[40 Pa.B. 1504]
[Saturday, March 20, 2010]
[Continued from previous Web Page]
CHAPTER 543. MIDIBACCARAT Sec.
543.1. Definitions. 543.2. Midibaccarat table physical characteristics. 543.3. Cards; number of decks. 543.4. Opening of a table for gaming. 543.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards. 543.6. Value; point count of hand. 543.7. Dealing shoe. 543.8. Wagers. 543.9. Hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand. 543.10. Procedure for dealing a third card. 543.11. Rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt. 543.12. Announcement of result of round; payment and collection of wagers. 543.13. Payout odds; vigorish. 543.14. Irregularities. § 543.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Natural—A hand which has a Point Count of 8 or 9 on the first two cards dealt.
§ 543.2. Midibaccarat table physical characteristics.
(a) Midibaccarat shall be played on a table having a place for the dealer on one side and on the opposite side, numbered places for a maximum of nine seated players.
(b) The dimensions of a Midibaccarat table shall be approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(c) The layout for a Midibaccarat table shall be approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations and contain, at a minimum:
(1) The name or logo of the certificate holder offering the game.
(2) Specific areas designated for the placement of wagers on the Banker's Hand, Players Hand and Tie Hand.
(3) A phrase that states the payout odds for Tie Bets.
(4) Numbered areas that correspond to the seat numbers for the purpose of marking vigorish.
(5) An area designated for the placement of cards for the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand.
(d) If marker buttons are used for the purpose of marking vigorish, the marker buttons shall be placed in the table inventory float container or in a separate rack designed for the purpose of storing marker buttons. If a separate rack is used, the rack shall be placed in front of the table inventory float container during gaming activity.
(e) Each Midibaccarat table must have a drop box and a tip box attached to it on the same side of the gaming table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer, in locations approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(f) Each Minibaccarat table must have a discard bucket on the dealer's side of the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
§ 543.3. Cards; number of decks.
(a) Midibaccarat shall be played with six to eight decks of cards having backs of the same color and design and two additional cover cards to be used in accordance with § 543.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards).
(b) The decks of cards opened for use at a Midibaccarat table shall be changed after the play of each shoe.
§ 543.4. Opening of a table for gaming.
(a) After receiving the six or more decks of cards at the table, the dealer calling the game shall sort and inspect each deck of cards separately, face down and the floorperson assigned to the table shall verify the inspection.
(b) Following the inspection of the cards by the dealer and the verification by the floorperson assigned to the table, the cards shall be spread out face up on the table for visual inspection by the first player to arrive at the table. The cards shall be spread out in horizontal rows by deck according to suit and in sequence.
(c) After the first player is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the cards shall be turned face down on the table, mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards and stacked.
§ 543.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards.
(a) Immediately prior to the commencement of play, unless the cards were preshuffled, the dealer shall shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed.
(b) After the cards have been shuffled by a dealer, the dealer shall leave the entire stack of cards intermixed but not entirely squared off (leave them feathered) so that the floorperson can verify that the shuffle did not result in any uneven distribution of cards.
(c) After shuffling the cards and, when applicable, reshuffling them, the dealer shall offer the stack of cards, with backs facing away from the dealer, to the players to be cut. The dealer shall begin with the player seated in the highest number position at the table and, working clockwise around the table, shall offer the stack to each player until a player accepts the cut. If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
(d) The cards shall be cut by placing a cover card in the stack at least ten cards in from the top or the bottom of the stack.
(e) Once the cover card has been inserted into the stack, the dealer shall take all cards above the cover card and the cover card and place them on the bottom of the stack. The dealer shall then insert the second cover card in a position at least 14 cards above the bottom of the stack, and the second cover card at the bottom of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
(f) After the cards have been cut and before the cards have been placed in the dealing shoe, a floorperson or above may require the cards to be recut if the floorperson or above determines that the cut was performed improperly or in any way that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game. If a recut is required, the cards shall be recut by the next person entitled to cut the cards, as determined by subsection (c).
(g) Prior to commencement of play, the dealer shall remove the first card from the dealing shoe and place it, and an additional number of cards equal to the face value of the first card drawn, in the discard bucket after all cards have been shown to the players. When determining the face value of the first card removed from the dealing shoe, a 10, jack, queen or king shall count as ten and an ace shall count as one.
§ 543.6. Value; point count of hand.
(a) The value of the cards in each deck shall be as follows:
(1) Any card from 2 to 9 shall have its face value.
(2) Any 10, jack, queen or king shall have a value of zero.
(3) Any ace shall have a value of one.
(b) The Point Count of a hand shall be a single digit number from 0 to 9 inclusive and shall be determined by totaling the value of the cards in the hand. If the total of the cards in a hand is a two-digit number, the left digit of the number shall be discarded and the right digit shall constitute the Point Count of the hand. Examples of this rule are as follows:
(1) A hand composed of an ace, 2 and 4 has a Point Count of 7.
(2) A hand composed of an ace, 2 and 9 has a total of 12 but only a Point Count of 2 since the digit 1 in the number 12 is discarded.
§ 543.7. Dealing shoe.
Cards used to play Midibaccarat shall be dealt from a manual dealing shoe specifically designed for that purpose.
§ 543.8. Wagers.
(a) The following wagers shall be permitted to be made by a player at the game of Midibaccarat:
(1) A wager on the Banker's Hand which shall:
(i) Win if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count higher than that of the Player's Hand.
(ii) Lose if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Player's Hand.
(iii) Be void if the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand have the same Point Count and either:
(A) Be returned to the player.
(B) If the licensee charges vigorish in accordance with the provisions of § 543.13(f) (relating to payout odds; vigorish), be charged a vigorish equal to 25% of the wager.
(2) A wager on the Player's Hand which shall:
(i) Win if the Player's Hand has a Point Count higher than that of the Banker's Hand.
(ii) Lose if the Player's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Banker's Hand.
(iii) Be void and be returned to the player if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are equal.
(3) A Tie Bet which shall:
(i) Win if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are equal.
(ii) Lose if Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are not equal.
(b) Wagers at Midibaccarat shall be made by placing gaming chips or plaques on the appropriate areas of the Midibaccarat layout. A verbal wager, accompanied by cash may be accepted provided the verbal wager is confirmed by the dealer calling the game and the cash is expeditiously converted into gaming chips or plaques.
(c) No wager at Midibaccarat may be made, increased or withdrawn after the dealer has announced ''no more bets.''
§ 543.9. Hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand.
(a) There shall be two hands dealt in the game of Midibaccarat, one of which shall be designated the Player's Hand and the other designated the Banker's Hand.
(b) Prior to dealing any cards, the dealer calling the game shall announce ''no more bets.''
(c) The dealer shall then deal an initial four cards from the dealing shoe. The first and third cards dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Player's Hand. The second and fourth cards dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Banker's Hand. The dealer shall deal the initial four cards in accordance with one of the following options selected in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):
(1) The dealer shall remove cards from the dealing shoe with his left hand, turn them face up and then place them on the appropriate area of the layout with his right hand. The first and third cards dealt shall be placed on the area designated for the Player's Hand and the second and fourth cards dealt shall be placed on the area designated for the Banker's Hand.
