N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-14.10

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:69F-14.10 - Hold 'em poker; procedures for dealing of cards; completion of each round of play

(a) Each casino licensee shall be required to observe the procedures set forth in this section for each game of hold 'em high poker offered in its casino room or casino simulcasting facility. Hold 'em poker shall be played to determine a winning high hand only.

(b) Each poker table shall be restricted to a maximum of 11 players. Each player who elects to participate in a round of play may be required to place an ante. The rule governing the placement of an ante and the amount of the ante, if any, shall be posted on a sign at each poker table in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:69F-8.3.

(c) The order in which the cards shall be dealt and the order in which players shall be required or have the option to bet shall be determined as follows:

1. A flat disk called the "button" shall be used to indicate an imaginary dealer;

2. At the commencement of play, the button shall be placed in front of:

i. The first player to the right of the dealer; or

ii. The player randomly determined by rank of a single card dealt; and

3. Thereafter, the button shall rotate around the table in a clockwise manner after each round of play.

(d) Wagers placed prior to dealing any cards shall be governed by the following rules:

1. The player to the immediate left of the button shall be required to initiate the first betting round by placing a blind bet in accordance with the posted table requirements.

i. In a casino licensee's discretion, if a new player enters a game at a seating position between the button and a player who has placed a blind bet, or an absent player who has missed a blind bet seeks to reenter the game, the new or absent player shall post a blind bet(s) (buying the button) to participate in any round of play prior to the button returning to the player's seating position.

2. A casino licensee may require additional blind bets to be made immediately subsequent to the initial blind bet.

3. A casino licensee may elect to offer players the option to place a straddle bet subsequent to the blind bet(s).

4. The amount and number of all blind bets required by the casino licensee and, if offered, the amount of a straddle bet, shall be posted on a sign in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:69F-8.3.

(e) Starting with the player to the immediate left of the button and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the poker table, the dealer shall deal two rounds of cards face down to each player, with the player with the button being the last player to receive a card each time.

(f) Following the placement of the blind bet(s) and, if applicable, a straddle bet, each player shall in turn, in a clockwise rotation around the poker table, either fold, call, or raise the bet. The option to raise shall also apply to the player(s) who made the blind bet(s) and straddle bet. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.

(g) The dealer shall then burn the top card of the deck and proceed to deal three community cards face up in the center of the table. The next betting round shall commence with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the button who has not folded. Each subsequent player may, in clockwise rotation, fold, call, raise the bet, or, if preceding players have not made a bet, make an opening bet or check. The betting round shall be considered complete when each player has either folded or called in response to the most recent bet.

(h) Upon completion of the betting round required by (g) above, the dealer shall again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fourth community card face up in the center of the table. The next betting round shall be commenced and completed in accordance with the requirements of (g) above.

(i) Upon completion of the betting round required by (h) above, the dealer shall again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fifth and final community card face up in the center of the table. The final betting round shall be commenced and completed in accordance with the requirements of (g) above.

(j) If more than one player remains in the round of play after the final betting round has been completed, a showdown shall be used to determine the winner of the pot. Each player remaining in the game shall form his or her highest ranking five card high poker hand by using, in any combination, his or her own two cards and the five community cards available on the table. The winner of the pot shall be the player with the highest ranking five-card high poker hand. If the highest ranking five-card high poker hand that each of the remaining players can form is comprised of the five community cards, all players remaining in the round of play shall share equally in the pot.

(k) A casino licensee may elect to offer variations of hold 'em poker known as "Pineapple" or "Crazy Pineapple," in which the dealer shall deal three rounds of cards face down to each player.

1. For Pineapple, upon completing the opening round of betting but prior to dealing the three community cards pursuant to (g) above, each player is required to discard one card in the same sequence as the preceding round of betting.

2. For Crazy Pineapple, upon the dealer dealing the three community cards and the completion of the round of betting prescribed in (g) above, each player is required to discard one card in the same sequence as the preceding round of betting.

(l) A casino licensee may elect to offer multiple, alternative hands resolution subject to the following:

1. Two or more players shall agree to the number of alternative hands to be played, provided that the players agree to:

i. No more than four alternative hands in a round of play; and

ii. The juncture in the round of play at which the alternative hands are to be generated (examples include prior to turning over the first three community cards, prior to turning over the fourth community card, and prior to turning over the fifth community card).

2. The dealer shall verbally confirm such agreement and place a marker on the table bearing the number of alternative hands to be played prior to dealing any additional community cards.

3. Upon player agreement and dealer confirmation and marker placement, the dealer shall proceed to deal each alternative hand in accordance with the rules of this section, but without any additional player betting.

4. The dealer shall split the pot into separate equal portions to the nearest dollar amount corresponding to the number of alternative hands to be dealt, with any excess amount added to the first hand dealt. The portion of the pot dedicated for each hand resolution shall be awarded to the player with the winning hand. If players have equal ranking hands, the corresponding portion shall be split equally among players.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-14.10

Amended by R.2014 d.069, effective 4/21/2014.
See: 45 N.J.R. 1896(a), 46 N.J.R. 705(a).
Rewrote (d) and (f); and added (k) through ( l).