RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title 58—RECREATION
PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD
[ 58 PA. CODE CH. 525 ]
Table Game Internal Controls; Temporary Regulations
[40 Pa.B. 2953]
[Saturday, June 5, 2010]The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board), under its general authority in 4 Pa.C.S. § 1303A (relating to temporary table game regulations) enacted by the act of January 7, 2010 (P. L. 1, No. 1) (Act 1) and the specific authority in 4 Pa.C.S. §§ 1302A(6) and 1325A (relating to regulatory authority; and table game accounting controls and audit protocols), adopts temporary regulations in Chapter 525 (relating to table game internal controls) to read as set forth in Annex A. The Board's temporary regulations will be added to Part VII (relating to Gaming Control Board) as part of Subpart K (relating to table games).
Purpose of the Temporary Rulemaking
This temporary rulemaking adds additional sections to Chapter 525 regarding table inventories which are the gaming chips, coins and plaques that the dealer or boxperson uses to pay winning wagers and collect losing wagers during the conduct of a table game.
Explanation of Chapter 525
Section 525.7 (relating to table inventories) contains security requirements associated with table inventories; articulates when gaming chips, coins and plaques may be added to or removed from a table inventory; and specifies the information that must be included on Table Inventory Slips.
Section 525.8 (relating to procedures for opening table games) addresses the procedures that must be followed when a table is being opened for gaming. The dealer or floorperson assigned to the table shall count the table inventory and compare their count to the totals on the Table Inventory Slip included in the table inventory. If the totals agree, the dealer or boxperson and supervising floorperson shall sign the Table Inventory Slip and place it in the drop box at the gaming table. If there is a discrepancy, notice must be made to the appropriate parties and a written report must be prepared explaining the cause of the discrepancy.
Section 525.9 (relating to procedures for distributing gaming chips, coins and plaques to gaming tables) sets forth the procedures for bringing additional gaming chips, coins or plaques to a gaming table to replenish the table inventory. A Fill Request Slip is made out specifying what gaming chips, coins or plaques are needed for the replenishment and that form is transported to the chip bank. The personnel in the chip bank will fill the request and complete a Fill Slip which is used to verify that the request has been fulfilled and that the requested amount of gaming chips, coins or plaques are delivered to the gaming table. This section specifies the information and signatures that must be on the Fill Request Slip and Fill Slip and how the copies of these forms are to be distributed.
Section 525.10 (relating to procedures for removing gaming chips and plaques from gaming tables) establishes the procedures to be used when excess gaming chips or plaques in a table inventory need to be sent back to the chip bank. Like the process for requesting fills, a Credit Request Slip is made out specifying what gaming chips or plaques are being returned and that form is transported to the chip bank along with the gaming chips or plaques. The personnel in the chip bank shall count the gaming chips or plaques being returned and complete a Credit Slip which is used to verify that the gaming chips or plaques being returned and both copies of the Credit slip will be returned to the gaming table to obtain the required signatures. After the appropriate signatures are obtained, the duplicate copy of the Credit Slip must be placed in the table game drop box and the original copy must be returned to the chip bank. This section also specifies the information and signatures that must be on a Credit Request Slip and a Credit Slip and how the copies of these forms are to be distributed.
Section 525.11 (relating to procedures for accepting cash for gaming chips or plaques at table games) outlines the procedures that a dealer or boxman shall use when a patron asks to exchange cash for gaming chips. These procedures are designed to insure that the process is captured by the surveillance department and to avoid errors or disputes associated with the exchange.
Section 525.12 (relating to procedures for acceptance of tips or gratuities from patrons) specifies: which personnel in a licensed facility may accept tips or gratuities from patrons; how those tips or gratuities are to be collected and distributed amongst the dealers; and that the certificate holder must establish a system for reporting the tips or gratuities to the Internal Revenue Service.