(2) The first and third cards dealt shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Player's Hand and the second and fourth cards dealt shall be placed face down underneath the right corner of the dealing shoe until the Player's Hand is called as provided for in § 543.10 (relating to procedure for dealing a third card), at which time the second and fourth cards shall be turned face up and placed on the area designated for the Banker's Hand.
(3) The first and third cards dealt shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Player's Hand and the second and fourth cards dealt shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Banker's Hand. After all four cards have been dealt, the dealer shall place the Banker's Hand underneath the right corner of the dealing shoe until the Player's Hand.
(i) The dealer shall then hand the two cards of the Player's Hand, face down, to the player with the highest wager on the Player's Hand. After viewing the Player's Hand, the player shall return the two cards, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the cards face up on the area designated for the Player's Hand and announce the point count of the Player's Hand.
(ii) The dealer shall then hand the two cards of the Banker's Hand, face down, to the player with the highest wager on the Banker's Hand. After viewing the Banker's Hand, the player shall return the two cards, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the cards face up on the area designated for the Banker's Hand and announce the point count of the Banker's Hand.
(iii) Any third card required to be dealt to the Player's Hand shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Player's Hand. The dealer shall then hand the card, face down, to the player who was handed and returned the Player's Hand. After viewing the card, the player shall return the card, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the card face up on the area designated for the Player's Hand.
(iv) Any third card required to be dealt to the Banker's Hand shall be placed face down on the area designated for the Banker's Hand. The dealer shall then hand the card, face down, to the player who was handed and returned the Banker's Hand. After viewing the card, the player shall return the card, face up, to the dealer, who shall place the card face up on the area designated for the Banker's Hand.
(v) If two or more players wager an equally high amount on the Player's Hand, the player making the wager who is closest to the dealer moving counterclockwise around the table shall be handed the Player's Hand and any third card required to be dealt. If two or more players wager an equally high amount on the Banker's Hand, the player making the wager who is closest to the dealer moving counterclockwise around the table shall be handed the Banker's Hand and any third card required to be dealt.
§ 543.10. Procedure for dealing a third card.
(a) After the dealer positions the cards in accordance with § 543.9(c)(1) or (2) (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand), the dealer shall announce the point count of the Player's Hand and then the Banker's Hand. If the dealer positions the cards in accordance with § 541.9(c)(3), the point counts of the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand shall be announced as provided therein.
(b) Following the announcement of the Point Counts of each hand, the dealer shall determine whether to deal a third card to each hand in conformity with the requirements of § 543.11 (relating to rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt).
(c) If the dealer positions the cards in accordance with § 543.9(c)(1) or (2), any third card required to be dealt shall first be dealt face up to the Player's Hand and then to the Banker's Hand by the dealer. If the dealer positions the cards in accordance with § 541.9(c)(3), any third cards required to be dealt shall be dealt as provided therein.
(d) In no event may more than one additional card be dealt to either hand.
(e) Whenever the cover card appears during play, the cover card shall be removed and placed to the side and the hand will be completed. Upon completion of that hand, the dealer calling the game shall announce ''last hand.'' At the completion of one more hand, the cards shall be replaced with new decks of cards.
§ 543.11. Rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt.
(a) If the Player's Hand or the Banker's Hand after the initial two cards are dealt to each is a Natural, no more cards may be dealt to either hand.
(b) If the Point Count of the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand on the first two cards is 0 to 7 inclusive, the Player's Hand shall:
(1) Draw (that is, take a third card) if the Player's Hand has a Point Count of less than 6.
(2) Stay (that is, not take a third card) if the Player's Hand has a Point Count of 6 or more.
(c) If the Point Count of the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand on the first two cards is 0 to 7 inclusive, the Banker's Hand shall draw (that is, take a third card) or stay (that is, not take a third card) in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) If the Player's Hand does not receive a third card, the Banker's Hand shall be dealt a third card if the Point Count of the Banker's Hand is 5 or less.
(2) If the Player's Hand is dealt a third card and:
(i) The Banker's Hand has a Point Count of less than 3, the Banker's Hand shall be dealt a third card.
(ii) The Banker's Hand has a Point Count of 7, the Banker's Hand may not be dealt a third card.
(iii) The Banker's Hand has a Point Count of 3, 4, 5 or 6, the Banker's Hand shall be dealt or not dealt a third card in accordance with Table 1 as follows:
TABLE 1
Value of the Third Card
Drawn by Player's Hand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Point Count of Banker's Hand
After Two Cards3
D D D D D D D D S D 4
S S D D D D D D S S 5
S S S S D D D D S S 6
S S S S S S D D S S
(d) The first vertical column in Table 1 labeled ''Point Count of Banker's Hand'' refers to the Point Count of the Banker's Hand after the first two cards have been dealt to the Banker's Hand.
(e) The first horizontal row at the top of Table 1 labeled ''Value of the Third Card Drawn by Player's Hand'' refers to the value of the third card drawn by the Player's Hand, not the Point Count of the Player's Hand.
(f) In Table 1, the letter ''D'' means that the Banker's Hand must draw a third card and the letter ''S'' means that the Banker's Hand must stay (that is, not draw a third card).
(g) To use Table 1, first find the Point Count of the Banker's Hand in the first vertical column and trace that horizontally across the table until it intersects the vertical column that corresponds to the value of the third card drawn by the Player's Hand. The symbol located where the intersection occurs shall determine whether the Banker's Hand must draw a third card or stay. For example, if the Point Count of the Banker's Hand after two cards is 5 and the value of the third card drawn by the Player's Hand is 4, the table shows that the Banker's Hand must draw a third card.
§ 543.12. Announcement of result of round; payment and collection of wagers.
(a) After each hand has received all the cards to which it is entitled under §§ 543.9, 543.10 and 543.11 (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand; procedure for dealing a third card; and rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt), the dealer shall announce the final Point Count of each hand indicating which hand has won the round. If two hands have equal Point Counts, the dealer shall announce ''tie hand.''
(b) After the result of the round is announced, the dealer responsible for the wagers on the table shall first collect each losing wager. After the losing wagers are collected, the dealer shall, starting at the highest numbered player position at which a winning wager is located, mark or collect the vigorish owed by that player and immediately thereafter pay that player's winning wager and then, proceeding in descending order to the next highest numbered player position at which a winning wager is located, repeat this procedure until the vigorish owed by each player is either marked or collected and each winning wager is paid.
(c) At the conclusion of a round of play, all cards on the layout shall be picked up by the dealer and placed in the discard bucket.
§ 543.13. Payout odds; vigorish.
(a) A winning wager made on the Player's Hand shall be paid off by a certificate holder at odds of 1 to 1.
(b) A winning Tie Bet shall be paid off by a certificate holder at odds of at least 8 to 1.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f), a winning wager made on the Banker's Hand shall be paid off by a certificate holder at odds of 1 to 1, except that the certificate holder shall extract a vigorish from the winning players in an amount equal to the amount specified in the Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions) of either 4% or 5% of the amount won.
(d) When collecting the vigorish, the certificate holder may round off the vigorish to 5 cents or the next highest multiple of 5 cents.
