.) Time buy-ins, which are charges to a player determined on a time basis by the licensee for the right to participate in a game, or any other fees charged to a patron shall be immediately placed in the drop box.
I.) Playing cards, both used and unused, are to be maintained in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access.
J.) The amount of the poker room bank is to be counted, recorded and reconciled on, at least, a daily basis. At the end of the shift the amount of the table bank is counted, recorded, and reconciled by at least two employees with such count being attested to by signatures on the check-out form.
K.) The procedure for the collection of poker drop boxes and the count of the contents thereof will comply with all procedures applicable to the table game drop boxes. The poker drop boxes shall be removed on the same schedule with the table games and the contents therein counted on the same schedule. Removal of the boxes at any other time is prohibited, except in the event of an emergency.
III-K-2 Poker game drop box procedures
A.) Each poker table shall have one poker game drop box with the drop slot located at least four inches in front of the table tray and to the right thereof, unless the table is equipped with a drop slot located at least two inches to the right of and even with the top right-hand corner of the table tray, with a cover over the drop slot, which when activated will cause the rake to drop directly into the drop box.
B.) The poker game drop box shall be a locked container marked with a permanent number corresponding to a permanent number on the card table and permanently marked to indicate game and shift, all of which markings shall be clearly visible at a distance of 20 feet. The locked container shall be locked to the poker table and shall be separately keyed from the container itself.
C.) All poker game drop boxes shall be removed from their respective card tables at the times previously submitted in writing to and approved by the Inspector Supervisor. The removal of poker drop boxes shall be without any interruptions so that an observer may be able to observe the markings on the boxes.
D.) The boxes must be transported directly to the room designated for counting where they shall be stored in a secure place or immediately counted.
E.) In the event of electronic or mechanical malfunction, or any other situation which prevents the placement of money in the drop box, the licensee may perform an emergency drop on the malfunctioning device after notification to the department inspector on duty. Such emergency drop must be recorded on the casino surveillance systems.
III-K-3 Transactions between poker table bank and poker room bank
A.) When the poker table bank is to be replenished with chips from the poker room bank, all cash or chips to be transferred must be counted down by the dealer in public view on the poker table and verified by the poker room supervisor and the dealer under surveillance coverage.
B.) The transfer shall be preceded by the placement of appropriately designated marker buttons on the poker table of a value equivalent to the cash or chips to be transferred to the poker room bank. Such marker buttons may only be removed by the dealer after the transaction has been completed.
C.) Those licensees wishing to utilize the casino cage in lieu of a poker room bank may do so upon written approval of the Board or its designee.
III-K-4 Limitations on the use of poker room banks and poker table banks
A.) Poker room banks shall be used exclusively for the purchase and redemption of chips by players.
B.) Poker table banks shall be used only for the purposes of making change or handling player buy-ins.
C.M.R. 16, 633, ch. 5, app 633-5-A
Amended Effective November 26, 2005 - filing 2005-479
Amended Effective August 5, 2006 - filing 2006-346
Amended Effective April 11, 2007 - filing 2007-130
Amended Effective January 2, 2012 - Filing 2011-481
Amended Effective September 15, 2014 - filing 2014-223
Amended Effective
Amended Effective July 22, 2019 - filing 2019-127
Amended Effective 3/7/2023 - filing 2023- 038