RULES AND REGULATIONS

PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD

[ 58 PA. CODE CHS. 461a, 465a, 525, 575, 577, 579, 603a, 609a, 623a, 627a, 629a, 631a, 633a, 635a, 637a, 649a, 659a, 661a, 663a AND 665a ]

Slot Machines and Table Game Controls, Equipment, Credit and Rules

[44 Pa.B. 619]
[Saturday, February 1, 2014]

 The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board), under the general authority in 4 Pa.C.S. § 1202(b)(30) (relating to general and specific powers) and the specific authority in 4 Pa.C.S. §§ 1207(3) and (9) and 13A02(1), (2) and (4) (relating to regulatory authority of board; and regulatory authority), amends Chapters 461a, 465a, 603a, 609a, 623a, 627a, 629a, 631a, 633a, 635a, 637a and 649a, rescinds Chapters 525, 575, 577 and 579 and adds Chapters 659a, 661a, 663a and 665a.

Purpose of the Final-Form Rulemaking

 This final-form rulemaking transitions the requirements for Match Play Coupons and the game rules for Asia Poker, Three Dice Football and Five Card Hi-Lo from temporary to final-form regulations. This final-form rulemaking contains a new game, Double Attack Blackjack, and optional side wagers.

Explanation of Revisions

 The heading of § 461a.9 (relating to coupons utilized in slot machine gaming) is amended to specify that the section refers to coupons utilized in slot machine gaming. The coupons used in table games, Match Play Coupons, are described in §§ 603a.20 and 603a.21 (relating to Match Play Coupons; physical characteristics and issuance; and Match Play Coupon use). The retention period for Match Play Coupons is added in § 465a.6 (relating to retention, storage and destruction of books, records and documents) and is consistent with the retention periods for coupons used in slot machine gaming.

 In §§ 465a.9(c)(2) and 465a.35 (relating to surveillance system; surveillance department control; surveillance department restrictions; and personnel assigned to the operation and conduct of table games), the camera coverage requirements and the personnel assigned to Three Dice Football are added. The requirements are consistent with those established in the temporary regulations. Additionally, the inspection requirements for the dice utilized in Three Dice Football are added in § 603a.13(f)(1) and (2) (relating to dice; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use).

 In § 603a.1 (relating to definitions), the definition of ''Match Play Coupon'' is added. In § 603a.10 (relating to permissible wagering; exchange and redemption of gaming chips and plaques), a Match Play Coupon is added as a permissible wager. The requirements for the design, internal controls and distribution of promotional Match Play Coupons are in § 603a.20. Match Play Coupons are to be controlled by the finance department and distributed to patrons by the marketing department. Certificate holders are required to file a quarterly report with the Bureau of Casino Compliance listing the total value of Match Play Coupons redeemed by patrons.

 Section 603a.21 specifies that a promotional Match Play Coupon shall be used with an equal value of gaming chips. The value of the Match Play Coupon is added to the gaming chips wagered by the patron. If the wager wins, it is paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Match Play Coupon. Irrespective of whether the Match Play Coupon wins or loses, it is deposited into the table game drop box at the conclusion of each round of play.

 Section 603a.13(f)(3) is added as an alternative dice inspection and distribution procedure. This alternative was previously available when the equipment chapter were temporary regulations but was inadvertently not transitioned when the final-form regulations were prom- ulgated. One operator requested to continue utilizing the procedures in this subsection.

 Amendments to § 603a.13(c)(3) allow the finance department to issue the manual Counter Checkbook to the table games department provided that adequate internal controls are submitted to Board staff for approval.

 A new series of side wagers, Bonus Craps, are added to the game of Craps. The layout requirements are in § 623a.2(d)(5) (relating to Craps and Mini-Craps tables; physical characteristics) and a description of the side wagers is added to § 623a.3(a)(43) (relating to wagers) with the payout odds in § 623a.5(h) (relating to payout odds). The additional procedures regarding Bonus Craps are in § 623a.12 (relating to additional procedures and rules for Bonus Craps).

 A new side wager, the House Money Wager, is added in the three Baccarat style games in Chapters 627a, 629a and 631a (relating to Minibaccarat; Midibaccarat; and Baccarat). The amendments to the games include layout requirements, the description of the wager, dealing procedure and the payout odds.

 Two additional side wagers, the Straight Jack Progressive Wager and the House Money Wager, are added in Chapter 633a (relating to Blackjack). The layout requirements are added in § 633a.2(b) (relating to Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections), a description of the wagers are added in § 633a.6(e) (relating to wagers), the dealing procedures are added to § 633a.7(g) and (o) (relating to procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play) and the payout odds are added in § 633a.13(m) and (n) (relating to payout odds; payout limitation).

 In Chapter 635a (relating to Spanish 21), the provision on when a patron may double down is expanded to allow patrons to double down on two or more cards dealt instead of only the first two cards dealt to the patron. Additionally, § 635a.8(e) (relating to Insurance Wager) is deleted as unnecessary. If a player has Blackjack, the player shall win even if the dealer also has a Blackjack.

 A new variation and several new games are added to Chapter 637a (relating to Poker). Operators may now offer the Super Seven-card Stud High Low Split Eight or Better, Five-card Omaha, Triple Draw 2-7, Triple Draw A-5, Triple Draw Badeucey, Triple Draw Badacey and Badugi. The new variation of seven-card stud is added in § 637a.10 (relating to Seven-card Stud Poker; procedures for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play) and the new games are added in §§ 637a.19—637a.21 (relating to Five-card Omaha Poker; procedures for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play; Triple Draw Poker; procedures for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play; and Badugi Poker; procedures for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play).

 In Three Card Poker, a new hand ranking, a mini-royal flush, is added in § 649a.6(e) (relating to Three Card Poker rankings) and the corresponding payout is added in § 649a.12(g) (relating to payout odds; Envy Bonus; rate of progression). This payout was, at one time, available when the regulation was temporary but was not transitioned when the final-form regulation was promulgated.

 Three games that were in temporary form are in this final-form rulemaking including Asia Poker, Three Dice Football and Five Card Hi-Lo. Chapters 659a, 661a and 663a (relating to Asia Poker; Three Dice Football; and Five Card Hi-Lo) contain the table layout requirements, dealing procedures, permissible wagers and payout odds for all permissible wagers.