(e) A dealer, in accordance with the option selected in the certificate holders Rules Submission under § 521.2, may collect the vigorish from a player at the time the winning payout is made or may defer it to a later time; provided, however, that outstanding vigorish shall be collected prior to beginning play with a new dealing shoe of cards or when the player leaves the gaming table, whichever occurs first. The amount of any vigorish not collected at the time of the winning payouts shall be tracked by placing a coin or marker button containing the amount of the vigorish owed in a rectangular space in front of the dealer on the layout imprinted with the number of the player owing the vigorish. The coin or marker button shall not be removed from the layout until the vigorish owed is collected.
(f) A certificate holder may, in its Rules Submission under § 521.2, elect to charge every player at a Midibaccarat table a vigorish equal to 25% of the player's wager on the Banker's Hand if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are equal. The vigorish authorized by this subsection shall be collected at the end of the round of play and prior to any cards being dealt for the next round of play. If a certificate holder elects to charge the vigorish authorized by this subsection, the vigorish otherwise required by subsection (c) may not be collected.
(g) The type and percentage of vigorish charged at a Midibaccarat table applies to all players at that table. The same type and percentage of vigorish shall be used for all Midibaccarat tables located within a licensed facility.
§ 543.14. Irregularities.
(a) A card drawn in error from the dealing shoe that is not disclosed shall be used as the first card of the next hand of play.
(b) A third card dealt to the Player's Hand that is not disclosed, when no third card is authorized under § 543.11 (relating to rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt), shall become the third card of the Banker's Hand if the Banker's Hand is obliged to draw by § 543.11(c). If the Banker's Hand is required to stay, the card dealt in error shall become the first card of the next hand.
(c) If a card dealt in error under the circumstances described in subsection (a) or (b) is disclosed at the time it is dealt, the dealer shall place the disclosed card and one additional card drawn face down from the dealing shoe in the discard bucket without disclosing the additional card.
(d) Any card found face up in the dealing shoe may not be used in the game and shall be placed in the discard bucket, along with an additional number of cards, drawn face up, equal to the value of the card found face up in the dealing shoe.
(e) If there are insufficient cards remaining in the dealing shoe to complete a round of play, that round shall be void and all wagers shall be returned. A new round shall commence after the entire set of cards has been replaced and the new set of cards have been placed in the dealing shoe.
(f) The dealer or floorperson assigned to the table may require any player to relinquish the right to turn over the cards pursuant to § 543.9(c)(3) (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand), if the player unreasonably delays the game or violates either the act or this part. Whenever the voluntary or compulsory relinquishment of that right occurs, the dealer shall offer it to the player immediately to the right of the previous player, and, if he does not accept it or there is no player in that position, the dealer shall offer it to each of the other players in turn counterclockwise around the table for the remainder of that round of play. If no player accepts the cards, the dealer shall turn the cards over and place them on the designated areas of the layout.
CHAPTER 545. BACCARAT Sec.
545.1. Definitions. 545.2. Baccarat table physical characteristics. 545.3. Cards; number of decks. 545.4. Opening of a table for gaming. 545.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards. 545.6. Value of cards; point count of hand. 545.7. Dealing shoe; selection of the player to deal cards. 545.8. Wagers. 545.9. Hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand. 545.10. Procedure for dealing a third card. 545.11. Rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt. 545.12. Announcement of result of round; payment and collection of wagers. 545.13. Payout odds; vigorish. 545.14. Continuation of curator as dealer; selection of a new curator. 545.15. Irregularities. § 545.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Curator—The player that accepts the dealing shoe and who is responsible for dealing the cards in accordance with this chapter and the instructions of the dealer calling the game.
Natural—A hand which has a Point Count of 8 or 9 on the first two cards dealt.
§ 545.2. Baccarat table physical characteristics.
(a) Baccarat shall be played on a table having numbered places for ten to 14 seated players.
(b) The layout for a Baccarat table shall be approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations and, at a minimum, contain:
(1) The name or logo of the certificate holder offering the game.
(2) Specific areas designated for the placement of wagers on the Banker's Hand, Players Hand and Tie Hand.
(3) A phrase that states the payout odds for Tie Bets.
(4) Numbered areas that correspond to the seat numbers for the purpose of marking vigorish.
(5) An area designated for the placement of cards for the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand.
(c) If marker buttons are used for the purpose of marking vigorish, the marker buttons shall be placed in the table inventory float container or in a separate rack designed for the purpose of storing marker buttons. If a separate rack is used, the rack shall be placed in front of the table inventory float container during gaming activity.
(d) Each Baccarat table must have a drop box and a tip box attached to it on the same side of the gaming table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer, in locations approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(e) Each Baccarat table must have a discard bucket on dealer's side of the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
§ 545.3. Cards; number of decks.
(a) Baccarat shall be played with six to eight decks of cards having backs of the same color and design and two additional cover cards to be used in accordance with § 545.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards).
(b) The decks of cards opened for use at a Baccarat table shall be changed after the play of each shoe.
§ 545.4. Opening of a table for gaming.
(a) After receiving the six or more decks of cards at the table, the dealer calling the game shall sort and inspect each deck of cards separately, face down and the floorperson assigned to the table shall verify the inspection.
(b) Following the inspection of the cards by the dealer and the verification by the floorperson assigned to the table, the cards shall be spread out face up on the table for visual inspection by the first player to arrive at the table. The cards shall be spread out in columns by deck according to suit and in sequence.
(c) After the first player is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the cards shall be turned face down on the table, mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards and stacked.
§ 545.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards.
(a) Immediately prior to the commencement of play, unless the cards were preshuffled, one or more of the dealers shall wash and stack the cards, after which each of the dealers shall shuffle the stack of cards independently.
(b) After shuffling the cards and, when applicable, reshuffling them, the dealer calling the game shall offer the stack of cards, with backs facing away from the dealer, to the players to be cut. The dealer shall begin with the player seated in the highest number position at the table or, in the case of a reshuffle, the last curator and working clockwise around the table, shall offer the stack to each player until a player accepts the cut. If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
(c) The cards shall be cut by placing a cover card in the stack at least ten cards in from the top or the bottom of the stack.
(d) Once the cover card has been inserted into the stack, the dealer shall take all cards above the cover card and the cover card and place them on the bottom of the stack. The dealer shall then insert the second cover card in a position at least 14 cards above the bottom of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
(e) After the cards have been cut and before the cards have been placed in the dealing shoe, a floorperson or above may require the cards to be recut if the floorperson or above determines that the cut was performed improperly or in any way that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game. If a recut is required, the cards shall be recut by the next person entitled to cut the cards, as determined under subsection (b).
(f) Prior to commencement of play, the dealer shall remove the first card from the dealing shoe and place it, and an additional number of cards equal to the face value of the first card drawn, in the discard bucket after all cards have been shown to the players. When determining the face value of the first card removed from the dealing shoe, a 10, jack, queen or king shall count as ten and an ace shall count as one.
§ 545.6. Value of cards; point count of hand.
(a) The value of the cards in each deck shall be as follows:
(1) Any card from 2 to 9 shall have its face value.
(2) A 10, jack, queen or king shall have a value of zero.
(3) An ace shall have a value of one.
(b) The Point Count of a hand shall be a single digit number from 0 to 9 inclusive and shall be determined by totaling the value of the cards in the hand. If the total value of the cards in a hand is a two-digit number, the left digit of the number shall be discarded and the right digit shall constitute the Point Count of the hand. Examples of this rule are as follows:
(1) A hand composed of an ace, 2 and 4 has a Point Count of 7.
