RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title 58—RECREATION
PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD
[ 58 PA. CODE CH. 590 ]
Free Bet Blackjack; Temporary Regulations
[44 Pa.B. 26]
[Saturday, January 4, 2014]The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board), under its general authority in 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A03(b) (relating to temporary table game regulations) and the specific authority in 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A02(1) and (2) (relating to regulatory authority), adds Chapter 590 (relating to Free Bet Blackjack) to read as set forth in Annex A.
Explanation of Chapter 590
Section 590.1 (relating to definitions) contains the definitions for terms used in Free Bet Blackjack. Section 590.2 (relating to Free Bet Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections) contains all of the requirements pertaining to the table layouts and other equipment used in the play of the game.
Section 590.3 (relating to cards; number of decks; value of cards) addresses the number of decks that are used in Free Bet Blackjack and the frequency with which the decks are to be changed. Sections 590.4 and 590.5 (relating to opening of the table for gaming; and shuffle and cut of the cards) set forth the procedures for the inspection, shuffling and cutting of the cards before they are dealt.
Section 590.6 (relating to wagers) specifies which wagers are authorized for use at the game and when those wagers are to be placed.
Section 590.7 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play) specifies how the cards are to be dealt to each player and the dealer, how the dealer is to evaluate whether a patron's hand is a winning hand and the procedures for collecting cards, collecting losing wagers and paying out winning wagers.
Sections 590.8—590.11 specify when the Insurance Wager is to be offered and how it is settled and when patrons can split pairs, double down or surrender their hands.
Section 590.12 (relating to payout odds) addresses the payout odds for all permissible wagers and § 590.13 (relating to irregularities) specifies how irregularities in the play of the game are to be handled.
Affected Parties
This temporary rulemaking allows certificate holders additional options on how to conduct table games at their licensed facilities.
Fiscal Impact
Commonwealth. The Board does not expect that this temporary rulemaking will have fiscal impact on the Board or other Commonwealth agencies. Internal control procedures submitted by certificate holders related to table games Rules Submissions will be reviewed by existing Board staff.
Political subdivisions. This temporary rulemaking will not have direct fiscal impact on political subdivisions of this Commonwealth. Host municipalities and counties benefit from the local share funding that is mandated by the act of January 7, 2010 (P. L. 1, No. 1).
Private sector. This temporary rulemaking will give certificate holders some additional flexibility as to how they conduct table games. It is anticipated that this temporary rulemaking will have an impact only on certificate holders, which are not small businesses.
General public. This temporary rulemaking will not have direct fiscal impact on the general public.
Paperwork Requirements
If a certificate holder elects to offer new games for play at the licensed facility, the certificate holder will be required to submit an updated Rules Submission form and gaming guide reflecting the changes.
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 the temporary regulations might be improved. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding this temporary rulemaking within 30 days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin to Susan A. Yocum, Assistant Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, P. O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060, Attention: Public Comment on Regulation #125-180.
Contact Person
The contact person for questions about this temporary rulemaking is Susan A. Yocum, Assistant Chief Counsel, (717) 346-8300.
Regulatory Review
Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A03(b), the Board's authority to adopt temporary regulations governing the rules of new table games does not expire. Additionally, temporary regulations adopted by the Board are not subject to sections 201—205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P. L. 769, No. 240) (45 P. S. §§ 1201—1205), known as the Commonwealth Documents Law (CDL), 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. § 13A03(b), the temporary regulations are exempt from the requirements of the Regulatory Review Act, sections 201—205 of the CDL and sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the Commonwealth Attorneys 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, are amended by adding §§ 590.1—590.13 to read as set forth in Annex A.
(2) The temporary regulations are effective January 4, 2014.
(3) The temporary regulations will be posted on the Board's web site and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(4) The temporary regulations are 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.
WILLIAM H. RYAN, Jr.,
ChairpersonFiscal Note: 125-180. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A
TITLE 58. RECREATION
PART VII. GAMING CONTROL BOARD
Subpart K. TABLE GAMES
CHAPTER 590. FREE BET BLACKJACK Sec.
590.1. Definitions. 590.2. Free Bet Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections. 590.3. Cards; number of decks; value of cards. 590.4. Opening of the table for gaming. 590.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards. 590.6. Wagers. 590.7. Procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play. 590.8. Insurance Wager. 590.9. Surrender. 590.10. Double Down. 590.11. Splitting pairs. 590.12. Payout odds. 590.13. Irregularities. § 590.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Blackjack—An ace and any card having a value of 10 dealt as the initial two cards to a player or the dealer.