 Chapter 665a (relating to Double Attack Blackjack) is added. This is a variation on Blackjack in which a player may place an additional wager after seeing the dealer's up card and may surrender even after taking additional cards. Table layout requirements, the dealing procedures, permissible wagers and payout odds are included in this chapter.

Comment and Response Summary

 Notice of proposed rulemaking was published at 43 Pa.B. 834 (February 9, 2013). The Board did not receive comments from the public or the regulated community. On April 10, 2013, the Board received comments from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) on the rulemaking.

Chapter 627a, 629a and 631a

 IRRC requested that the Board clarify when a House Money Wager would win and when it would lose. The Board did not add additional language regarding when a House Money Wager would win but has amended the language regarding losing wagers. A House Money Wager in Baccarat style games will lose if in the first two cards dealt to the player's hand or banker's hand, neither hand contains a pair. This amendment was made to §§ 627a.7(a)(7)(ii), 629a.7(a)(7)(ii) and 631a.8(a)(7)(ii) (relating to wagers).

Chapter 659a

 IRRC requested that the Board clarify § 659a.6(b)(2)—(6) (relating to Asia Poker rankings) regarding when a joker may be used. The rules regarding the use of the joker are in subsection (a). For consistency among the paragraphs in subsection (b), the reference to the joker was deleted from paragraph (1).

 The same rules regarding the use of the joker are also applicable to subsection (d) with the exception of paragraphs (4) and (5) which either specifically include or exclude the use of a joker.

 IRRC commented that § 659a.10(a)(2) (relating to procedures for dealing the cards from an automated dealing shoe) is redundant with the requirements in subsection (a)(1). The Board agrees and amended the language accordingly.

Chapter 663a

 The Board added corrective language to § 663a.6(a) (relating to Five Card Hi-Lo rankings) regarding the point value of nonface cards.

 IRRC commented that § 663a.11(j) (relating to procedures for completion of each round of play) was unclear as to when a player's Tie Wager would win or lose. IRRC requested that the Board clarify the language. Subsection (j)(1)(i) was amended to reflect that if neither the high hand nor the low hand of the player is identical in point value to the high and low hands of the dealer, the Tie Wager will be collected as a losing wager.

Affected Parties

 Slot machine licensees will be impacted by this final-form rulemaking as operators will have a greater number of table games and side wagers to offer at their facilities.

Fiscal Impact

 Commonwealth. The Board does not expect that this final-form rulemaking will have fiscal impact on the Board or other Commonwealth agencies. Internal control procedures submitted by certificate holders regarding table games Rules Submissions and Match Play Coupons will be reviewed by existing Board staff.

 Promotional Match Play Coupons have been utilized by the licensed facilities to increase the amount of table game play and the overall revenue to the facilities and the tax collected for the Commonwealth. Match Play Coupons are neither included in nor deducted from gross table game revenue.

 Political subdivisions. This proposed rulemaking will not have fiscal impact on political subdivisions of this Commonwealth. Host municipalities and counties will benefit from the local share funding that is mandated by the act of January 7, 2010 (P. L. 1, No. 1).

 Private sector. Slot machine licensees that decide to offer the new games, variations or side wagers will be required to comply with the requirements in this final-form rulemaking and will be required to submit updated Rules Submission forms and internal controls to reflect additions. Costs incurred to purchase equipment and train employees should be offset by the proceeds of gaming.

 General public. This final-form rulemaking will not have fiscal impact on the general public.

Paperwork Requirements

 If a certificate holder selects different options for the play of table games, the certificate holder will be required to update its gaming guide and submit an updated Rules Submission reflecting the changes. These forms are available and submitted to the Board electronically. If a certificate holder elects to offer Match Play Coupons to patrons, the certificate holder will have to submit updated internal controls for approval and will have to submit a quarterly report listing the total value of Match Play Coupons given to patrons.

Effective Date

 This final-form rulemaking will become effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Regulatory Review

 Under section 5(a) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § 745.5(a)), on January 29, 2013, the Board submitted a copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking, published at 43 Pa.B. 834, to IRRC and the Chairpersons of the House Gaming Oversight Committee and the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee for review and comment.

 Under section 5(c) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC and the House and Senate Committees were provided with copies of the comments received during the public comment period, as well as other documents when requested. In preparing the final-form rulemaking, the Department has considered all comments from IRRC, the House and Senate Committees and the public.

 Under section 5.1(j.2) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § 745.5a(j.2)), on December 11, 2013, the final-form rulemaking was deemed approved by the House and Senate Committees. Under section 5.1(e) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC met on December 12, 2013, and approved the final-form rulemaking.

Findings

 The Board finds that:

 (1) Public notice of intention to adopt these amendments was given under sections 201 and 202 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P. L. 769, No. 240) (45 P. S. §§ 1201 and 1202) and the regulations thereunder, 1 Pa. Code §§ 7.1 and 7.2.

 (2) The final-form rulemaking 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:

 (a) The regulations of the Board, 58 Pa. Code, are amended by:

 Adding §§ 603a.20, 603a.21, 623a.12, 637a.19, 637a.20 and 661a.1—661a.8, deleting §§ 525.21, 525.22, 575.1—575.13, 577.1—577.9 and 579.1—579.13 and amending §§ 461a.9, 465a.6, 465a.9, 465a.35, 603a.1, 603a.10, 603a.13, 609a.13, 623a.2, 623a.3, 623a.4, 623a.5, 633a.1, 633a.2, 633a.6, 635a.10, 637a.6, 649a.6 and 649a.12 to read as set forth at 43 Pa.B. 834.

 Adding §§ 637a.21, 659a.1—659a.13, 663a.1—663a.13 and 665a.1—665a.13 and amending §§ 627a.2, 627a.7, 627a.8, 627a.12, 629a.2, 629a.7, 629a.8, 629a.12, 631a.2, 631a.8, 631a.9, 631a.13, 633a.7, 633a.13, 635a.8 and 637a.10 to read as set forth in Annex A, with ellipses referring to the existing text of the regulations.

 (Editor's Note: Sections 635a.8 and 637a.10 were not included in the proposed rulemaking published at 43 Pa.B. 834.)

 (Editor's Note: Final-form rulemaking 125-162 also amends §§ 627a.2, 627a.7, 627a.12, 629a.2, 629a.7, 629a.12, 631a.2, 631a.8, 631a.13, 633a.7 and 633a.13. See 44 Pa.B. 599 (February 1, 2014).)