(2) A hand composed of an ace, 2 and 9 has a total value of 12 but only a Point Count of 2 since the digit 1 in the number 12 is discarded.
§ 545.7. Dealing shoe; selection of the player to deal cards.
(a) Cards used to play Baccarat shall be dealt from a manual dealing shoe specifically designed for that purpose.
(b) After the cards have been shuffled and placed in the dealing shoe, the dealer calling the game shall offer the dealing shoe to the player in seat number one at the table. If that player rejects the dealing shoe or if there is no one in seat number one, the dealer shall offer the dealing shoe to each of the other players in turn counterclockwise around the table until one of the players accepts the dealing shoe.
(c) The player that accepts the dealing shoe shall be designated as the curator.
(d) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c), the dealer may act as the curator if either:
(1) A player who accepts the dealing shoe and any other player to whom the dealing shoe is relinquished under § 545.14 (relating to continuation of curator as dealer; selection of a new curator) designates the dealer calling the game as the curator.
(2) No player to whom the dealing shoe is offered accepts the dealing shoe.
§ 545.8. Wagers.
(a) The following wagers shall be permitted to be made by a player at the game of Baccarat:
(1) A wager on the Banker's Hand which shall:
(i) Win if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count higher than that of the Player's Hand.
(ii) Lose if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Player's Hand.
(iii) Be void and be returned to the player if the Point Count of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are equal.
(2) A wager on the Player's Hand which shall:
(i) Win if the Player's Hand has a Point Count higher than that of the Banker's Hand.
(ii) Lose if the Player's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Banker's Hand.
(iii) Be void and be returned to the player if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are equal.
(3) A Tie Bet which shall:
(i) Win if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are equal.
(ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand are not equal.
(b) Wagers at Baccarat shall be made by placing gaming chips or plaques on the appropriate areas of the Baccarat layout. A verbal wager accompanied by cash may be accepted provided the verbal wager is confirmed by the dealer calling the game and the cash is expeditiously converted into gaming chips or plaques.
(c) No wager at Baccarat may be made, increased or withdrawn after the dealer calling the game has announced ''no more bets.''
§ 545.9. Hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand.
(a) There shall be two hands dealt in the game of Baccarat, one of which shall be designated the Player's Hand and the other designated the Banker's Hand.
(b) After the dealer calling the game announces ''no more bets,'' the dealer calling the game shall instruct the curator to commence dealing the cards by announcing ''cards.''
(c) The curator shall deal an initial four cards from the dealing shoe face down to the areas designated for the placement of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand. The first and third card dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Player's Hand. The second and fourth card dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Banker's Hand. After the cards are dealt to each hand, except as provided in subsection (d), the dealer calling the game shall place the cards face up in front of himself.
(d) A certificate holder may, in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2, elect to use the following procedures in lieu of the procedures in subsection (c) and § 545.10 (relating to procedure for dealing a third card), after all four cards have been dealt:
(1) The dealer calling the game shall place the Banker's Hand underneath the right corner of the dealing shoe.
(2) The dealer calling the game shall then hand the two cards of the Player's Hand, face down, to the player with the highest wager on the Player's Hand. After viewing the Player's Hand, the player shall return the two cards, face up, to the dealer calling the game who shall place the cards face up on the area of the layout designated for the Player's Hand and announce the Point Count of the Player's Hand.
(3) The dealer calling the game shall then hand the two cards of the Banker's Hand, face down, to the player with the highest wager on the Banker's Hand. After viewing the Banker's Hand, the player shall return the two cards, face up, to the dealer calling the game who shall place the cards face up on the area of the layout designated for the Banker's Hand and announce the point count of the Banker's Hand.
(4) Any third card required to be dealt to the Player's Hand shall be placed face down on the area of the layout designated for the Player's Hand. The dealer calling the game shall then hand the card, face down, to the player who was handed and returned the Player's Hand. After viewing the card, the player shall return the card, face up, to the dealer calling the game who shall place the card face up on the area on the layout designated for the Player's Hand.
(5) Any third card required to be dealt to the Banker's Hand shall be placed face down on the area of the layout designated for the Banker's Hand. The dealer calling the game shall then hand the card, face down, to the player who was handed and returned the Banker's Hand. After viewing the card, the player shall return the card, face up, to the dealer calling the game who shall place the card face up on the area of the layout designated for the Banker's Hand.
(6) If two or more players wager an equally high amount on the Player's Hand, the player making the wager who is closest to the dealer calling the game moving counterclockwise around the table shall be handed the Player's Hand and any third card required to be dealt. If two or more players wager an equally high amount on the Banker's Hand, the player making the wager who is closest to the dealer calling the game moving counterclockwise around the table shall be handed the Banker's Hand and any third card required to be dealt.
(7) In the event there are no wagers on the Player's Hand, the dealer calling the game shall turn the Player's Hand face up and any additional card required to be dealt. In the event there are no wagers on the Banker's Hand, the dealer calling the game shall turn the Banker's Hand face up and any additional card required to be dealt.
§ 545.10. Procedure for dealing a third card.
(a) Except as provided in § 545.9(d) (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand), after the initial four cards have been dealt and the dealer calling the game places the cards face up in front of himself, the dealer calling the game shall announce the Point Count of the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand.
(b) Following the announcement of the Point Counts of each hand, the dealer calling the game shall instruct the curator whether to deal a third card to either or both hands in conformity with § 545.11 (relating to rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt).
(c) Any third card required to be dealt by § 545.11 shall first be dealt face up to the Player's Hand and then to the Banker's Hand by the curator.
(d) In no event may more than one additional card be dealt to either hand.
(e) Whenever the cover card appears during play, the cover card shall be removed and placed to the side and the hand will be completed. Upon completion of that hand, the dealer calling the game shall announce ''last hand.'' At the completion of one more hand, the cards shall be replaced with new decks of cards.
§ 545.11. Rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt.
(a) If the Player's Hand or the Banker's Hand after the initial two cards are dealt to each is a Natural, no more cards shall be dealt to either hand.
(b) If the Point Count of the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand on the first two cards is 0 to 7 inclusive, the Player's Hand shall:
(1) Draw (that is, take a third card) if the Player's hand has a Point Count of less than 6.
(2) Stay (that is, not take a third card) if the Player's hand has a Point Count of 6 or more.
(c) If the Point Count of the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand on the first two cards is 0 to 7 inclusive, the Banker's Hand shall draw (that is, take a third card) or stay (that is, not take a third card) in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) If the Player's Hand does not receive a third card, the Banker's Hand shall be dealt a third card if the Point Count of the Banker's Hand is 5 or less.
(2) If the Player's Hand is dealt a third card and:
(i) The Banker's Hand has a Point Count of less than 3, the Banker's Hand shall be dealt a third card.
(ii) The Banker's Hand has a Point Count of 7, the Banker's Hand may not be dealt a third card.
(iii) The Banker's Hand has a Point Count of 3, 4, 5 or 6, the Banker's Hand shall be dealt or not dealt a third card in accordance with Table 1 as follows:
TABLE 1
Value of the Third Card
Drawn by Player's Hand
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Point Count of Banker's Hand
After Two Cards3
D D D D D D D D S D 4
S S D D D D D D S S 5
S S S S D D D D S S 6
S S S S S S D D S S
(d) The first vertical column in Table 1 labeled ''Point Count of Banker's Hand'' refers to the Point Count of the Banker's Hand after the first two cards have been dealt to the Banker's Hand.