Card reader device—A device which permits the dealer to determine if the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack.
Hard total—The total point count of a hand which contains no aces or which contains aces that are each counted as 1 in value.
Hole card—The second card dealt face down to the dealer.
Soft total—The total point count of a hand containing an ace when the ace is counted as 11 in value.
§ 590.2. Free Bet Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections.
(a) Free Bet Blackjack shall be played at a table having betting positions for no more than six players on one side of the table and a place for the dealer on the opposite side of the table.
(b) The layout for a Free Bet Blackjack table shall be submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations and approved in accordance with § 601a.10(a) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment) and contain, at a minimum:
(1) The name or logo of the certificate holder.
(2) A separate betting area designated for the placement of the Blackjack Wager for each player.
(3) The following inscriptions:
(i) Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
(ii) Insurance pays 2 to 1.
(iii) Dealer shall draw to 16 and stand on all 17s or other similar language approved by the Executive Director in accordance with § 601a.10(a).
(iv) Blackjack Wagers will push if the dealer's hand has a total point count of 22 or other similar language.
(4) If the certificate holder offers the Push 22 Wager, a separate area designated for the placement of the wager for each player.
(5) Inscriptions that advise patrons of the payout odds or amounts for all permissible wagers offered by the certificate holder. If the payout odds or amounts are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds or amounts for all permissible wagers shall be posted at each Free Bet Blackjack table.
(c) Each Free Bet Blackjack table must have a drop box and a tip box attached on the same side of the table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer, as approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g). The Bureau of Casino Compliance may approve an alternative location for the tip box when a card shuffling device or other table game equipment prevents the placement of the drop box and tip box on the same side of the gaming table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer.
(d) Each Free Bet Blackjack table must have a card reader device attached to the top of the dealer's side of the table. The floorperson assigned to the Free Bet Blackjack table shall inspect the card reader device at the beginning of each gaming day to ensure that there has been no tampering with the device and that it is in proper working order.
(e) Each Free Bet Blackjack table must have a discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer's side of the table. The height of each discard rack must either:
(1) Equal the height of the cards, stacked one on top of the other, 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 in the number of decks to be used in the dealing shoe at that table.
§ 590.3. Cards; number of decks; value of cards.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), Free Bet Blackjack shall be played with at least one deck of cards that are identical in appearance and at least one cover card.
(b) If an automated card shuffling device is utilized, other than a continuous shuffler, Free Bet Blackjack shall be played with at least two decks of cards in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) The cards shall be separated into two batches with an equal number of decks included in each batch.
(2) The cards in each batch must be of the same design but the backs of the cards in one batch must be of a different color than the cards in the other batch.
(3) One batch of cards shall be shuffled and stored in the automated card shuffling device while the other batch is being used to play the game.
(4) Both batches of cards shall be continuously alternated in and out of play, with each batch being used for every other dealing shoe.
(5) The cards from only one batch shall be placed in the discard rack at any given time.
(c) The decks of cards opened for use at a Free Bet Blackjack table shall be changed at least once every 24 hours.
(d) The value of the cards shall be as follows:
(1) Any card from 2 to 10 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 1.
§ 590.4. Opening of the table for gaming.
(a) After receiving one or more decks of cards at the table, the dealer shall inspect the cards for any defects. The floorperson assigned to the table shall verify the inspection.
(b) After the cards are inspected, 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 in horizontal fan shaped columns by deck according to suit and in sequence.
(c) After the first player arriving at the table 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. Once the cards have been stacked, the cards shall be shuffled in accordance with § 590.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards).
(d) If an automated shuffling device is utilized, other than a continuous shuffler, all the decks in one batch of cards shall be spread for inspection, mixed, stacked and shuffled in accordance with subsections (a)—(c) separate from the decks in the other batch of cards.
(e) If the decks of cards received at the table are preinspected and preshuffled in accordance with § 603a.16(u) or (v) (relating to cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use), subsections (a)—(d) do not apply.
§ 590.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards.
(a) Immediately prior to commencement of play, unless the cards were preshuffled in accordance with § 603a.16(u) or (v) (relating to cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use), after each shoe of cards is dealt or when directed by a floorperson or above, the dealer shall shuffle the cards, either manually or by use of an automated card shuffling device, so that the cards are randomly intermixed. Upon completion of the shuffle, the dealer or device shall place the decks of cards in a single stack. The certificate holder may use an automated card shuffling device which, upon completion of the shuffling of the cards, inserts the stack of cards directly into a dealing shoe.