Section 525.13 (relating to procedures for drops at open table games) establishes a procedure for recording the table inventory at a gaming table that is open when the drop occurs. The count of the table inventory just prior to the removal of the drop box is necessary so that the daily revenue for that gaming table can be calculated.
Section 525.14 (relating to procedures for closing table games) sets forth the procedures that must be followed when a gaming table is being closed. The dealer or boxperson and the floorperson assigned to the gaming table shall be required to complete a Table Inventory Slip which will be used to calculate the gaming revenue from that table and to verify the contents of the table inventory when the table is reopened. Additionally, this section requires that table inventory be secured in a container attached to the table or that is returned to the cashiers' cage.
Section 525.15 (relating to table inventories for Poker tables) gives certificate holders the option of using dealer impressed table inventories for Poker tables. Because the rake will be deposited in the drop box at Poker tables, rather than following the procedures in §§ 525.7, 525.8, 525.13 and 525.14 a certificate holder may want to have its Poker dealers use an impressed table inventory that only they will be responsible for and which will have to be balanced by the dealer at the end of the dealer's shift.
Section 525.16 (relating to table inventory counts on a per shift basis) gives certificate holders who use drop boxes that segregate the contents by shift the option of adopting procedures which would require the completion of a new Table Inventory Slip at the close of each shift in addition to the other times a Table Inventory Slip is required to be completed under this chapter.
Affected Parties
Slot machine licensees who elect to become certificate holders will be required to modify and expand their existing internal controls to meet the additional requirements in this temporary rulemaking.
The Board will experience increased regulatory demands to review the new and revised internal controls regarding table games that are submitted by the certificate holders.
Fiscal Impact
Commonwealth
The Board will have to review each certificate holder's initial table games internal control submissions and subsequent amendments thereto. These reviews will be conducted by existing Bureau of Gaming Operations staff, so the Board does not project that it will incur any significant cost increases as a result of this temporary rulemaking.
Political Subdivisions
This temporary rulemaking will have no direct fiscal impact on political subdivisions of this Commonwealth. Eventually, host municipalities and counties will benefit from the local share funding that is mandated by Act 1.
Private Sector
This temporary rulemaking will result in additional costs for slot machine licensees who elect to become certificate holders. More specifically, certificate holders will be required to revise and expand the scope of their internal controls to cover table games operations. These revisions could cost between $20,000 and $50,000 per certificate holder to prepare depending on the scope of the revisions and if the revisions are prepared internally or by outside consultants.
General Public
This temporary rulemaking will have no direct fiscal impact on the general public.
Paperwork Requirements
This temporary rulemaking will require certificate holders to draft, and submit to the Board for its approval, revised internal controls.
Effective Date
This temporary rulemaking will become effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Public Comments
While this temporary rulemaking will be effective upon publication, the Board is seeking comments from the public and affected parties as to how this temporary regulation might be improved. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding this temporary rulemaking within 30 days after the date of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin to Richard Sandusky, Director of Regulatory Review, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, P. O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060, Attention: Public Comment on Regulation #125-120.
Contact Person
The contact person for questions about this temporary rulemaking is Richard Sandusky, Director of Regulatory Review at (717) 214-8111.
Regulatory Review
Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1303A, the Board is authorized to adopt temporary regulations which are not subject to the provisions of sections 201—205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P. L. 769, No. 240) (45 P. S. §§ 1201—1205), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law, the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. §§ 745.1—745.12) and sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the Commonwealth Attorneys Act (71 P. S. §§ 732-204(b) and 732-301(10)). These temporary regulations expire 2 years after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Findings
The Board finds that:
(1) Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1303A, the temporary regulations are exempt from the requirements of the Regulatory Review Act, sections 201—205 of the Commonwealth Documents Law and sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the Commonwealth Attorney Act.
(2) The adoption of the temporary regulations is necessary and appropriate for the administration and enforcement of 4 Pa.C.S. Part II (relating to gaming).
Order
The Board, acting under 4 Pa.C.S. Part II, orders that:
(1) The regulations of the Board, 58 Pa. Code Chapter 525, are amended by adding §§ 525.7—525.16 to read as set forth in Annex A.