 (b) The Chairperson of the Board shall certify this order, 43 Pa.B. 834 and Annex A and deposit them with the Legislative Reference Bureau as required by law.

 (c) This order shall take effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

WILLIAM H. RYAN, Jr., 
Chairperson

 (Editor's Note: For the text of the order of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission relating to this document, see 43 Pa.B. 7606 (December 28, 2013).)

 Fiscal Note: Fiscal Note 125-166 remains valid for the final adoption of the subject regulations.

Annex A

TITLE 58. RECREATION

PART VII. GAMING CONTROL BOARD

Subpart K. TABLE GAMES

CHAPTER 627a. MINIBACCARAT

§ 627a.2. Minibaccarat table physical characteristics.

 (a) Minibaccarat shall be played on a table having numbered positions for no more than nine seated 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 Minibaccarat 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) Separate areas designated for the placement of wagers on the Banker's Hand, Player's Hand and Tie Hand for each player.

 (3) The payout odds for all permissible wagers offered by the certificate holder. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds shall be posted at each Minibaccarat table.

 (4) An area designated for the placement of cards for the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand.

 (5) If a certificate holder offers the Dragon Bonus Wager authorized under § 627a.7(a)(4) (relating to wagers), separate areas designated for the placement of the Dragon Bonus Wager for each player.

 (6) If a certificate holder offers EZ Baccarat in which vigorish is not collected:

 (i) Separate areas designated for the placement of the Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, authorized under § 627a.7(a)(5),for each player.

 (ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons that a wager on the Banker's Hand that results in a Dragon 7 shall push and be returned to the player. If the information is not inscribed on the layout, a sign containing the information shall be posted at each Minibaccarat table.

 (iii) Separate areas designated for the placement of the Panda 8 Insurance Wager, authorized under § 627a.7(a)(6),for each player.

 (7) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager, authorized under § 627a.7(a)(7), separate areas designated for the placement of the House Money Wager for each player.

 (8) Numbered areas that correspond to the seat numbers for the purpose of marking vigorish unless the dealer, in accordance with the option selected in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), collects the vigorish from a player at the time the winning payout is made or the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table in which vigorish is not collected.

 (c) If marker buttons are used for the purpose of marking vigorish, the marker buttons shall be placed in the table inventory 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 container during gaming activity.

 (d) Each Minibaccarat table must have a drop box and a tip box attached on the same side of the gaming 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.

 (e) Each Minibaccarat table must have a discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer's side of the table.

§ 627a.7. Wagers.

 (a) The following are permissible wagers in the game of Minibaccarat:

 (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 unless EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (ii) Lose if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Player's Hand.

 (iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand have the same Point Count or if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (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 and if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand result in a Panda 8.

 (ii) Lose if the Player's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Banker's Hand or if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (iii) Tie 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 Wager 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.

 (4) If offered by a certificate holder, a Dragon Bonus Wager on the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand, or both, which shall:

 (i) Win if the selected hand is:

 (A) A Natural and the other hand is not a Natural.

 (B) A Natural 9 and the other hand is a Natural 8.

 (C) Not a Natural and has a Point Count that exceeds the Point Count of the other hand by four or more points.

 (ii) Lose if the selected hand is:

 (A) A Natural 8 and the other hand is a Natural 9.

 (B) Not a Natural and has a Point Count less than or equal to the Point Count of the other hand.

 (C) Not a Natural and has a Point Count that exceeds the Point Count of the other hand by less than four points.

 (iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the selected hand is a Natural and the other hand is a Natural of equal Point Count.

 (5) A Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, if the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table, which shall:

 (i) Win if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand do not result in a Dragon 7.

 (6) A Panda 8 Insurance Wager, if the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table, which shall:

 (i) Win if the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand result in a Panda 8.

 (ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand do not result in a Panda 8.

 (7) If offered by a certificate holder, a House Money Wager which shall:

 (i) Win if the first two cards of either the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand, or both, are a pair. For purposes of the House Money Wager, a pair must be of same rank (two queens, for example), regardless of suit.

 (ii) Lose if in the first two cards dealt to the player's hand and the banker's hand, neither the player's hand nor the banker's hand contains a pair.

 (b) Wagers at Minibaccarat shall be made by placing value chips or plaques on the appropriate areas of the Minibaccarat layout. Verbal wagers accompanied by cash may be accepted provided that they are confirmed by the dealer and the cash is expeditiously converted into value chips or plaques.

 (c) A wager may not be made, increased or withdrawn after the dealer has announced ''no more bets.''

§ 627a.8. 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 Minibaccarat, 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 shall announce ''no more bets.''

 (c) The dealer shall then deal an initial four cards from the dealing shoe in accordance with one of the following options selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):

 (1) The dealer shall remove cards from the dealing shoe with his left hand and place them face up on the appropriate area of the layout with his right hand. The first and third cards dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Player's Hand and placed on the area designated for the Player's Hand. The second and fourth cards dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Banker's Hand and placed on the area designated for the Banker's Hand.

 (2) The dealer shall remove cards from the dealing shoe with his left hand and place them face down on the layout. The first and third cards dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Player's Hand and placed on the area designated for the Player's Hand. The second and fourth cards dealt shall constitute the first and second cards of the Banker's Hand and placed underneath the right corner of the dealing shoe until the Player's Hand is called as provided in § 627a.9 (relating to procedure for dealing a third card). The second and fourth cards shall then be turned face up and placed on the area designated for the Banker's Hand.

 (d) Prior to dealing a third card to the Player's or Banker's Hand, the dealer shall settle all House Money Wagers as follows:

 (1) If a player placed a House Money Wager, beginning from the dealer's right and moving counterclockwise around the table, the dealer shall collect all losing House Money Wagers and pay all winning wagers in accordance with § 627a.12(h) (relating to payout odds; vigorish) provided that, at a player's discretion, the player may add the winning House Money payout to the player's original wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand in accordance with the following:

 (i) All of the winning House Money payout or, if specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2, only a specified portion of the winning House Money payout shall be added to the area designated for the placement of the player's original wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand. The player's original wager and the House Money payout which was added to the player's original wager shall be settled based on the outcome of the player's wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand.

 (ii) A player may not touch the winning House Money payout. The dealer shall either hand the entire winning House Money payout to the player or place all or a portion thereof, as authorized by the certificate holder, on the area designated for the placement of the player's wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand.