(b) After the cards have been shuffled and stacked, the dealer shall offer the stack of cards to be cut, with the backs facing away from the dealer, to the player determined under subsection (c). If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
(c) The cut of the cards shall be offered to players in the following order:
(1) The first player arriving at the table, if the game is just beginning.
(2) The player on whose betting area the cover card appeared during the last round of play.
(3) If the cover card appeared on the dealer's hand during the last round of play, the player at the farthest position to the right of the dealer. If this player refuses, the offer to cut the cards shall rotate to each player in a counterclockwise manner.
(4) If the reshuffle was initiated at the direction of the floorperson or above, the player at the farthest position to the right of the dealer. If this player refuses, the offer to cut the cards shall rotate to each player in a counterclockwise manner.
(d) The player or dealer making the cut shall place the cover card in the stack at least ten cards from the top or bottom of the stack. Once the cover card has been inserted, the dealer shall take all cards on top of the cover card and place them on the bottom of the stack. The dealer shall then insert the cover card in the stack at a position at least 1/4 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.
(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 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 either by the player who last cut the cards or by the next person entitled to cut the cards, as determined under subsection (c). The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
(f) A reshuffle of the cards in the shoe shall take place after the cover card is reached in the shoe, as provided in § 590.7(d) (relating to procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play), except that a floorperson may determine that the cards should be reshuffled after any round of play.
(g) If there is no gaming activity at a Free Bet Blackjack 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 face down unless a player requests that the cards be spread face up on the table. After the first player arriving at the table is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards shall be:
(1) Mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards, stacked, then shuffled and cut in accordance with this section if there is no automated shuffling device in use.
(2) Stacked and placed into the automated shuffling device to be shuffled if an automated shuffling device is in use. The batch of cards already in the shuffler shall then be removed. Unless a player requests otherwise, the batch of cards removed from the shuffler does not need to be spread for inspection and reshuffled prior to being dealt provided that the automated card shuffling device stores a single batch of shuffled cards inside the shuffler in a secure manner.
(h) A certificate holder may utilize a dealing shoe or other device that automatically reshuffles and counts the cards provided that the device is submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations and approved in accordance with § 461a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval) prior to its use in the licensed facility. If a certificate holder is utilizing the approved device, subsections (b)—(g) do not apply.
§ 590.6. Wagers.
(a) Wagers at Free Bet Blackjack shall be made by placing value chips, plaques or other Board-approved table game wagering instruments on the appropriate areas of the Free Bet Blackjack layout.
(b) After the cards have been shuffled as required under § 590.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards), a certificate holder may prohibit any patron, 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 the next round of play and any subsequent round 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.
(c) All wagers, except an Insurance Wager under § 590.8 (relating to Insurance Wager), a wager to double down under § 590.10 (relating to Double Down) or a wager on split pairs under § 590.11 (relating to splitting pairs), shall be placed prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play. A player may not handle, remove or alter any wagers that have been made until a decision has been rendered and implemented with respect to that wager.
(d) A player shall place a Blackjack Wager to participate in a round of play and compete against the dealer's hand.
(e) If specified in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), a certificate holder may offer to each player who placed a Blackjack Wager in accordance with subsection (d), the option of placing a Push 22 Wager which shall win if the dealer's hand has a total point count of 22.
(f) The certificate holder shall specify in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 the number of adjacent boxes on which a player may place a Blackjack Wager in one round of play.
§ 590.7. Procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play.
(a) All cards shall be dealt from a dealing shoe which must be located on the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment). Once the procedures under § 590.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards) have been completed, the stacked cards shall be placed in the dealing shoe by the dealer or by an automated card shuffling device.
(b) Each card shall be removed from the dealing shoe with the hand of the dealer that is closest to the dealing shoe and placed on the appropriate area of the layout with the opposite hand. The dealer may deal cards to the two betting positions closest to the dealing shoe with the same 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) If the cover card appears as the first card in the dealing shoe at the beginning of a round of play or appears during play, the cover card shall be removed and placed to the side and the hand will be completed. The dealer shall then:
(1) Collect and reshuffle the cards by removing the cards remaining in the shoe and placing them in the discard rack to ensure that no cards are missing.
(2) Shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed.
(e) After all Blackjack and optional Push 22 Wagers have been placed, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's left and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, deal the cards as follows:
(1) One card face up to each box on the layout in which a Blackjack 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 the dealer.
(f) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, if the dealer's first card is an ace, the dealer shall offer the Insurance Wager in accordance with § 590.8 (relating to Insurance Wager).