(2) The temporary regulations are effective June 5, 2010.
(3) The temporary regulations will be posted on the Board's web site and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(4) The temporary regulations shall be subject to amendment as deemed necessary by the Board.
(5) The Chairperson of the Board shall certify this order and Annex A and deposit them with the Legislative Reference Bureau as required by law.
GREGORY C. FAJT,
Chairperson(Editor's Note: The Board has added temporary regulations in §§ 525.1—525.6 at 40 Pa.B. 2539 (May 15, 2010). All of these temporary regulations will be codified in Pennsylvania Code MTS No. 429 (August, 2010).
Fiscal Note: 125-120. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A
TITLE 58. RECREATION
PART VII. GAMING CONTROL BOARD
Subpart K. TABLE GAMES
CHAPTER 525. TABLE GAME INTERNAL CONTROLS § 525.7. Table inventories.
(a) Whenever a table game in a licensed facility is opened for gaming, operations shall commence with an amount of gaming chips, coins and plaques to be known as the table inventory.
(b) A certificate holder may not cause or permit gaming chips, coins or plaques to be added to, or removed from, the table inventory during the gaming day except:
(1) In exchange for cash.
(2) In exchange for the issuance copies of Counter Checks presented by patrons.
(3) For the payment of winning wagers and collection of losing wagers made at the gaming table.
(4) In exchange for gaming chips or plaques received from a patron having an equal aggregate face value.
(5) In conformity with the fill and credit procedures described in §§ 525.9 and 525.10 (relating to procedures for distributing gaming chips, coins and plaques to gaming tables; and procedures for removing gaming chips and plaques from gaming tables).
(6) For the collection of vigorish.
(c) Whenever a table game is not open for gaming activity, the table inventory and a Table Inventory Slip prepared in conformity with §§ 525.8, 525.14 and 525.16 (relating to procedures for opening table games; procedures for closing table games; and table inventory counts on a per shift basis) shall be stored in a locked container which shall be clearly marked on the outside with the game and the gaming table number to which it corresponds. The information on the Table Inventory Slip must be visible from the outside of the container. Containers shall be stored either in the cashiers' cage or secured to the gaming table, in a manner approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(d) The keys to the locked containers containing the table inventories shall be maintained and controlled by the table games department and may not be made accessible to cashiers' cage personnel or to any employee responsible for transporting the table inventories to or from the gaming tables.
(e) Table Inventory Slips must be two-part forms upon which the following is recorded:
(1) The date and identification of the shift ended.
(2) The game and table number.
(3) The total value of each denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques remaining at the gaming table.
(4) The total value of all denominations of gaming chips, coins and plaques remaining at the gaming table.
(5) The signatures of the dealer or boxperson and floorperson assigned to the gaming table who conducted the count of the table inventory when the gaming table was closed and when the gaming table was opened.
§ 525.8. Procedures for opening table games.
(a) Whenever a table game is to be opened for gaming activity, the locked container with the table inventory and the duplicate copy of the Table Inventory Slip, if not already attached to the gaming table, shall be transported directly from the cashiers' cage to the gaming table by a security department member.
(b) Immediately prior to opening the table game for gaming, the floorperson assigned to the gaming table shall unlock the container with the table inventory after assuring that it is the proper container for that gaming table.
(c) The dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table shall count the contents of the container with the table inventory in the presence of the floorperson assigned to the gaming table and reconcile the count to the totals on the duplicate copy of the Table Inventory Slip removed from the container.
(d) Signatures attesting to the accuracy of the information recorded on the duplicate copy of the Table Inventory Slip shall be placed on the duplicate copy of the Table Inventory Slip by the dealer or boxperson assigned to the table and the floorperson that observed the dealer or boxperson count the contents of the container.
