N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 4300.24

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 4300.24 - Hardware requirements

(a) Cash/sell system.

(1) An authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity shall use a cash/sell totalisator system. The system must comply with these rules regardless of the location of the central processing unit for the system.

(2) A totalisator system must be a multi-computer or multi-processor system with varying degrees of independence in the transaction processing and system control functions distributed among the computers. At least one computer shall be independent, sharing no loads or processing functions with the master computer. The computers must be configured so that if one computer actively tracking events fails, another computer will immediately take over all functions of the failed computer.

(3) The schematic chart, required pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section must be submitted to the commission at least two weeks before the scheduled date for system installation and testing.

(b) Schematic chart.

(1) The totalisator company must provide to the commission an overview of the equipment in the totalisator systems in use at or by the New York facilities the company services. The overview must be a detailed schematic chart showing the interconnections of each piece of hardware.

(2) The chart must indicate, where appropriate, the part of the database each terminal can access as well as the amount and degree of access each terminal has to the application and operating system programs. User assignments must be determined by access, and the schematic chart must also reflect the usual and potential user types assigned to each terminal.

(3) If the totalisator company desires to change any component in the hardware layout, the company must revise the schematic chart and submit it to the commission within seven days of said changes.

(c) Peripherals. A totalisator system must include the following peripherals:

(1) a log printer for each computer if the system is unable to reproduce the logs upon request;

(2) a master control terminal(s) that allows the operator to execute routine maintenance and operational functions based on individual operator identification/authentication;

(3) user terminals that allow restricted system access to the stewards or racing judges allowing the order of finish to be input;

(4) wagering information screen displays that meet the requirements of section 4300.10 of this Part (relating to wagering information);

(5) data storage devices to record necessary system data; and

(6) backup devices capable of recording complete system information on removable media for storage and restoration.

(d) Stop wagering devices.

(1) The totalisator company shall install two separate devices that activate the stop wagering function of the totalisator system in a manner consistent with stop wagering procedures approved by the commission. This requirement is applicable only to a host racetrack.

(2) The primary device must be located near the stewards or racing judges, in a location approved by the commission, to issue the stop wagering command during normal operations and activate the "off bell." This requirement is applicable only to a host racetrack.

(3) The secondary "back up" device must be installed in the totalisator room to allow the totalisator operator to issue the stop wagering command if a totalisator malfunction or human error prevents the totalisator system from activating the stop wagering function at the appropriate time.

(4) The totalisator company shall ensure that stop wagering occurs.

(5) The totalisator company, for good reason, may request from the commission additional or alternative stop wagering devices.

(e) Tote board. The tote board must:

(1) update the odds on each betting interest in the win pool at intervals of not more than 60 seconds, or at intervals expressly directed by the commission; and

(2) allow the stewards or racing judges or a designee of the stewards or racing judges to post the order of finish, the official sign, inquiry sign, objection sign, or dead heat sign.

(f) Uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

(1) The computer system must be supported by an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to allow for system shutdown if a power failure occurs. In a system shutdown, all wagering data in the computer at the time of the failure must remain intact and all race and end-of-day reports must be produced.

(2) The UPS must be able to supply even power to the totalisator system, within accepted limits, when a power surge or drop occurs.

(3) The alarm associated with the UPS must be readily recognizable by the totalisator operator from inside the totalisator room.

(g) Wagering devices.

(1) A local area network of wagering devices, also known as a cash/sell teller terminal, is not required to be intelligent, but must have an individual identity within the network.

(2) The programming of intelligent local area and remote wagering devices must be limited to communication with the main computer, maintenance routines, and dynamic terminal configuration routines.

(3) A program related to the production or verification of the wager identification number printed on a mutuel ticket or assigned by the main computer may not reside in a wagering device.

(4) A wagering device may not access the wagering database except to conduct the wagering or cashing functions necessary for a teller to serve the public.

(5) A wagering device may not be located in the totalisator room or in its immediate vicinity.

(h) Maintenance. A totalisator company shall provide preventative maintenance to a totalisator system to ensure the system hardware will provide a high degree of reliability. Maintenance must include, but is not limited to, physical cleaning of system components and peripherals and testing the UPS for battery life and power stability.

(i) Common pooling.

(1) An authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity shall use a totalisator system that operates in either a tote-to-tote network or a wagering device-to-tote network. The totalisator system must, without regard to the location of the CPU:

(i) meet the requirements of this Chapter;

(ii) comply with the rules;

(iii) use the inter-tote communication standard prescribed by the commission; and

(iv) use the current version of standardized track codes recognized by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) or other inter-tote communication standard prescribed by the commission.

(2) An authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity may common pool if all equipment used is of an approved type and in an approved location.

(3) The host racetrack for which a common pool is created must also provide a totalisator system that:

(i) directs each totalisator system involved with the common pool regarding the pools offered, live and scratched betting interest, common pool totals, network odds and probable payout, start and stop wagering commands, official orders of finish, deduction and payout calculations; and

(ii) produces reports showing the amount wagered on each betting interest and pool from each site, in accordance with the current inter-tote communication standard prescribed by the commission.

(4) A totalisator company must file with the commission the disaster recovery plan for the current operating year ensuring that the authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity it provides services to may continue to conduct pari-mutuel wagering within a reasonable period of time in the event of a disaster at the CPU's location.

(j) Emergency procedures.

(1) The totalisator system must be supported by an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) as described in subdivision (f) of this section.

(2) A totalisator company must have emergency procedures to address a totalisator system failure. The procedures will apply whether the system is operating as a stand-alone wagering site for separate pool wagering or as a satellite in a common pool network.

(3) If a hardware problem occurs, the tote operator may make an emergency fix to the totalisator system. Immediately after the fix has been made to the totalisator system, the totalisator company shall file a written report with the commission that states:

(i) the situation that caused the need for the fix; and

(ii) the corrective changes the tote operator made.

(k) Remote access. The totalisator company shall use a remote access server that records keystrokes for all users accessing the tote system.

(l) Independent monitoring system. The totalisator company shall utilize an independent real time transaction monitoring system approved by the commission. This system is to provide information in a read only format. At a minimum the system shall:

(1) verify all transactions performed by the totalisator;

(2) provide access to the commission and the authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity for monitoring activity;

(3) notify the authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity's mutuel manager or duly appointed representative when the system detects a discrepancy in the totalisator operation and/or with the independent monitoring system automatically. The mutuel manager shall determine the cause of the error and make any necessary repairs or adjustments pursuant to the rules and notify the commission immediately after each occurrence; and

(4) perform other requirements deemed appropriate by the commission.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 4300.24