(e) The first horizontal row at the top of Table 1 labeled ''Value of the Third Card Drawn by Player's Hand'' refers to the value of the third card drawn by the Player's Hand, not the Point Count of the Player's Hand.
(f) In Table 1, the letter ''D'' means that the Banker's Hand must draw a third card and the letter ''S'' means that the Banker's Hand must stay (that is, not draw a third card).
(g) To use Table 1, first find the Point Count of the Banker's Hand in the first vertical column and trace that horizontally across the table until it intersects the vertical column that corresponds to the value of the third card drawn by the Player's Hand. The symbol located where the intersection occurs shall determine whether the Banker's Hand must draw a third card or stay. For example, if the Point Count of the Banker's Hand after two cards is 5 and the value of the third card drawn by the Player's Hand is 4, the table shows that the Banker's Hand must draw a third card.
§ 545.12. Announcement of result of round; payment and collection of wagers.
(a) After each hand has received all the cards to which it is entitled under §§ 545.9, 545.10 and 545.11 (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand; procedure for dealing a third card; and rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt), the dealer calling the game shall announce the final Point Count of each hand indicating which hand has won the round. If the two hands have equal Point Counts, the dealer shall announce ''tie hand.''
(b) After the result of the round is announced, the dealer or dealers responsible for the wagers on the table shall first collect each losing wager. After the losing wagers are collected, the dealer or dealers responsible for the wagers on the table shall, starting at the highest numbered player position at which a winning wager is located, mark or collect the vigorish owed by that player and immediately thereafter pay that player's winning wager and then, proceeding in descending order to the next highest numbered player position at which a winning wager is located, repeat this procedure until the vigorish owed by each player is either marked or collected and each winning wager is paid.
(c) At the conclusion of a round of play, all cards on the layout shall be picked up by the dealer and placed in the discard bucket.
§ 545.13. Payout odds; vigorish.
(a) A winning wager made on the Player's Hand shall be paid off by a certificate holder at odds of 1 to 1.
(b) A winning Tie Bet shall be paid off by a certificate holder at odds of at least 8 to 1.
(c) A winning wager made on the Banker's Hand shall be paid off by a certificate holder at odds of 1 to 1, except that the certificate holder shall extract a vigorish from the winning player in an amount equal to the amount specified in the Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions) of either 4% or 5% of the amount won.
(d) When collecting the vigorish, the certificate holder may round off the amount of a 5% vigorish to 25 cents or the next highest multiple of 25 cents, and the amount of a 4% vigorish to 20 cents or the next highest multiple of 20 cents.
(e) A dealer, in accordance with the option selected in the certificate holders Rules Submission under § 521.2, may collect the vigorish from a player at the time the winning payout is made or may defer the collection of the vigorish to a later time; provided, however, that outstanding vigorish shall be collected prior to beginning play with a new dealing shoe of cards or when the player leaves the gaming table, whichever occurs first. The amount of any vigorish not collected at the time of the winning payout shall be tracked by placing a coin or marker button containing the amount of the vigorish owed in a rectangular space in front of the dealer on the layout imprinted with the number of the player owing the vigorish. The coin or marker button may not be removed from the layout until the vigorish owed is collected.
(f) The percentage of vigorish charged at a Baccarat table shall apply to all players at that table. The same percentage of vigorish shall be used for all Baccarat tables located within a licensed facility.
§ 545.14. Continuation of curator as dealer; selection of a new curator.
(a) The curator, after any round of play, may either pass the dealing shoe or remain as curator except that:
(1) The curator shall pass the dealing shoe whenever the Banker's Hand loses.
(2) The dealer calling the game or a floorperson or above may order the curator to pass the dealing shoe if the curator unreasonably delays the game, repeatedly makes invalid deals or violates either the act or this part.
(b) Whenever a voluntary or compulsory relinquishment of the dealing shoe occurs, the dealer shall offer the dealing shoe to the player immediately to the right of the previous curator and, if that player does not accept the dealing shoe or there is no player in that position, the dealer shall offer the dealing shoe to each of the other players in turn counterclockwise around the table. The first player to accept the dealing shoe when offered shall become the new curator.
§ 545.15. Irregularities.
(a) A card drawn in error from the dealing shoe that is not disclosed, shall be used as the first card of the next hand of play.
(b) A third card dealt to the Player's Hand when no third card is authorized under § 545.11 (relating to rules for determining whether a third card shall be dealt) that is not disclosed, shall become the third card of the Banker's Hand if the Banker's Hand is required to draw by § 545.11(c). If the Banker's Hand is required to stay, the card dealt in error shall become the first card of the next hand.
(c) If a card dealt in error under the circumstances described in subsection (a) or (b) is disclosed at the time it is dealt, the dealer calling the game shall place the disclosed card and one additional card drawn face down from the dealing shoe in the discard bucket without disclosing the additional card.
(d) Any card found face up in the dealing shoe shall not be used in the game and shall be placed in the discard bucket, along with an additional number of cards, drawn face up, equal to the value of the card found face up in the dealing shoe.
(e) If there are insufficient cards remaining in the dealing shoe to complete a round of play, that round shall be void and all wagers shall be returned. A new round shall commence after the entire set of cards has been replaced and the new set of cards have been placed in the dealing shoe.
(f) The dealer or floorperson assigned to the table may require any player to relinquish the right to turn over the cards under § 545.9(d) (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand), if the player unreasonably delays the game or violates either the act or this part. Whenever the voluntary or compulsory relinquishment of that right occurs, the dealer shall offer it to the player immediately to the right of the previous player, and, if he does not accept it or there is no player in that position, the dealer shall offer it to each of the other players in turn counterclockwise around the table for the remainder of that round of play. If no player accepts the cards, the dealer shall turn the cards over and place them on the designated areas of the layout.
CHAPTER 551. SPANISH 21 Sec.
551.1. Definitions. 551.2. Spanish 21 table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspection. 551.3. Cards; number of decks; value of cards. 551.4. Opening of the table for gaming. 551.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards. 551.6. Wagers; payout odds. 551.7. Match-The-Dealer wager. 551.8. Procedure for dealing the cards. 551.9. Surrender. 551.10. Insurance Wager. 551.11. Double Down Wager; rescue. 551.12. Splitting pairs. 551.13. Drawing of additional cards by players and the dealer. 551.14. Player wagering on more than one box. 551.15. Continuous shuffling shoe or device. 551.16. Irregularities. § 551.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Blackjack—An ace and any card having a point value of 10 dealt as the initial two cards to a player or a dealer.
Card reader device—A device which permits the dealer to determine if the dealer has a Blackjack.
Hard total—The total point count of a hand which contains no aces or which contains aces that are each counted as one in value.
Soft total—The total point count of a hand which contains an ace that is counted as 11 in value.
§ 551.2. Spanish 21 table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections.
(a) Spanish 21 shall be played at a table having on one side places for the players and on the opposite side a place for the dealer.
(b) The layout for a Spanish 21 table shall be approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations and contain, at a minimum:
(1) The name or logo of the certificate holder offering the game.
(2) No more than seven player positions containing a separate designated betting area for the placement of the following wagers:
(i) The required Spanish 21 wager.