(e) After the count of the table inventory and the duplicate copy of the Table Inventory Slip has been signed as required under subsection (d), the slip shall be immediately deposited in the table game drop box attached to the gaming table by the dealer or boxperson.
(f) If there is a discrepancy between the amount of gaming chips and plaques counted and the amount of the gaming chips and plaques recorded on the duplicate copy of the Table Inventory Slip:
(1) The discrepancy shall be immediately verbally reported to the pit manager or above, the security department and the casino compliance representatives.
(2) The dealer or boxperson assigned to the table, in the presence of the pit manager or above and a security department employee, shall recount the table inventory and complete a new Table Inventory Slip reflecting the results of the dealer's or boxperson's recount of the table inventory.
(3) The pit manager or above shall:
(i) Prepare an Error Notification Slip, which must be a three-part form containing the following information:
(A) The date and time.
(B) The type of game.
(C) The table number and pit.
(D) An explanation of the error.
(ii) Write ''Incorrect Copy'' on the copy of the Table Inventory Slip that was in the table inventory.
(iii) Sign the ''Incorrect Copy.''
(iv) Write ''Correct Copy'' on both copies of the Table Inventory Slip required to be prepared by the dealer or boxperson under paragraph (2).
(4) The ''Correct Copy'' shall be signed by the dealer or boxperson who recounted the table inventory, the security department employee who witnessed the recount and the pit manager or above.
(5) After the signatures required under paragraph (4) have been obtained, the ''Incorrect Copy'' Table Inventory Slip, both copies of the ''Correct Copy'' Table Inventory Slip and the first copy of the Error Notification Slip shall be attached to each other and deposited by the dealer or boxperson in the drop box.
(g) The second copy of the Error Notification Slip shall be given to the pit clerk and the third copy of the Error Notification Slip shall be delivered to the casino compliance representatives.
(h) For any discrepancy greater than $10, the security department shall investigate the discrepancy and, within 24 hours, complete a standard written incident report on a form approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations and immediately forward a copy of the incident report to the casino compliance representatives.
§ 525.9. Procedures for distributing gaming chips, coins and plaques to gaming tables.
(a) A request for a fill shall be prepared by a pit clerk or floorperson or above using a Fill Request Slip. Access to the blank Fill Request Slips shall be restricted to pit clerks and floorpersons or above.
(b) A Fill Request Slip must be a two-part form on which the following information, at a minimum, shall be recorded:
(1) The date, time and shift of preparation.
(2) The denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques to be distributed to the gaming table.
(3) The total amount of each denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques to be distributed to the gaming table.
(4) The game and table number to which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are to be distributed.
(5) The signature of the floorperson or above requesting the fill.
(c) After the preparation of the Fill Request Slip, the original copy of the Fill Request Slip shall be transported directly to the chip bank by a security department employee.
(d) The duplicate copy of the Fill Request Slip shall be placed by the dealer or boxperson in view of the slot machine licensee's surveillance system on the gaming table to which gaming chips, coins and plaques are to be received. When the chips, coins and plaques are received, the amounts shall be verified by the dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table and then the duplicate copy of the Fill Request Slip shall be deposited in the table game drop box.
(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (a)—(d), a request for a fill may be prepared electronically if the input data for preparation of the fill is entered by, and ability to input data is restricted to, the pit clerk or a floorperson or above, and a Fill Slip is generated in the chip bank, as a direct result of the input.
(f) A Fill Slip shall be prepared by a chip bank cashier or, if the required information was input in conformity with subsection (e), the Fill Slip may be electronically generated in the chip bank.
(g) Fill Slips must be serially prenumbered forms. Each series of Fill Slips shall be used in sequential order, and the series number of all Fill Slips received by a certificate holder shall be accounted for by employees with no incompatible functions. Original and duplicate void Fill Slips shall be marked ''Void'' and require the signature of the preparer.
(h) When Fill Slips are manually prepared, the following procedures and requirements shall be observed:
(1) Each series of Fill Slips must be a three-part form and shall be inserted in a locked dispenser that will permit an individual Fill Slip in the series and its copies to be written upon simultaneously while still locked in the dispenser.