 (2) After settling the House Money Wagers, the game shall resume by dealing any third cards that are required to be dealt in accordance with § 627a.9.

 (e) Players may not touch, handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Minibaccarat.

§ 627a.12. Payout odds; vigorish.

 (a) A winning wager made on the Player's Hand shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1.

 (b) A winning Tie Wager shall be paid at odds of at least 8 to 1.

 (c) A winning wager made on the Banker's Hand shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1, except that the certificate holder shall extract a vigorish from the winning players in an amount equal to 5% of the amount won unless the certificate holder is offering EZ Baccarat in which vigorish is not collected. When collecting the vigorish, the certificate holder may round off the vigorish to 25¢ or the next highest multiple of 25¢.

 (d) A dealer shall collect the vigorish from a player in accordance with one of the following procedures selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):

 (1) At the time the winning payout is made.

 (2) At a later time, provided that:

 (i) The outstanding vigorish shall be collected prior to the reshuffling of the cards in a dealing shoe or when the player leaves the gaming table, whichever occurs first.

 (ii) The amount of the vigorish shall be tracked by placing a coin or marker button, which contains the amount of the vigorish owed, in the rectangular space on the layout that is imprinted with the number of the player owing the vigorish.

 (iii) The coin or marker button may not be removed from the layout until the vigorish owed is collected.

 (e) If a certificate holder offers the Dragon Bonus Wager, in accordance with § 627a.7(a)(4) (relating to wagers), a vigorish may not be extracted on a winning Dragon Bonus Wager. Winning Dragon Bonus Wagers shall be paid out at the odds in one of the following paytables selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2:

Hand	Paytable A	Paytable B	Paytable C
Win by 9 points	30 to 1	20 to 1	30 to 1
Win by 8 points	10 to 1	8 to 1	10 to 1
Win by 7 points	6 to 1	7 to 1	4 to 1
Win by 6 points	4 to 1	4 to 1	4 to 1
Win by 5 points	2 to 1	3 to 1	2 to 1
Win by 4 points	1 to 1	1 to 1	2 to 1
Natural winner	1 to 1	1 to 1	1 to 1
Natural tie	Push	Push	Push

 (f) A winning Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, as described in § 627a.7(a)(5), shall be paid at odds of 40 to 1.

 (g) A winning Panda 8 Insurance Wager, as described in § 627a.7(a)(6), shall be paid at odds of 25 to 1.

 (h) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager and the player elects to take the payout, the player shall be paid in accordance with the following paytable:

Hand	Odds
Player and Banker Pair	15 to 1
Player or Banker Pair	3 to 1

CHAPTER 629a. MIDIBACCARAT

§ 629a.2. Midibaccarat table physical characteristics.

 (a) Midibaccarat shall be played on a table having numbered positions for no more than nine seated 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 Midibaccarat 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) Separate areas designated for the placement of wagers on the Banker's Hand, Player's Hand and Tie Hand for each player.

 (3) The payout odds for all permissible wagers offered by the certificate holder. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds shall be posted at each Midibaccarat table.

 (4) An area designated for the placement of cards for the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand.

 (5) If a certificate holder offers the Dragon Bonus Wager, authorized under § 629a.7(a)(4) (relating to wagers), separate areas designated for the placement of the Dragon Bonus Wager for each player.

 (6) If a certificate holder offers EZ Baccarat in which vigorish is not collected:

 (i) Separate areas designated for the placement of the Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, authorized under § 629a.7(a)(5),for each player.

 (ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons that a wager on the Banker's Hand that results in a Dragon 7 shall push and be returned to the player. If the information is not inscribed on the layout, a sign containing the information shall be posted at each Midibaccarat table.

 (iii) Separate areas designated for the placement of the Panda 8 Insurance Wager, authorized under § 629a.7(a)(6),for each player.

 (7) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager, authorized under § 629a.7(a)(7), separate areas designated for the placement of the House Money Wager for each player.

 (8) Numbered areas that correspond to the seat numbers for the purpose of marking vigorish unless the dealer, in accordance with the option selected in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), collects the vigorish from a player at the time the winning payout is made or the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table in which vigorish is not collected.

 (c) If marker buttons are used for the purpose of marking vigorish, the marker buttons shall be placed in the table inventory 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 container during gaming activity.

 (d) Each Midibaccarat table must have a drop box and a tip box attached on the same side of the gaming 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.

 (e) Each Midibaccarat table must have a discard bucket on the dealer's side of the table.

§ 629a.7. Wagers.

 (a) The following are permissible wagers in 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 unless EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (ii) Lose if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Player's Hand.

 (iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand have the same Point Count or if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (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 and if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand result in a Panda 8.

 (ii) Lose if the Player's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Banker's Hand or if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (iii) Tie 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 Wager 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.

 (4) If offered by a certificate holder, a Dragon Bonus Wager on the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand, or both, which shall:

 (i) Win if the selected hand is:

 (A) A Natural and the other hand is not a Natural.

 (B) A Natural 9 and the other hand is a Natural 8.

 (C) Not a Natural and has a Point Count that exceeds the Point Count of the other hand by four or more points.

 (ii) Lose if the selected hand is:

 (A) A Natural 8 and the other hand is a Natural 9.

 (B) Not a Natural and has a Point Count less than or equal to the Point Count of the other hand.

 (C) Not a Natural and has a Point Count that exceeds the Point Count of the other hand by less than four points.

 (iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the selected hand is a Natural and the other hand is a Natural of equal Point Count.

 (5) A Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, if the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table, which shall:

 (i) Win if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand do not result in a Dragon 7.

 (6) A Panda 8 Insurance Wager, if the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table, which shall:

 (i) Win if the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand result in a Panda 8.

 (ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand do not result in a Panda 8.

 (7) If offered by a certificate holder, a House Money Wager which shall:

 (i) Win if the first two cards of either the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand, or both, are a pair. For purposes of the House Money Wager, a pair must be of same rank (two queens, for example), regardless of suit.

 (ii) Lose if in the first two cards dealt to the player's hand and the banker's hand, neither the player's hand nor the banker's hand contains a pair.

 (b) Wagers at Midibaccarat shall be made by placing value chips or plaques on the appropriate areas of the Midibaccarat layout. Verbal wagers accompanied by cash may be accepted provided that the verbal wagers are confirmed by the dealer and the cash is expeditiously converted into value chips or plaques.

