Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 603a.19 - Pai Gow tiles; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use(a) When sets of tiles are received from a manufacturer or supplier, the tiles must immediately be unloaded under the supervision of at least two people, one of whom shall be an assistant table games shift manager or above and one employee from the security department, and transported to a secure area which is covered by the slot machine licensee's surveillance system. The boxes of tiles shall then be inspected by the assistant table games shift manager or above and one employee from the security department to assure that the seals on each box are intact, unbroken and free from tampering. Boxes that do not satisfy these criteria shall be inspected at this time to assure that the tiles contained therein conform to the requirements of this chapter and there is no evidence of tampering. Boxes satisfying these criteria, together with boxes having unbroken, intact and untampered seals shall then be placed for storage in a storage area, the location and physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(f) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment).(b) Sets of tiles which are to be distributed to gaming pits or tables for use in gaming shall be distributed from the approved storage area.(c) The approved storage area must have two separate locks. The security department shall maintain one key and the table games department shall maintain the other key. A person employed by the table games department below an assistant table games shift manager in the organization hierarchy may not have access to the table games department key.(d) Immediately prior to the commencement of each gaming day and at other times as may be necessary, an assistant table games shift manager or above, in the presence of a security department employee, shall remove the appropriate number of sets of tiles for that gaming day from the approved storage area.(e) Envelopes and containers used to hold or transport tiles must be:(2) Designed or constructed with seals so that any tampering is evident.(3) Submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations and approved in accordance with § 601a.10(a).(f) The assistant table games shift manager or above shall distribute sufficient sets of tiles to the pit manager or above in each Pai Gow pit.(1) The pit manager or above shall then distribute the sets of tiles to the dealer at each Pai Gow table and place extra sets of tiles in the reserve in the pit stand.(2) Sets of tiles in the reserve shall be placed in a locked compartment in the pit stand, keys to which shall be in the possession of the pit manager or above.(g) If during the course of play any damaged tile is detected, the dealer or a floorperson shall immediately notify the pit manager or above. The pit manager or above shall bring a substitute set of tiles to the table from the reserve in the pit stand to replace the entire set of tiles. (1) The set of damaged tiles shall be placed in an envelope or container, identified by table number, date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above.(2) The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelope or container in a secure place within the pit until collection by a security department employee.(h) The floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above shall collect used tiles which shall be placed in an envelope or container when removed from active use.(1) A label shall be attached to each envelope or container which identifies the table number, date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above.(2) The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelopes or containers in a secure place within the pit until collection by a security department employee.(i) A certificate holder shall remove any tiles at any time of the gaming day if there is any indication of tampering, flaws or other defects that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game, or at the request of a casino compliance representative or other Board employee.(1) A label shall be attached to each envelope or container which identifies the table number, date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above.(2) The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelopes or containers in a secure place within the pit until collection by a security department employee.(j) Extra sets of tiles in the reserve which have been opened shall be placed in an envelope or container with a label attached to each envelope or container which identifies the date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and is signed by the pit manager or above.(k) At the end of each gaming day or in the alternative, at least once each gaming day, as designated by the certificate holder and approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g), and at other times as may be necessary, a security department employee shall collect and sign all envelopes or containers with damaged tiles, tiles used during the gaming day, and all extra tiles in the reserve which have been opened, and return the envelopes or containers to the security department.(l) At the end of each gaming day or in the alternative, at least once each gaming day, as designated by the certificate holder and approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g), at other times as may be necessary, an assistant table games shift manager or above may collect all extra sets of tiles in the reserve which have not been opened. If collected, all unopened sets of tiles shall either be cancelled, destroyed or returned to the approved storage area.(m) When envelopes or containers of used tiles and reserve sets of tiles which have been opened are returned to the security department, the tiles shall be inspected for tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair play.(1) The procedures for inspecting sets of tiles must include the following, at a minimum: (i) The sorting of tiles by pairs.(ii) The visual inspection of the sides and back of each tile for tampering, markings or alterations.(iii) The inspection of the sides and back of each tile with an ultraviolet light.