(2) The Fill Slip dispenser must discharge the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slip while the triplicate copy remains in a continuous, unbroken form in the dispenser.
(3) Access to the triplicate copies of the Fill Slips shall be maintained and controlled by finance department employees with no incompatible functions who are responsible for controlling and accounting for the unused supply of Fill Slips, placing Fill Slips in the dispensers, and removing the triplicate copies of the Fill Slips from the dispensers each gaming day.
(i) When Fill Slips are electronically prepared, each series of Fill Slips must be a two-part form and:
(1) Be inserted in a printer that will simultaneously print an original and a duplicate Fill Slip.
(2) Store, in machine readable form, the information printed on the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slips. The stored data may not be susceptible to change or removal by any personnel involved in the preparation of a Fill Slip after the Fill Slip has been prepared.
(j) Copies of a Fill Slip, and when applicable, the stored data, must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The denominations of the gaming chips, coins and plaques being distributed.
(2) The total amount of each denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques being distributed.
(3) The total amount of all denominations of gaming chips, coins and plaques being distributed.
(4) The game and table number to which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are being distributed.
(5) The date and shift during which the distribution of gaming chips, coins and plaques occurs.
(6) The signature of the preparer or, if electronically prepared, the identification code of the preparer.
(k) The time of preparation of the Fill Slip shall be recorded, at a minimum, on the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slip upon preparation.
(l) Gaming chips, coins and plaques distributed to the gaming tables from the chip bank shall be transported directly to the gaming tables from the chip bank by a security department employee who shall compare the Fill Request Slip to the Fill Slip and sign the original copy of the Fill Request Slip transported to the chip bank. If the fill request was prepared manually, before transporting the gaming chips, coins and plaques and the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slip shall be compared for signatures.
(m) Signatures attesting to the accuracy of the information contained on a Fill Slip shall be required on the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slip of the following employees at the following times:
(1) The chip bank cashier upon preparation.
(2) The security department employee transporting the gaming chips, coins and plaques to the gaming table upon receipt from the cashier of the gaming chips, coins and plaques to be transported.
(3) The dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table upon receipt and verification of the amounts of the gaming chips, coins and plaques at the gaming table from the security department employee.
(4) The floorperson assigned to the gaming table upon receipt and verification of the amounts of the gaming chips, coins and plaques at the gaming table.
(n) After meeting the signature requirements in subsection (m), the security department employee that transported the gaming chips, coins and plaques and the original and duplicate copies of the Fill Slip to the gaming table shall observe the immediate placement by the dealer or boxperson of the duplicate Fill Slip and the duplicate Fill Request Slip in the drop box attached to the gaming table to which the gaming chips, coins and plaques were transported. The security department employee shall then return the original Fill Slip to the chip bank where the original Fill Slip and the original Fill Request Slip shall be maintained together and controlled by employees of the cage until forwarded to the finance department.
(o) The original and duplicate of void Fill Slips, the original Fill Request Slips and original Fill Slips, maintained and controlled in conformity with subsection (n), shall be forwarded to the finance department for agreement, on a daily basis, with the duplicate Fill Slips and duplicate Fill Request Slips removed from the drop box from the gaming table and triplicate copy stored in the manual Fill Slip dispenser or the stored electronic data.
§ 525.10. Procedures for removing gaming chips and plaques from gaming tables.
(a) A request for a credit shall be prepared by a pit clerk or floorperson or above, using a Credit Request Slip for the removal of gaming chips, coins and plaques from gaming tables to the chip bank. Access to blank Credit Request Slips shall be restricted to pit clerks and floorpersons or above.
(b) A Credit Request Slip must be a two-part form on which, at a minimum, the following information is recorded:
(1) The date, time and shift of preparation.
(2) The denominations of chips, coins and plaques to be removed from the gaming table.