 (c) A wager may not be made, increased or withdrawn after the dealer has announced ''no more bets.''

§ 629a.8. 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 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 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.

 (1) After all four cards have been dealt, the dealer shall place the Banker's Hand underneath the right corner of the dealing shoe. 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.

 (2) 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.

 (3) Prior to dealing a third card to the Player's or Banker's Hand, the dealer shall settle all House Money Wagers as follows:

 (i) If a player placed a House Money Wager, after the initial two cards of the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand have been turned face up on the layout, beginning from the dealer's right and moving counterclockwise around the table, the dealer shall collect all losing House Money wagers and pay all winning wagers in accordance with § 629a.12(h) (relating to payout odds; vigorish) provided that, at a player's discretion, the player may add the winning House Money payout to the player's original wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand in accordance with the following:

 (A) All of the winning House Money payout or, if specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), only a specified portion of the winning House Money payout shall be added to the area designated for the placement of the player's original wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand. The player's original wager and the House Money payout which was added to the player's original wager shall then be settled based on the outcome of the player's wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand.

 (B) A player may not touch the winning House Money payout. The dealer shall either hand the entire winning House Money payout to the player or place all or a portion thereof, as authorized by the certificate holder, on the area designated for the placement of the player's wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand.

 (ii) After settling the House Money Wagers, the game shall resume by dealing any third cards that are required to be dealt.

 (4) 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.

 (5) 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.

 (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, 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.

 (d) The dealer or floorperson assigned to the table may require any player to relinquish the right to turn over the cards in accordance with subsection (c) if the player unreasonably delays the game. If 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. If the player does not accept it or there is not a player in that position, the dealer shall offer it to each of the other players in turn, moving 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.

§ 629a.12. Payout odds; vigorish.

 (a) A winning wager made on the Player's Hand shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1.

 (b) A winning Tie Wager shall be paid at odds of at least 8 to 1.

 (c) A winning wager made on the Banker's Hand shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1, except that the certificate holder shall extract a vigorish from the winning players in an amount equal to 5% of the amount won unless the certificate holder is offering EZ Baccarat in which vigorish is not collected. When collecting the vigorish, the certificate holder may round off the vigorish to 25¢ or the next highest multiple of 25¢.

 (d) A dealer shall collect the vigorish from a player in accordance with one of the following procedures selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):

 (1) At the time the winning payout is made.

 (2) At a later time, provided that:

 (i) The 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.

 (ii) The amount of the vigorish shall be tracked by placing a coin or marker button, which contains the amount of the vigorish owed, in the rectangular space on the layout that is imprinted with the number of the player owing the vigorish.

 (iii) The coin or marker button may not be removed from the layout until the vigorish owed is collected.

 (e) If a certificate holder offers the Dragon Bonus Wager, in accordance with § 629a.7(a)(4) (relating to wagers), a vigorish may not be extracted on a winning Dragon Bonus Wager. Winning Dragon Bonus Wagers shall be paid out at the odds in one of the following paytables selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2:

Hand	Paytable A	Paytable B	Paytable C
Win by 9 points	30 to 1	20 to 1	30 to 1
Win by 8 points	10 to 1	8 to 1	10 to 1
Win by 7 points	6 to 1	7 to 1	4 to 1
Win by 6 points	4 to 1	4 to 1	4 to 1
Win by 5 points	2 to 1	3 to 1	2 to 1
Win by 4 points	1 to 1	1 to 1	2 to 1
Natural winner	1 to 1	1 to 1	1 to 1
Natural tie	Push	Push	Push

 (f) A winning Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, as described in § 629a.7(a)(5), shall be paid at odds of 40 to 1.

 (g) A winning Panda 8 Insurance Wager, as described in § 629a.7(a)(6), shall be paid at odds of 25 to 1.

 (h) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager and the player elects to take the payout, the player shall be paid in accordance with the following paytable:

Hand	Odds
Player and Banker Pair	15 to 1
Player or Banker Pair	3 to 1

CHAPTER 631a. BACCARAT

§ 631a.2. Baccarat table physical characteristics.

 (a) Baccarat shall be played on a table having numbered positions for 10 to 14 seated players.

 (b) The layout for a Baccarat table shall be submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations and approved in accordance with § 601a.10(a) (relating to approval of table layouts, signage and equipment) and contain, at a minimum:

 (1) The name or logo of the certificate holder.

 (2) Separate areas designated for the placement of wagers on the Banker's Hand, Player's Hand and Tie Hand for each player.

 (3) The payout odds for all permissible wagers offered by the certificate holder. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds shall be posted at each Baccarat table.

 (4) An area designated for the placement of cards for the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand.

 (5) If a certificate holder offers the Dragon Bonus Wager, authorized under § 631a.8(a)(4) (relating to wagers), separate areas designated for the placement of the Dragon Bonus Wager for each player.

 (6) If a certificate holder offers EZ Baccarat:

 (i) Separate areas designated for the placement of the Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, authorized under § 631a.8(a)(5),for each player.

 (ii) Inscriptions that advise patrons that a wager on the Banker's Hand that results in a Dragon 7 shall push and be returned to the player. If the information is not inscribed on the layout, a sign containing the information must be posted at each Baccarat table.

 (iii) Separate areas designated for the placement of the Panda 8 Insurance Wager, authorized under § 631a.8(a)(6),for each player.

 (7) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager, authorized under § 631a.8(a)(7), separate areas designated for the placement of the House Money Wager for each player.

 (8) Numbered areas that correspond to the seat numbers for the purpose of marking vigorish unless the dealer, in accordance with the option selected in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), collects the vigorish from a player at the time the winning payout is made or the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table in which vigorish is not collected.

 (c) If marker buttons are used for the purpose of marking vigorish, the marker buttons shall be placed in the table inventory 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 container during gaming activity.

 (d) Each Baccarat table must have a drop box and a tip box attached on the same side of the gaming 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.

 (e) Each Baccarat table must have a discard bucket on dealer's side of the table.

§ 631a.8. Wagers.

 (a) The following are permissible wagers in 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 unless EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (ii) Lose if the Banker's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Player's Hand.

 (iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand have the same Point Count or if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (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 and if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand result in a Panda 8.

 (ii) Lose if the Player's Hand has a Point Count lower than that of the Banker's Hand or if EZ Baccarat is being played and the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (iii) Tie 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 Wager 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.