(ii) An optional Match-The-Dealer Wager.
(c) The following must be inscribed on the Spanish 21 layout:
(1) Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
(2) Dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all 17's.
(3) Insurance pays 2 to 1.
(4) The payout odds for each of the wagers listed in § 551.6(f) and (g) (relating to wagers; payout odds).
(5) The payout odds for the Match-The-Dealer Wager, if offered, unless these odds are included in the sign required by subsection (g).
(d) Each Spanish 21 table must have a drop box and a tip box attached to it with the location of the boxes on the same side of the gaming table, but on opposite sides of the dealer, as approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(e) A Spanish 21 table must have attached to it a card reader device, approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations, which permits the dealer to determine if the dealer has a Blackjack in accordance with § 551.8 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards). The floorperson assigned to the Spanish 21 table shall inspect the card reader device at the beginning of each gaming day to insure that there has been no tampering with the device and that it is in proper working order.
(f) To collect the cards at the conclusion of a round of play as required under § 551.8(i), each Spanish 21 table must have a discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer's side of the table. The height of the discard rack must either:
(1) Equal the height of the cards, stacked one on top of the other, contained in the total number of decks that are to be used in the dealing shoe at that table.
(2) Be taller than the height of the total number of decks being used if the discard rack has a distinct and clearly visible mark on its side to show the exact height for a stack of cards equal to the total number of cards contained in the number of decks to be used in the dealing shoe at that table.
(g) A certificate holder shall post a sign approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations at each Spanish 21 table, which explains:
(1) That doubled down hands are not eligible for the additional payouts in § 551.6(g) and (h).
(2) The payout odds for the Match-The-Dealer Wager, if those payout odds are not imprinted on the layout.
§ 551.3. Cards; number of decks; value of cards.
(a) Spanish 21 shall be played with six or eight decks of cards identical in appearance. The decks must consist of 48 cards, with the 10 of each suit removed from each deck during the inspection required under § 551.4 (relating to opening of the table for gaming). Spanish 21 shall also be played with at least one cutting card.
(b) The value of the cards contained in each deck shall be as follows:
(1) Any card from 2 to 9 shall have its face value.
(2) Any jack, queen or king shall have a value of 10.
(3) An ace shall have a value of 11, unless that value would give a player or the dealer a score in excess of 21, in which case the ace shall have a value of one.
§ 551.4. Opening of the table for gaming.
(a) After receiving the decks of cards at the table, the dealer shall inspect the cards for any defects.
(b) If the decks contain the 10 of any suit, the dealer and a floorperson shall ensure that these cards are removed from the decks, torn in half and placed in the box, envelope or container that the decks came from. Following the inspection of the cards by the dealer and the verification by the floorperson assigned to the table, the cards shall be spread out face up on the table for visual inspection by the first player to arrive at the table. The cards shall be spread out in horizontal fan shaped columns by deck according to suit and in sequence.
(c) After the first player has been afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the cards shall be turned face down on the table, mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards, and stacked.
§ 551.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards.
(a) Immediately prior to commencement of play, unless the cards were preshuffled, after any round of play as may be determined by a floorperson and after each shoe of cards is dealt, the dealer shall shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed.
(b) After the cards have been shuffled, the dealer shall offer the stack of cards, with backs facing up to the players to be cut. The player to cut the cards shall be:
(1) The first player to the table if the game is just beginning.
(2) The player on whose box the cutting card appeared during the last round of play.
(3) The player at the farthest point to the right of the dealer if the cutting card appeared on the dealer's hand during the last round of play.
(4) The player at the farthest point to the right of the dealer if the reshuffle was initiated at the discretion of a floorperson.
(c) If the player designated in subsection (b) refuses the cut, the cards shall be offered to each other player moving clockwise around the table until a player accepts the cut. If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
(d) The player shall cut the cards by placing the cutting card in the stack at least ten cards in from the top or bottom of the stack.
(e) Once the cutting card has been inserted by the player, the dealer shall take all cards above the cutting card and place them on the bottom of the stack. The dealer shall then take the entire stack of cards and align them along the side of the dealing shoe which has a mark that will allow the dealer to insert the cutting card in the stack at a position at least approximately one-quarter of the way in from the bottom of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
(f) After the cards have been cut and before any cards have been dealt, a floorperson or above may require the cards to be recut if he determines that the cut was performed improperly or in any way that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game. If a recut is required, the cards shall be cut by the next player entitled to cut the cards, as determined by subsection (c).
(g) A reshuffle of the cards in the shoe shall take place after the cutting card is reached in the shoe as provided for in § 551.8(j) (relating to procedure for dealing the cards) except that the floorperson may determine after each round of play that the cards should be reshuffled.
(h) If there is no gaming activity at a Spanish 21 table which is open for gaming, the cards shall be removed from the dealing shoe and the discard rack, and spread out on the table for inspection, either face up or face down. If the cards are spread face down, they shall be turned face up once a player arrives at the table. After the first player is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the cards shall be turned face down on the table.
(1) If there is no automated shuffling device in use, the cards shall be mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards, stacked, then shuffled and cut in accordance with this section.
(2) If an automated shuffling device is in use, the cards shall be stacked and placed into the automated shuffling device to be shuffled. The batch of cards already in the shuffler shall then be removed. Unless a player so requests, the batch of cards removed from the shuffler need not be spread for inspection and reshuffled prior to being dealt, if:
(i) The automated card shuffling device stores a single batch of shuffled cards inside the shuffler in a secure manner approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(ii) The shuffled cards have been secured, released and prepared for play in accordance with procedures approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
§ 551.6. Wagers; payout odds.
(a) Prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play, each player may make a wager against the dealer.
(b) A player shall win if:
(1) The total value of the player's hand is 21 or less and the total value of the dealer's hand is in excess of 21.
(2) The total value of the player's hand exceeds the total value of the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.
(3) The player has a Blackjack and the dealer's hand has a total value of 21 in two or more cards.
(4) The player has achieved a score of 21 in more than two cards and the dealer has achieved a score of 21 in more than two cards.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(3) and (4), a wager made in accordance with this section shall be void and returned to the player when the total value of the player's hand is the same as the dealer's provided, however, that a player's hand shall be lost when the dealer has a Blackjack and the player's hand has a total value of 21 which is not a Blackjack.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no wager may be made, increased or withdrawn after the first card of the respective round has been dealt.
(e) Wagers at Spanish 21 shall be made by placing gaming chips or plaques on the appropriate betting areas of the table layout, except that verbal wagers accompanied by cash may be accepted if:
(1) The verbal wager is confirmed by the dealer and a floorperson.
(2) The cash is expeditiously converted into gaming chips or plaques.
(f) After each round of play is complete, the dealer shall collect all losing wagers and pay off winning wagers. Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h), winning wagers made in accordance with subsection (b)(3) shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2, and all winning wagers made in accordance with subsection (b)(1), (2) or (4) shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1.
(g) A certificate holder shall pay the following payout odds for winning wagers made in accordance with subsection (b) unless the player has made a Double Down Wager under § 551.11 (relating to Double Down Wager; rescue), in which case all of the following wagers shall only be paid at odds of 1 to 1:
(1) Three cards consisting of the 6, 7 and 8 of mixed suits shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2.