(2) The individual performing the inspection shall complete a work order form which details the procedures performed, lists the tables from which the tiles were removed and the results of the inspection. The individual shall sign the form upon completion of the inspection procedures.(3) The certificate holder shall submit the training procedures for the employees performing the inspections required under this subsection in its internal controls.(4) Evidence of tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair play discovered during the inspection, or at any other time, shall be immediately reported to the casino compliance representatives by the completion and delivery of a two-part Tile Discrepancy Report. (i) The two-part report must include the tiles which are the subject of the report.(ii) The tiles shall be retained by the casino compliance representatives for further inspection.(iii) The casino compliance representative receiving the tiles shall sign the original and duplicate copy of the tile discrepancy report and retain the original. The duplicate copy shall be retained by the certificate holder.(n) If after completing the inspection procedures required in subsection (m), it is determined that a complete set of 32 tiles removed from a gaming table is free from tampering, markings or alterations, the set shall be packaged separately and sealed before being returned to the Pai Gow storage area for subsequent use. The certificate holder shall develop internal control procedures for returning the repackaged tiles to the tile inventory in accordance with subsection (p).(o) Individual tiles from different sets may not be used to make a complete set for subsequent gaming. A certificate holder may, in accordance with its approved internal controls, create replacement and reconstructed sets in accordance with the following requirements: (1) If after completing the inspection procedures required under subsection (m), it is determined that any tiles have scratches or other markings on the back, sides or edges which make the tiles unsuitable for continued use, the tiles shall be removed from the set and destroyed in accordance with subsection (q). The remaining usable tiles from the set shall then be designated as a replacement set. The individual removing the tiles from a set shall complete a two-part form. The duplicate copy of the form shall be retained with the replacement set and the security department shall retain the original. The two-part form must: (i) Include the date and time the tiles were removed from the set.(ii) Identify the specific tile or tiles removed from the set and sent for destruction.(iii) Contain the name and signature of the individuals involved.(2) The assistant table games shift manager or above shall return the replacement set, accompanied by the duplicate copy of the form, to the tile inventory in accordance with subsection (p). Replacement sets shall be inventoried and stored separately from any stored and new, used or complete reconstructed sets.(3) Tiles in one or more replacement sets may be used to create a complete reconstructed set of tiles in accordance with the following procedures: (i) The assistant table games shift manager or above shall conduct an inspection of each reconstructed set in the storage area, in the presence of a security department employee, and ensure that any replacement tile possesses the same color, texture and finish as all other tiles in the reconstructed set. The assistant table games shift manager or above shall sort the tiles by pairs and verify the needed replacement tile or tiles and visually inspect the sides, backs and edges of each tile in the reconstructed set for tampering, markings and alterations and for comparison as to shading, texture and finish.(ii) Once a complete set of tiles has been satisfactorily reconstructed from replacement sets, the assistant table games shift manager or above shall attach a label to the envelope or container for the reconstructed set. The label must include the date and time of reconstruction and contain the signature of the assistant table games shift manager or above and the security department employee who witnessed the inspection. The label must also identify the inspection steps that were followed to determine that the reconstructed set of tiles is suitable for use in gaming.(iii) The certificate holder shall submit internal control procedures for returning the reconstructed sets into inventory, identifying all reconstructed sets and maintaining an accurate inventory balance of remaining replacement sets.(p) Certificate holders shall submit internal control procedures, in accordance with § 465a.2 (relating to internal control systems and audit protocols), for: (1) An inventory system which includes records of at least the following:(i) The balance of sets of tiles on hand.(ii) The sets of tiles removed from storage.(iii) The sets of tiles returned to storage or received from a manufacturer or supplier.(iv) The date of each transaction.(v) The signatures of the individuals involved.(2) A reconciliation on a daily basis of:(i) The sets of tiles distributed.(ii) The sets of tiles destroyed or cancelled.(iii) The sets of tiles returned to the approved storage area.(iv) The sets of tiles in the tile reserve in a pit stand.(3) A physical inventory of the sets of tiles at least once every 3 months.(i) The inventory shall be performed by an individual with no incompatible functions and shall be verified to the balance of the sets of tiles on hand required in paragraph (1)(i).(ii) Discrepancies shall immediately be reported to the casino compliance representatives.(q) Destruction or cancellation of tiles other than those retained for Board inspection, shall be completed within 5 days of collection. The method of destruction or cancellation shall be included in the certificate holder's internal controls. The destruction or cancellation of tiles shall take place in a secure location in the licensed facility covered by the slot machine licensee's surveillance system, the physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(f). This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 603a.18 (relating to Pai Gow tiles; physical characteristics).