 (4) If offered by a certificate holder, a Dragon Bonus Wager on the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand, or both, which shall:

 (i) Win if the selected hand is:

 (A) A Natural and the other hand is not a Natural.

 (B) A Natural 9 and the other hand is a Natural 8.

 (C) Not a Natural and has a Point Count that exceeds the Point Count of the other hand by four or more points.

 (ii) Lose if the selected hand is:

 (A) A Natural 8 and the other hand is a Natural 9.

 (B) Not a Natural and has a Point Count less than or equal to the Point Count of the other hand.

 (C) Not a Natural and has a Point Count that exceeds the Point Count of the other hand by less than four points.

 (iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the selected hand is a Natural and the other hand is a Natural of equal Point Count.

 (5) A Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, if the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table, which shall:

 (i) Win if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand result in a Dragon 7.

 (ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Banker's Hand and the Player's Hand do not result in a Dragon 7.

 (6) A Panda 8 Insurance Wager, if the table is designated for play as an EZ Baccarat table, which shall:

 (i) Win if the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand result in a Panda 8.

 (ii) Lose if the Point Counts of the Player's Hand and the Dealer's Hand do not result in a Panda 8.

 (7) If offered by a certificate holder, a House Money Wager which shall:

 (i) Win if the first two cards of either the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand, or both, are a pair. For purposes of the House Money Wager, a pair must be of the same rank (two queens, for example), regardless of suit.

 (ii) Lose if in the first two cards dealt to the player's hand and the banker's hand, neither the player's hand nor the banker's hand contains a pair.

 (b) Wagers at Baccarat shall be made by placing value chips or plaques on the appropriate areas of the Baccarat layout. Verbal wagers accompanied by cash may be accepted provided that the verbal wagers are confirmed by the dealer and the cash is expeditiously converted into value chips or plaques.

 (c) A wager may not be made, increased or withdrawn after the dealer has announced ''no more bets.''

§ 631a.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 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. Except as provided in subsection (d), after the cards are dealt to each hand, the dealer calling the game shall place the cards face up in front of himself. Any third cards that are required to be dealt shall first be dealt face up to the Player's Hand and then to the Banker's Hand by the curator.

 (d) A certificate holder may, if specified in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), elect to use the following procedures in lieu of the procedures in subsection (c) and § 631a.10(a) (relating to procedure for dealing a third card), after all four cards have been dealt:

 (1) The curator 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

 (e) After the initial two cards of the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand have been turned face up on the layout but prior to dealing a third card in accordance with subsections (c) and (d), the dealer shall settle all House Money Wagers as follows:

 (1) If a player placed a House Money Wager, beginning from the dealer's right and moving counterclockwise around the table, the dealer shall collect all losing House Money wagers and pay all winning wagers in accordance with § 631a.13(h) (relating to payout odds; vigorish) provided that, at a player's discretion, the player may add the winning House Money payout to the player's original wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand in accordance with the following:

 (i) All of the winning House Money payout or, if specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2, only a specified portion of the winning House Money payout shall be added to the area designated for the placement of the player's original wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand. The player's original wager and the House Money payout which was added to the player's original wager shall then be settled based on the outcome of the player's wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand.

 (ii) A player may not touch the winning House Money payout. The dealer shall either hand the entire winning House Money payout to the player or place all or a portion thereof, as authorized by the certificate holder, on the area designated for the placement of the player's wager on the Player's or Banker's Hand.

 (2) After settling the House Money Wagers, the game shall resume by dealing any third cards that are required to be dealt in accordance with subsection (c) or (d)(4).

 (f) The dealer or floorperson assigned to the table may require any player to relinquish the right to turn over the cards in accordance with subsection (d) if the player unreasonably delays the game. If 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. If the player does not accept it or there is not a player in that position, the dealer shall offer it to each of the other players in turn, moving 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.

§ 631a.13. Payout odds; vigorish.

 (a) A winning wager made on the Player's Hand shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1.

 (b) A winning Tie Wager shall be paid at odds of at least 8 to 1.

 (c) A winning wager made on the Banker's Hand shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1, except that the certificate holder shall extract a vigorish from the winning players in an amount equal to 5% of the amount won, unless the certificate holder is offering EZ Baccarat in which vigorish is not collected. When collecting the vigorish, the certificate holder may round off the vigorish to 25¢ or the next highest multiple of 25¢.

 (d) A dealer shall collect the vigorish from a player in accordance with one of the following procedures selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions):

 (1) At the time the winning payout is made.

 (2) At a later time, provided that:

 (i) The 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.

 (ii) The amount of the vigorish shall be tracked by placing a coin or marker button, which contains the amount of the vigorish owed, in the rectangular space on the layout that is imprinted with the number of the player owing the vigorish.

 (iii) The coin or marker button may not be removed from the layout until the vigorish owed is collected.

 (e) If a certificate holder offers the Dragon Bonus Wager, in accordance with § 631a.8(a)(4) (relating to wagers), a vigorish may not be extracted on a winning Dragon Bonus Wager. Winning Dragon Bonus Wagers shall be paid out at the odds in one of the following paytables selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2:

Hand	Paytable A	Paytable B	Paytable C
Win by 9 points	30 to 1	20 to 1	30 to 1
Win by 8 points	10 to 1	8 to 1	10 to 1
Win by 7 points	6 to 1	7 to 1	4 to 1
Win by 6 points	4 to 1	4 to 1	4 to 1
Win by 5 points	2 to 1	3 to 1	2 to 1
Win by 4 points	1 to 1	1 to 1	2 to 1
Natural winner	1 to 1	1 to 1	1 to 1
Natural tie	Push	Push	Push

 (f) A winning Dragon 7 Insurance Wager, as described in § 631a.8(a)(5), shall be paid out at odds of 40 to 1.

 (g) A winning Panda 8 Insurance Wager, as described in § 631a.8(a)(6), shall be paid at odds of 25 to 1.

 (h) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager and the player elects to take the payout, the player shall be paid in accordance with the following paytable:

Hand	Odds
Player and Banker Pair	15 to 1
Player or Banker Pair	3 to 1

CHAPTER 633a. BLACKJACK

§ 633a.7. Procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play.

*  *  *  *  *

 (g) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, but prior to any additional cards being dealt or before any card reader device is utilized, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, settle the player's optional wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers as follows:

*  *  *  *  *

 (8) If a player placed a Three Card Poker Wager and the dealer's up card and the player's initial two cards form a three-card Poker hand of a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, straight or a flush, the dealer shall pay the winning Three Card Poker Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(k).