(2) Three cards consisting of the 6, 7 and 8 of the same suit shall be paid at odds of 2 to 1, except that three cards consisting of the 6, 7 and 8 of spades shall be paid at odds of 3 to 1.
(3) Three cards consisting of three 7's of mixed suits shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2.
(4) Three cards consisting of three 7's of the same suit shall be paid at odds of 2 to 1, except that three cards consisting of three 7's of spades shall be paid at odds of 3 to 1.
(5) Five cards totaling 21 shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2.
(6) Six cards totaling 21 shall be paid at odds of 2 to 1.
(7) Seven or more cards totaling 21 shall be paid at odds of 3 to 1.
(h) In addition to the payouts required under subsection (g)(4), a winning hand that consists of three 7's of the same suit when the dealer's exposed card is also a seven of any suit shall be paid an additional fixed payout of $1,000 if the player's original wager was $5 or more but less than $25, or $5,000 if the player's original wager was $25 or more. All other players at the table who placed a wager during that round of play shall also be paid an additional fixed payout of $50. The additional fixed payouts required by this subsection will not be applicable if a Double Down Wager was made on a winning hand or the winning hand had been split under § 551.12 (relating to splitting pairs).
(i) Except as expressly permitted by this subchapter, once the first card of any hand has been removed from the shoe by the dealer, no player may handle, remove or alter any wagers that have been made until a decision has been rendered and implemented with respect to that wager.
(j) Once an Insurance Wager under § 551.10 (relating to Insurance Wager), a Double Down Wager or a wager to split pairs has been made and confirmed by the dealer, no player may handle, remove or alter the wagers until a decision has been rendered and implemented with respect to that wager, except as expressly permitted by this subchapter.
(k) After the cards have been shuffled under § 551.4 (relating to opening of the table for gaming), a certificate holder may prohibit any person, whether seated at the gaming table or not, who does not make a wager on a given round of play from placing a wager on subsequent rounds of play at that gaming table until either:
(1) The certificate holder chooses to permit the player to begin wagering again.
(2) A reshuffle of the cards has occurred.
§ 551.7. Match-The-Dealer wager.
(a) A player may make an additional Match-The-Dealer wager which shall win if either of the player's initial two cards match the dealer's up card in the manner required by subsection (e). If both of the player's initial two cards match the dealer's up card, the player shall be paid in accordance with subsection (e) for each matching card.
(b) Prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play, a player who has placed the basic wager required under § 551.6 (relating to wagers; payout odds) may make an additional Match-The-Dealer wager, which shall be in an amount not less than $1 and may not exceed the lesser of:
(1) The amount of the wager made by the player under § 551.6(a).
(2) A maximum amount established by the certificate holder in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions).
(c) A Match-The-Dealer wager shall be made by placing gaming chips or plaques on the appropriate area of the Spanish 21 layout, except that a verbal wager accompanied by cash may be accepted if:
(1) The verbal wager is confirmed by the dealer and a floorperson.
(2) The cash is expeditiously converted into gaming chips or plaques.
(d) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, and prior to any additional cards being dealt to any player at the table or the dealer and before any card reader device is utilized, losing Match-The-Dealer wagers shall be collected by the dealer, and all winning Match-The-Dealer wagers shall be paid by the dealer, in accordance with subsection (e).
(e) Winning Match-The-Dealer wagers shall be paid at the odds contained in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 521.2 which shall be no less than the following odds:
(1) If six decks of cards are being used:
Each matching card of a different suit 4 to 1
Each matching card of the same suit 9 to 1(2) If eight decks of cards are being used:
Each matching card of a different suit 3 to 1
Each matching card of the same suit 12 to 1(f) A Match-The-Dealer wager shall have no bearing on any other wager made by a player.
§ 551.8. Procedure for dealing the cards.
(a) Cards used to play Spanish 21 shall be dealt from a dealing shoe specifically designed for that purpose.
(b) The dealer shall remove cards from the shoe with his left hand, and then place them on the appropriate area of the layout with his right hand, except that the dealer shall have the option to deal hit cards to the first two positions with his left hand.
(c) After each full batch of cards is placed in the shoe, the dealer shall remove the first card and place it in the discard rack. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also remove one card and place it in the discard rack before dealing any cards to the players.
(d) At the commencement of each round of play, the dealer shall, starting on his left and continuing around the table, deal the cards in the following order:
(1) One card face up to each box on the layout in which a wager is contained.
(2) One card face up to the dealer.
(3) A second card face up to each box in which a wager is contained.
(4) A second card face down to himself.
(e) If the dealer's first card is an ace, king, queen or jack of any suit, the dealer shall determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack prior to dealing any additional cards to the players at the table. The dealer shall insert the hole card into the card reader device by moving the card face down on the layout without exposing it to anyone, including the dealer, at the table.
(f) After the cards have been dealt, and if necessary, the procedure in subsection (e) has been executed, the dealer shall, beginning from his left, announce the point total of each player. As each player's point total is announced, the player shall indicate whether he wishes to surrender as permitted under § 551.9 (relating to surrender), double down as permitted under § 551.11 (relating to Double Down Wager; rescue), split pairs as permitted under § 551.12 (relating to splitting pairs), stand or draw as permitted by § 551.13 (relating to drawing of additional cards by players and the dealer).
(g) As each player indicates his decision, the dealer shall deal face up whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate the player's decision consistent with this chapter and shall announce the new point total of the player after each additional card is dealt.
(h) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional cards have been dealt, the dealer shall announce ''Dealer's Card,'' which shall be stated by the dealer in a tone of voice calculated to be heard by each person at the table, and turn the second card that was dealt to the dealer face up. Additional cards required to be dealt to the hand of the dealer by § 551.13(b) shall be dealt face up at this time. The dealer shall announce the dealer's total point count after each additional card is dealt.
(i) At the conclusion of a round of play, all cards still remaining on the layout shall be picked up by the dealer in order and in such a way that they can be readily arranged to indicate each player's hand in case of question or dispute. The dealer shall pick up the cards beginning with those of the player to his far right and moving counterclockwise around the table. After all the players' cards have been collected the dealer shall pick up his cards against the bottom of the players' cards and place them in the discard rack.
(j) Whenever the cutting card is reached in the deal of the cards, the dealer shall continue dealing the cards until that round of play is completed, after which the dealer shall:
(1) Collect the cards as provided in subsection (i).
(2) Remove the cards remaining in the shoe and place them in the discard rack to ensure that no cards are missing.
(3) Shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed.
(k) Players may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play at Spanish 21.
(l) Each player at the table shall be responsible for correctly computing the point count of his hand, and no player shall rely on the point counts announced by the dealer.
§ 551.9. Surrender.
(a) After the first two cards are dealt to the player and the player's point total is announced, the player may elect to discontinue play on his hand for that round by surrendering one-half of his wager. Decisions to surrender shall be made prior to the player indicating whether he wishes to double down as permitted under § 551.11 (relating to Double Down Wager; rescue), split pairs as permitted under § 551.12 (relating to splitting pairs), stand or draw permitted under § 551.13 (relating to drawing of additional cards by players and the dealer).
(1) If the first card dealt to the dealer is not an ace or ten-value card, the dealer shall immediately collect one-half of the wager and return one-half to the player.