(3) The total amount of denominations of gaming chips, coins and plaques to be removed from the gaming table.
(4) The game and table number from which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are to be removed.
(5) The signatures of the dealer or boxperson and the floorperson or above assigned to the gaming table from which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are to be removed.
(c) After the preparation of a Credit Request Slip and prior to the transfer of the gaming chips, coins and plaques to be removed to a security department employee, a floorperson or above shall obtain on the duplicate copy of the Credit Request Slip, the signature of the security department employee to which the gaming chips and plaques are being transferred. The dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table shall place the duplicate copy of the Credit Request Slip in view of the slot machine licensee's surveillance system on the gaming table from which the gaming chips, coins and plaques were removed. The duplicate copy of the Credit Request Slip may not be removed until a Credit Slip is received from the chip bank at which time the Credit Request Slip and Credit Slip are to be deposited in the drop box attached to the gaming table.
(d) The original Credit Request Slip and the gaming chips, coins and plaques removed from the gaming table shall be transported directly to the chip bank by the security department employee.
(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (a)—(d), a request for a credit may be prepared electronically if the input data for preparation of the credit is entered by, and ability to input data is restricted to, the pit clerk or a floorperson or above, and a Credit Slip is generated in the chip bank, as a direct result of the input.
(f) A Credit Slip shall be prepared by a chip bank cashier or, if the required information was input in conformity with subsection (e), the Credit Slip may be electronically generated in the chip bank.
(g) Credit Slips must be serially prenumbered forms. Each series of Credit Slips shall be used in sequential order, and the series numbers of all Credit Slips received by a certificate holder shall be accounted for by employees with no incompatible functions. Original and duplicate void Credit Slips shall be marked ''Void'' and require the signature of the preparer.
(h) When Credit Slips are manually prepared, the following procedures and requirements shall be observed:
(1) Each series of Credit Slips must be a three-part form and be inserted in a locked dispenser that will permit an individual Credit Slip in the series and its copies to be written upon simultaneously while still locked in the dispenser.
(2) The Credit Slip dispenser must discharge the original and duplicate copies of the Credit Slip while the triplicate copy of the Credit Slip remains in a continuous, unbroken form in the dispenser.
(3) Access to the triplicate copies of the Credit Slips shall be maintained and controlled by finance department employees with no incompatible functions who are responsible for controlling and accounting for the unused supply of the Credit Slips, placing Credit Slips in the dispensers, and removing the triplicate copies of the Credit Slips from the dispensers each gaming day.
(i) When Credit Slips are electronically prepared, each series of Credit Slips must be a two-part form and:
(1) Be inserted in a printer that will simultaneously print an original and a duplicate copy of the Credit Slip in the chip bank.
(2) Store, in machine-readable form, the information printed on the original and duplicate copies of the Credit Slip. The stored data may not be susceptible to change or removal by any personnel after the preparation of a Credit Slip.
(j) Copies of the Credit Slip, and when applicable, the stored data, must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The denominations of the gaming chips, coins and plaques being returned.
(2) The total amount of each denomination of gaming chips, coins and plaques being returned.
(3) The total amount of all denominations of gaming chips, coins and plaques being returned.
(4) The game and table number from which the gaming chips, coins and plaques are being returned.
(5) The date and shift during which the removal of gaming chips, coins and plaques occurs.
(6) The signature of the preparer or, if electronically prepared, the identification code of the preparer.
(k) The time of preparation of the Credit Slip shall be recorded, at a minimum, on the original and duplicate copies of the Credit Slip upon preparation.
(l) After the Credit Slip has been prepared by the chip bank cashier or has been printed in the chip bank as a result of the information being input electronically by a pit clerk or floorperson or above and the gaming chips, coins and plaques from a gaming table have been returned to the chip bank, the security department employee shall transport the original and duplicate copies of the Credit Slip to the gaming table from which the gaming chips, coins and plaques were returned.