 (9) If a player placed a Straight Jack Progressive Wager and the player's initial two cards do not form a two-card straight, the dealer shall collect the player's Straight Jack Progressive Wager.

 (10) If a player placed a House Money Wager and the player's initial two cards do not form a two-card straight, a pair, a two-card straight flush or an ace-king suited, the dealer shall collect the player's House Money Wager. If a player has a winning hand:

 (i) And the dealer's up card is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, the dealer shall determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack in accordance with subsection (h). If the dealer:

 (A) Has a Blackjack, the dealer shall pay the winning House Money Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(n).

 (B) Does not have a Blackjack, the dealer shall follow the requirements in subparagraph (ii).

 (ii) And the dealer's up card is not an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, the dealer shall pay all winning wagers in accordance with § 633a.13(n) provided that, at a player's discretion, the player may add the winning House Money payout to the player's Blackjack Wager in accordance with the following:

 (A) All of the winning House Money payout or, if specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), only a specified portion of the winning House Money payout shall be added to the area designated for the placement of the player's Blackjack Wager.

 (B) A player may not touch the winning House Money payout. The dealer shall either hand the entire winning House Money payout to the player or place all or a portion thereof, as authorized by the certificate holder, on the area designated for the placement of the player's Blackjack Wager. If a player has a Blackjack, the player may add the House Money payout to the Blackjack Wager.

 (C) If the player adds the House Money payout to his Blackjack Wager, the House Money payout and the Blackjack Wager must be considered the entire Blackjack Wager. Thus, if the player elects to split in accordance with § 633a.11 (relating to splitting pairs) or doubles down in accordance with § 633a.10 (relating to Double Down Wager), the player shall match the entire Blackjack Wager.

 (h) After settling the player's optional wagers in accordance with subsection (g), if the dealer's first card is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, the dealer shall, after offering the Insurance Wager or even money in accordance with § 633a.8 (relating to Insurance Wager), 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 each player's Blackjack Wager and the Bad Beat, Hit and Run Progressive and Insurance Wagers, if applicable, shall be settled.

 (i) After the procedures in subsection (h) have been completed, if necessary, 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 and the dealer's up card:

 (i) Is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the dealer shall announce and pay the Blackjack and remove the player's cards.

 (ii) Is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10 but the dealer's hole card will not give the dealer a Blackjack, the dealer shall announce the player's Blackjack but may not make a payment nor remove any cards until all other cards are dealt to the players and the dealer reveals the hole card.

 (2) Does not have Blackjack, the player shall indicate whether he wishes to surrender, as permitted under § 633a.9 (relating to surrender), double down as permitted under § 633a.10 split pairs as permitted under § 633a.11 stand or draw additional cards.

 (j) As each player indicates his decision, the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate the player's decision.

 (k) 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.

 (l) 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. Any additional cards required to be dealt to the hand of the dealer, in accordance with subsection (m), shall be dealt face up. The dealer shall announce the dealer's total point count after each additional card is dealt.

 (m) Except as provided in subsection (n), the dealer shall draw additional cards until he has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.

 (n) A dealer shall draw no 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.

 (o) After all additional cards have been dealt to the players and the dealer, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, settle the remaining optional wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers as follows:

 (1) If a player placed a Bad Beat Progressive Wager:

 (i) A player shall win if the player's hand has a total point count of 20 and the dealer has Blackjack or the total point count of the dealer's hand is 21. If selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2, a player may also win if the total point count of the player's hand is 20, irrespective of the total point count of the dealer's hand.

 (ii) If a player has won the Bad Beat Progressive Wager or a Magic Card or Lucky Player Bonus, if offered by the certificate holder, the dealer shall:

 (A) Verify that the hand is a winning hand.

 (B) Have a floorperson or above verify any Bad Beat Progressive payout with odds of 100 for 1 or greater in accordance with approved internal control procedures submitted under § 465a.2 (relating to internal control systems and audit protocols).

 (C) Credit the player's game account for the winning Bad Beat Progressive Wager or the Magic Card or Lucky Player Bonus in accordance with § 633a.13(j). If more than one player at the table has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, each player shall share the maximum amount proportionally to the amount of the player's respective Bad Beat Progressive Wager.

 (2) If a player placed a Hit and Run Progressive Wager:

 (i) A player shall win if the dealer has Blackjack or the dealer's hand has five or more cards inclusive of any card which would give the dealer's hand a total point count of greater than 21. For example, if the dealer's hand has a total point count of 14 with five cards drawn and the dealer draws an additional card resulting in a total point count of 23, the dealer's sixth card shall also count toward the Hit and Run Progressive payout.

 (ii) If a player has won the Hit and Run Progressive Wager, the dealer shall:

 (A) Verify that the hand is a winning hand.

 (B) Have a floorperson or above verify any Hit and Run Progressive payout with odds of 200 for 1 or greater in accordance with approved internal control procedures submitted under § 465a.2.

 (C) Pay the player the winning Hit and Run Progressive Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(l). If a player has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, the progressive payout may not be paid from the table inventory container. If a player has won a progressive payout that is not being paid from the table inventory container, the cards of the player must remain on the table until the necessary documentation has been completed. If more than one player at the table has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, each player shall share the maximum amount equally.

 (3) If a player placed a Straight Jack Progressive Wager:

 (i) A player shall win if the player's initial two cards were a two-card straight. Each additional card drawn by the player which does not break the sequence of the two-card straight shall result in a payout increase, provided that an ace, king shall be a two-card straight. For example, if the player's initial two cards are a 4 and a 5 and the player draws:

 (A) A 6, the player has a three-card straight.

 (B) A 3 then a 6, the player has a four-card straight.

 (C) A 2 then a 3, the 2 breaks the sequence and the player has a two-card straight.

 (D) A 6 then a 7, resulting in a hand with a total point count greater than 21, the last card drawn may not count toward the Straight Jack Progressive Payout. The player will receive a payout for only a three-card straight.

 (ii) If a player has won the Straight Jack Progressive Wager, the dealer shall:

 (A) Verify that the hand is a winning hand.

 (B) Have a floorperson or above verify any Straight Jack Progressive Payout with odds of 100 for 1 or greater in accordance with approved internal control procedures submitted under § 465a.2.