(2) If the first card dealt to the dealer is an ace or ten-value card, the dealer will place the player's wager on top of the player's cards. When the dealer's second card is revealed, the hand will be settled by immediately collecting the entire wager if the dealer has Blackjack or collecting one-half of the wager and returning one-half of the wager to the player if the dealer does not have Blackjack.
(b) If the player has made an Insurance Wager and then elects to surrender, each wager will be settled separately in accordance with subsection (a) and in accordance with § 551.10 (relating to Insurance Wager).
§ 551.10. Insurance Wager.
(a) Whenever the first card dealt to the dealer is an ace, each player shall have the right to make an Insurance Wager, which shall win if the dealer's second card is a king, queen or jack and shall lose if the dealer's second card is an ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.
(b) An Insurance Wager shall be made by placing on the Insurance line of the layout an amount not more than half the amount staked on the player's initial wager. A player may wager an amount in excess of half the initial wager to the next unit that can be wagered in chips, when because of the limitation of the value of chip denominations, half the initial wager cannot be bet. Insurance Wagers shall be placed prior to the dealer inserting his hole card into the card reader device.
(c) Winning insurance bets shall be paid at odds of 2 to 1.
(d) Losing Insurance Wagers shall be collected by the dealer immediately after the dealer inserts his hole card into the card reader device and determines that he does not have a Blackjack and before he draws any additional cards.
(e) Insurance Wagers may not apply to the Match-The-Dealer wager permitted under § 551.7 (relating to Match-The-Dealer wager).
§ 551.11. Double Down Wager; rescue.
(a) Except for when a player has Blackjack, a player may elect to make a Double Down Wager, which may not exceed the amount of his original wager on the first two cards dealt to him or the first two cards of any split pair, on the condition that one and only one additional card shall be dealt to each hand on which the player has elected to double down. The one additional card shall be dealt face up and placed sideways on the layout.
(b) A winning Double Down Wager shall be paid in accordance with § 551.6(f) (relating to wagers; payout odds) only, and the payouts in § 551.6(g) and (h) are not applicable to those wagers.
(c) If a dealer obtains Blackjack after a player makes a Double Down Wager, the dealer shall collect only the amount of the original wager of the player and may not collect the additional Double Down Wager.
(d) After the additional card required under subsection (a) has been dealt to the hand, a player may ''rescue'' (take back) the Double Down Wager and forfeit his original wager, as long as the additional card does not result in the hand having a point count in excess of 21.
§ 551.12. Splitting pairs.
(a) Whenever the initial two cards dealt to a player are identical in value, the player may elect to split the hand into two separate hands, provided that he makes a wager on the second hand so formed in an amount equal to his original wager.
(b) When a player splits pairs, the dealer shall deal a card to and complete the player's decisions with respect to the first incomplete hand on the dealer's left before proceeding to deal any cards to the second hand.
(c) After a second card is dealt to a split pair hand, the dealer shall announce the point total of the hand and the player shall indicate his decision to stand, draw or double down with respect to that hand. A player may split one more pair if the second card dealt is identical in value to a card of the split pair, for a total of three hands. A player may not split another identical value pair.
(d) If the dealer obtains Blackjack after a player splits pairs, the dealer shall only collect the amount of the original wager of the player, and may not collect the additional amount wagered in splitting pairs.
(e) The additional payouts provided in § 551.6(h) (relating to wagers; payout odds) are not applicable to a winning wager on a split hand.
§ 551.13. Drawing of additional cards by players and the dealer.
(a) A player may elect to draw additional cards whenever his point count total is less than 21, except that:
(1) A player having Blackjack or a hard or soft total of 21 may not draw additional cards.
(2) A player electing to make a Double Down Wager may draw only one additional card.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the dealer shall draw additional cards to his hand until the dealer has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.
(c) A dealer may not draw additional cards to his hand, regardless of the point count, if decisions have been made on all players' hands and the point count of the dealer's hand will have no effect on the outcome of the round of play.
§ 551.14. Player wagering on more than one box.
Certificate holders shall specify in the certificate holder's Rules Submission required under § 521.2 (relating to table games Rules Submission) the number of adjacent boxes on which a player may place a wager in one round of play.
§ 551.15. Continuous shuffling shoe or device.
In lieu of the dealing and shuffling requirements in §§ 551.5 and 551.8 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards; and procedure for dealing the cards), a certificate holder may utilize a dealing shoe or other device designed to automatically reshuffle the cards, provided that the shoe or device and the procedures for dealing and shuffling the cards through use of this device are approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
§ 551.16. Irregularities.
(a) A card found turned face up in the shoe may not be used in the game and shall be placed in the discard rack. If more than one card is found face up in the shoe during the dealing of the cards, the round of play shall be void and the cards shall be reshuffled.
(b) If a 10 card of any suit is found in the shoe, it may not be used in the game and shall be removed from the shoe and torn in half by a floorperson and placed in the box, envelope or container that the decks came from. If more than one 10 card is found in the shoe during the dealing of the cards, the round of play shall be void and the decks of cards shall be removed from play.
(c) A card drawn in error without its face being exposed shall be used as though it were the next card from the shoe.
(d) After the initial two cards have been dealt to each player and a card is drawn in error and exposed to the players, the card shall be dealt to the players or dealer as though it were the next card from the shoe. Any player refusing to accept the card may not have any additional cards dealt to him during the round. If the card is refused by the players and the dealer cannot use the card, the card shall be placed in the discard rack.
(e) If the dealer has 17 and accidentally draws a card for himself, the card shall be placed in the discard rack.
(f) If the dealer misses dealing his first or second card to himself, the dealer shall continue dealing the first two cards to each player, and then deal the appropriate number of cards to himself.
(g) If there are insufficient cards remaining in the shoe to complete a round of play, all of the cards in the discard rack shall be shuffled and cut in accordance with § 551.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards), the first card shall be drawn face down and placed in the discard rack, and the dealer shall complete the round of play.
(h) If no cards are dealt to the player's hand, the player's hand is dead, wagers placed by the player shall be returned and the player shall be included in the next deal. If only one card is dealt to the player's hand, at the player's option, the dealer shall deal the second card to the player after all other players have received a second card.
(i) If after receiving the first two cards, the dealer fails to deal an additional card to a player who has requested a card, then, at the player's option, the dealer shall either deal the additional card after all other players have received their additional cards but prior to the dealer revealing his hole card, or call the player's hand dead and return the player's original wager.
(j) If an automated card shuffling device is being used and the device jams, stops shuffling during a shuffle, or fails to complete a shuffle cycle, the cards shall be reshuffled.
(k) Any automated card shuffling device shall be removed from a gaming table before any other method of shuffling may be utilized at that table.
(l) If the dealer inserts his hole card into a card reader device when the value of his first card is not an ace, king, queen or jack, the dealer, after notification to a floorperson or higher, shall:
(1) If the particular card reader device in use provides any player with the opportunity to determine the value of the hole card, call all hands dead, collect the cards and return each player's wager.
(2) If the particular card reader device in use does not provide any player with the opportunity to determine the value of the hole card, continue play.
(m) If a card reader device malfunctions, the dealer may not continue dealing the game of Spanish 21 at that table until the card reader device is repaired or replaced.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 10-499. Filed for public inspection March 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]
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