(g) If the dealer's first card is an ace, king, queen, jack or ten, after all Insurance Wagers have been placed, if applicable, the dealer shall determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack. 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 at the table, including the dealer. If the dealer has a Blackjack, additional cards may not be dealt and if a player:
(1) Has a Blackjack, the dealer shall return the player's Blackjack Wager, collect the player's Push 22 Wager and pay out any Insurance Wager, if applicable.
(2) Does not have a Blackjack, the dealer shall collect the player's Blackjack and Push 22 Wagers and pay out any Insurance Wager, if applicable.
(h) If the dealer's up card was not an ace or 10 value card or if the dealer's hole card did not give the dealer Blackjack, the dealer shall start with the player farthest to the dealer's left and continue around the table in a clockwise direction and if the player:
(1) Has Blackjack, the dealer shall announce and pay the Blackjack in accordance with § 590.12(a) (relating to payout odds) and remove the player's cards. If a player also placed a Push 22 Wager, the dealer shall tuck the player's cards under the player's Push 22 Wager until it is resolved in accordance with subsection (n).
(2) Does not have Blackjack, the player shall indicate whether he wishes to surrender, as permitted under § 590.9 (relating to surrender), double down as permitted under § 590.10 (relating to Double Down), split pairs as permitted under § 590.11 (relating to splitting pairs), stand or draw additional cards.
(i) As each player indicates his decision, the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate the player's decision.
(j) A player may elect to draw additional cards whenever his point count total is less than 21, except that:
(1) A player having a hard or soft total of 21 may not draw additional cards.
(2) A player electing to double down in accordance with § 590.10 may draw only one additional card.
(k) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional cards have been dealt, the dealer shall turn the hole card face up.
(l) Except as provided in subsection (m), the dealer shall draw additional cards until he has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21. Any additional cards required to be dealt to the hand of the dealer shall be dealt face up. The dealer shall announce the dealer's total point count after each additional card is dealt.
(m) 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 not have an effect on the outcome of the round of play.
(n) After all additional cards have been drawn, if the total point count of the dealer's hand:
(1) Is a 22, the dealer shall return all remaining player's Blackjack Wagers, collect any Free Bet lammers, as provided in §§ 590.10 and 590.11, and pay out any Push 22 Wagers in accordance with § 590.12(c).
(2) Is not a 22, the dealer shall collect any Push 22 Wagers and settle the players Blackjack Wager and Free Bet lammers in accordance with subsections (o)—(q).
(o) A player shall win and be paid in accordance with § 590.12(a) for the Blackjack Wager and an equivalent amount for each Free Bet lammer, if applicable, if:
(1) The total point count of the player's hand is 21 or less and the total point count of the dealer's hand is in excess of 21 provided that if the total point count of the dealer's hand is 22, the Blackjack Wager shall be returned to the player and any Free Bet lammers shall be collected.
(2) The total point count of the player's hand exceeds the total point count of the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.
(p) A Blackjack Wager shall tie and be returned to the player and any Free Bet lammers collected if the total point count of the player's hand is the same as the total point count of the dealer's hand.
(q) A player's Blackjack Wager and any Free Bet lammers shall be collected if:
(1) The total point count of the dealer's hand is 21 or less and the total point count of the player's hand is in excess of 21.
(2) The total point count of the dealer's hand exceeds the total point count of the player's hand without exceeding 21.
(r) The dealer shall collect all losing wagers and pay off all winning wagers in accordance with one of the following procedures designated in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):
(1) Collect all losing wagers beginning with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction and then pay off all winning wagers.
(2) Collect each player's losing wagers and pay off each player's winning wagers beginning with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction. The dealer shall place any losing wagers directly into the table inventory and may not pay off any player's winning wagers by using value chips collected from a losing wager.
(s) After all wagers have been settled, the dealer shall remove any remaining cards from the table and place them in the discard rack in a manner that permits the reconstruction of each hand in the event of a question or dispute.
(t) Players and spectators may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Free Bet Blackjack.
§ 590.8. Insurance Wager.
(a) If the first card dealt to the dealer is an ace, each player may make an Insurance Wager which shall win if the dealer's hole card is a king, queen, jack or 10.
(b) An Insurance Wager may be made by placing a value chip on the insurance line of the layout in an amount not more than 1/2 of the player's initial Blackjack Wager. A player may wager an amount in excess of 1/2 of the initial Blackjack Wager to the next unit that can be wagered in chips when, because of the limitation of the value of chip denominations, 1/2 the initial Blackjack 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 Wagers shall be paid in accordance with the payout odds in § 590.12(b) (relating to payout odds).