(m) Signatures on the original and duplicate copies of a Credit Slip attesting to the accuracy of the information contained on the Credit Slip shall be required of the following personnel at the following times:
(1) The chip bank cashier upon preparation.
(2) The security department employee returning the gaming chips, coins and plaques to the chip bank.
(3) The dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table upon receipt of the Credit Slip at the gaming table from the security department member.
(4) The floorperson assigned to the gaming table upon receipt of the Credit Slip at the gaming table from the security department member.
(n) After meeting the signature requirements required under subsection (m), the security department member returning the original and duplicate copies of the Credit Slip to the gaming table, shall observe the immediate placement by the dealer or boxperson of the duplicate copy of the Credit Slip and the duplicate copy of the Credit Request Slip in the drop box attached to the gaming table from which the gaming chips, coins and plaques were removed. The security department member shall then return the original Credit Slip to the chip bank where the original Credit Slip and Credit Request Slip shall be maintained and controlled by employees of the cage until forwarded to the finance department.
(o) The original and duplicate copies of void Credit Slips and the original Credit Request Slips and Credit Slips maintained and controlled in accordance with subsection (n), shall be forwarded to the finance department for agreement, on a daily basis, with the duplicate Credit Slips and duplicate Credit Request Slips removed from the drop box and the triplicate copy of the Credit Slips from the Credit Slip dispenser or the stored electronic data.
§ 525.11. Procedures for accepting cash for gaming chips or plaques at table games.
Whenever cash is presented by a patron at a table game for exchange for gaming chips or plaques:
(1) The cash shall be spread on the top of the gaming table by the dealer or boxperson accepting it in full view of the patron who presented it, the floorperson assigned to the gaming table and the slot machine licensee's surveillance system.
(2) The amount of cash shall be verbalized by the dealer or boxperson accepting it in a tone of voice calculated to be heard by the patron who presented it and the floorperson assigned to the gaming table.
(3) Immediately after an equivalent amount of gaming chips or plaques has been given to the patron, the cash shall be taken from the top of the gaming table and placed by the dealer or boxperson into the drop box attached to the gaming table.
§ 525.12. Procedures for acceptance of tips or gratuities from patrons.
(a) A boxperson, floorperson, or any other table game supervisory employee, while serving in a supervisory position, may not solicit or accept, and no other table game employee may solicit, a tip or gratuity from any patron in the licensed facility where he is employed. A certificate holder may not permit any practices prohibited by this section.
(b) Except as permitted under subsection (f), tips and gratuities received by dealers in a licensed facility shall be:
(1) Immediately deposited in a transparent locked box reserved for tips and gratuities. If nonvalue chips are received as tips or gratuities at a roulette table, the marker button indicating the specific value of the nonvalue chips may not be removed until after the dealer, in the presence of a floorperson or above, has expeditiously converted the nonvalue chips into value chips which shall then be immediately deposited in the transparent locked box reserved for tips and gratuities.
(2) Collected and accounted for at least once each gaming day.
(3) Placed in a common pool for distribution pro rata among all dealers in accordance with subsection (d).
(c) Upon receipt from a patron of a tip or gratuity, a dealer shall extend his arm in an overt motion, and deposit the tip or gratuity in the locked box reserved for tips and gratuities.
(d) Tips and gratuities placed in a common pool shall be distributed pro rata among all the dealers in the pool based upon the number of hours worked. In determining the number of hours which an employee has worked for purposes of tip pool distribution, a certificate holder may establish standards for distribution which include hours of vacation time, personal leave time or any other authorized leave of absence in the number of hours worked by each employee. These standards shall apply uniformly to all employees, except that a certificate holder may establish different standards for full-time or part-time employees.
(e) Any distribution of tips and gratuities from a common tip pool under this section must occur no more frequently than once every 7 calendar days.
(f) Notwithstanding the requirements in subsection (b), a certificate holder that offers the game of Poker may either:
(1) Establish a separate common pool for tips and gratuities received by its Poker dealers.
(2) Permit each Poker dealer to retain his own tips and gratuities, in which case the tips and gratuities received by each Poker dealer shall be deposited, in accordance with procedures in subsection (c), in a transparent locked box assigned to the particular dealer. The box shall be moved from table to table with the dealer.
(g) When a certificate holder elects to use the option in subsection (f)(2), at the end of the dealer's shift, the dealer shall take the transparent locked box assigned to the dealer to a cage cashier. The cage cashier shall open the container and count the tips and gratuities in the presence of the dealer and record the total amount of the tips and gratuities received by the dealer and either:
(1) Return the tips and gratuities to the dealer.
(2) Retain all or a portion of the tips and gratuities for inclusion in the dealer's paycheck.
(h) Each certificate holder shall develop procedures for the reporting of dealer tips and gratuities to the Internal Revenue Service.
§ 525.13. Procedures for drops at open table games.
(a) Whenever a table game is to remain open for gaming activity when the table is being dropped, the gaming chips, coins and plaques remaining in the table inventory at the gaming table at the time of the drop shall be counted by the dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table and recorded on a Table Inventory Slip.
(b) The count required under subsection (a) shall be observed by the floorperson who is responsible for supervising the table game at the time of the drop.
(c) Signatures attesting to the accuracy of the information recorded on the Table Inventory Slip shall be placed on both copies of the Table Inventory Slip by the dealer or boxperson assigned to the table and the floorperson that observed the dealer or boxperson count the contents of the table inventory.
(d) After meeting the signature requirements in subsection (c), the original and the duplicate of the Table Inventory Slip shall be deposited in the drop box that is attached to the gaming table immediately before the drop box is removed from the gaming table as part of the drop.
§ 525.14. Procedures for closing table games.
(a) Whenever gaming activity at a table game is concluded, the gaming chips, coins and plaques remaining at the gaming table shall be counted by the dealer or boxperson assigned to the gaming table in the presence of the floorperson assigned to the gaming table.
(b) The amounts of the gaming chips, coins and plaques counted shall be recorded on the Table Inventory Slip by the floorperson assigned to the gaming table and the original copy of the Table Inventory Slip shall be signed by the dealer or boxperson who counted the table inventory and the floorperson who observed the dealer or boxperson count the contents of the table inventory.
(c) After the original copy of the Table Inventory Slip has been signed as required under subsection (b), the original copy of the Table Inventory Slip shall be immediately deposited in the table game drop box attached to the gaming table.
(d) After the original copy of the table inventory slip has been deposited in the table game drop box attached to the gaming table, the duplicate copy of the table inventory slip and the gaming chips, coins and plaques remaining at the gaming table shall be placed in the container required under § 525.7 (relating to table inventories), after which the container shall be locked and either transported directly to the cashiers' cage by a security department member or secured to the gaming table in a manner approved by the Bureau of Gaming Operations.
(e) If the locked containers are transported to the cashiers' cage, a cage supervisor shall determine that all locked containers have been returned.
(f) If the locked containers are secured to the gaming table, a pit manager or above shall verify that all the containers are locked.
§ 525.15. Table inventories for Poker tables.
(a) Notwithstanding the requirements in §§ 525.7, 525.8, 525.13 and 525.14, a certificate holder may establish procedures for the issuance of table inventories that are maintained by Poker dealers on an imprest basis.
(b) The procedures developed under subsection (a) shall be submitted as part of the certificate holder's internal controls and be approved by the Board.
§ 525.16. Table inventory counts on a per shift basis.
(a) In addition to the requirements in §§ 525.8, 525.13 and 525.14 (relating to procedures for opening table games; procedures for drops at open table games; and procedures for closing table games), a certificate holder may establish procedures for the use of a three-compartment drop box which require the preparation of a Table Inventory Slip at the close of each shift.
(b) The procedures developed under subsection (a) shall be submitted as part of the certificate holder's internal controls and be approved by the Board.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 10-1038. Filed for public inspection June 4, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