(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.
§ 590.9. Surrender.
(a) After the first two cards are dealt to the player, the player may elect to discontinue play on his hand for that round by surrendering 1/2 of his wager. All decisions to surrender shall be made prior to the player indicating whether he wishes to double down as permitted under § 590.10 (relating to Double Down), split pairs as permitted under § 590.11 (relating to splitting pairs), stand or draw. If the first card dealt to the dealer:
(1) Is not an ace or 10 value card, the dealer shall immediately collect 1/2 of the wager and return 1/2 to the player.
(2) Is an ace or 10 value card, the dealer will place the player's wager on top of the player's cards. After the Insurance Wager is offered and the card reader device is utilized, the hand will be settled by immediately collecting the entire wager if the dealer has Blackjack or collecting 1/2 of the wager and returning 1/2 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 § 590.8 (relating to Insurance Wager).
§ 590.10. Double Down.
(a) Except when a player has a Blackjack, a player may elect to double down on the first two cards dealt to him or on the first two cards of any split pair. If the total point count of the player's two cards:
(1) Is a hard 9, 10 or 11, the player may double down without placing an additional wager. If a player is doubling down without placing an additional wager, the dealer shall place a Free Bet lammer next to the player's original Blackjack Wager.
(2) Is not a hard 9, 10 or 11, the player may place an additional wager next to the player's original Blackjack Wager which may not exceed the amount of the player's original Blackjack Wager.
(b) If a player elects to double down after splitting pairs, as provided in § 590.11 (relating to splitting pairs), the player may double down on split pairs as provided in subsection (a).
(c) Upon a player's election to double down, the dealer shall deal one additional card face up and place it sideways on the layout.
(d) The dealer shall then complete the procedure in § 590.7(i)—(s) (relating to procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play).
§ 590.11. Splitting pairs.
(a) If the initial two cards dealt to a player are identical in value, the player may elect to split the hand into two separate hands. For example, if a player has two 7s or a king and a 10, the player may elect to split the hand.
(b) If a player elects to split pairs and the player has:
(1) A pair of 10 value cards (10, jack, queen or king), the player shall place an amount equal to the original Blackjack Wager for the split pair.
(2) Any pair other than 10 value cards, the player may split pairs without placing an additional wager. If a player is splitting pairs without placing an additional wager:
(i) The dealer shall place a Free Bet lammer next to the player's original Blackjack Wager.
(ii) The original Blackjack Wager shall move with the first split hand and the Free Bet lammer shall be the wager for the second split hand.
(c) 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. If the first split hand busts, the player's cards shall be tucked under the original Blackjack Wager until the hand is settled or until the split hand or hands bust as well.
(d) After a second card is dealt to each split pair, the player shall indicate his decision to stand, draw, double down or resplit with respect that hand. A player may resplit any additional pairs, in accordance with subsection (b), for a total of up to four hands.
§ 590.12. Payout odds.
(a) The certificate holder shall pay each winning Blackjack Wager and any Free Bet lammers at odds of 1 to 1 with the exception of player Blackjack which shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2.
(b) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Insurance Wagers at odds of 2 to 1.
(c) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Push 22 Wagers based on the dealer's hand at the odds in one of the following paytables selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):
Hand Paytable A Paytable B Same suite 22 50 to 1 50 to 1 Same color 22 20 to 1 20 to 1 Other 22 8 to 1 7 to 1 § 590.13. Irregularities.
(a) A card found face up in the shoe may not be used in that round of play and shall be placed in the discard rack or in a segregated area of the double shoe.
(b) A card drawn in error without its face being exposed shall be used as though it were the next card from the shoe.
(c) 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.
(d) If the dealer has 17 and accidentally draws a card for himself, the card shall be placed in the discard rack.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 according to the procedures in § 590.5 (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.
(g) If no cards are dealt to a player's hand, the hand is dead and the player shall be included in the next deal. If only one card is dealt to a 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.
(h) 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 Blackjack Wager.
(i) 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, jack or 10, the dealer, after notification to a floorperson or above, shall continue play.
(j) If a card reader device malfunctions, the dealer may not continue dealing the game of Blackjack at that table until the card reader device is repaired or replaced.
(k) 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.
(l) If an automated shuffling device malfunctions and cannot be used, the device must be covered or have a sign indicating that it is out of order placed on the device before any other method of shuffling may be utilized at that table.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-20. Filed for public inspection January 3, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
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