 (C) Pay the player the winning Straight Jack Progressive Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(m). If a player has won a progressive payout that is 10% or more of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, the progressive payout may not be paid from the table inventory container. If a player has won a progressive payout that is not being paid from the table inventory container, the cards of the player must remain on the table until the necessary documentation has been completed. If more than one player at the table has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, each player shall share the maximum amount equally.

 (p) A player shall win the Blackjack Wager and be paid in accordance with the payout odds in § 633a.13(a) 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.

 (2) The total point count of the player's hand exceeds the total point count of the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.

 (3) The player has a Blackjack and the dealer's hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.

 (q) A Blackjack Wager shall tie and be returned to the player if the total point count of the player's hand is the same as the dealer's. A player's Blackjack Wager shall be lost if the dealer has a Blackjack and the player's hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.

 (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:

 (1) Collect all losing wagers and then pay off all winning wagers.

 (2) Pay off all winning wagers and collect all losing 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 winning wagers by using value chips collected from a losing wager.

 (s) After all wagers have been settled, the dealer shall remove all 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) Except as provided in § 633a.12(b), players and spectators may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Blackjack.

§ 633a.13. Payout odds; payout limitation.

*  *  *  *  *

 (l) If the certificate holder offers the Hit and Run Progressive Wager:

 (1) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Hit and Run Progressive Wagers at the odds in the following paytable:

Hand	Payout
Dealer has:
Eight or more cards	100% of meter
Seven cards	200 for 1
Six cards	25 for 1
Five cards	8 for 1
Blackjack	4 for 1

 (2) The rate of progression for the meter used for the Hit and Run Progressive Wager must be specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2. The initial and reset amounts must also be in the Rules Submission and at least $1,000.

 (m) If the certificate holder offers the Straight Jack Progressive Wager:

 (1) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Straight Jack Progressive Wagers at the odds in the following paytable:

Hand	Payout
Player has:
Six-card straight with an ace of spades	100% of meter and 200 to 1
Six-card straight with an ace of   diamonds, clubs or hearts	10% of meter and 200 to 1
Five-card straight	200 to 1
Four-card straight	50 to 1
Three-card straight	15 to 1
Two-card straight	3 to 1

 (2) The rate of progression for the meter used for the Straight Jack Progressive Wager must be specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2. The initial and reset amounts must also be in the Rules Submission and be at least $5,000.

 (n) If a certificate holder offers the House Money Wager and the player elects to take the payout, the player shall be paid in accordance with the following paytable:

 (1) If a single deck of cards is being used:

Hand	Odds
Ace-king suited	9 to 1
Two-card straight flush	5 to 1
Pair	3 to 1
Two-card straight	1 to 1

 (2) If multiple decks of cards are being used:

Hand	Odds
Ace-king suited	9 to 1
Two-card straight flush	4 to 1
Pair	3 to 1
Two-card straight	1 to 1

 (o) Notwithstanding the payout odds in subsections (b) and (g), a certificate holder may, in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2, establish a maximum amount that is payable to a player with a queen of hearts pair and dealer Blackjack or king of spades pair and dealer Blackjack that is payable to all winning hands in the aggregate on a single round of play. The maximum payout amount shall be at least $25,000 or the maximum amount that one patron could win per round when betting the maximum possible wager, whichever is greater. If a certificate holder establishes a maximum payout, and more than one player at a table has a winning hand of queen of hearts pair and dealer Blackjack or king of spades pair and dealer Blackjack, each player shall share the maximum payout amount proportionately to the amount of the player's respective wager. Any maximum payout limit established by the certificate holder shall apply only to payouts of Royal Match 21 Wagers and King's Bounty Wagers.

CHAPTER 635a. SPANISH 21

§ 635a.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 or jack.

 (b) An Insurance Wager shall be made by placing a value chip on the insurance line of the layout in an amount not more than 1/2 the player's initial Spanish 21 Wager. A player may wager an amount in excess of 1/2 the initial Spanish 21 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 Spanish 21 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 § 635a.12(d) (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.

CHAPTER 637a. POKER

§ 637a.10. Seven-card Stud Poker; procedures for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play.

*  *  *  *  *

 (l) In Seven-card Stud High-low Split Poker and Seven-card Stud High-low Split Eight or Better Poker, an ace may be used concurrently as a low hand card to make up a low hand and as a high card to make up a high Poker hand.

 (m) Notwithstanding the requirements in subsection (c), if the certificate holder is offering Super Seven-card Stud High-low Split Eight or better, starting with the first player to the dealer's left and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, the dealer shall deal four rounds of cards face down and one round of cards face up to each player. After examining the cards, each player shall discard two cards. The first betting round shall commence in accordance with subsection (d).

§ 637a.21. Badugi Poker; procedures for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play.

 (a) A certificate holder that offers Badugi Poker shall observe the procedures in this section.

 (b) No more than nine players may participate in a Badugi Poker game. Each player who elects to participate in a round of play may be required to place an Ante bet. The rules governing the placement of an Ante bet and the amount of the Ante bet, if any, and the Kill or Half-kill option, if offered, must be specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions) and posted on a sign at each Poker table.

 (c) A button shall be used to indicate the order in which the cards shall be dealt and the order in which players shall bet in accordance with the following procedures:

 (1) At commencement of play, the button shall be placed in front of either:

 (i) The first player to the right of the dealer.

 (ii) The player randomly determined by rank of a single card dealt.

 (2) Thereafter, the button shall rotate around the table in a clockwise manner after each round of play.

 (d) Before any cards are dealt, the player to the immediate left of the button shall initiate the first betting round by placing a Blind Bet. A certificate holder may require additional Blind Bets to be made immediately after the initial Blind Bet. The amount and number of all Blind Bets required must be specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 and posted on a sign at the table.

 (e) The player to the left of the player who placed a Blind Bet may place a Straddle Bet, if offered by the certificate holder. The rules governing the placement of a Straddle Bet and the amount of the Straddle Bet, if any, must be specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2 and posted on a sign at each Poker table. No more than one Straddle Bet may be made during a round of play.

 (f) Starting with the player to the immediate left of the button and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, the dealer shall deal four rounds of cards face down to each player. The player with the button shall be the last player to receive a card each time.

 (g) After each player has been dealt four cards in accordance with subsection (f), each player, starting with the player to the left of the player or players who were required to place a Blind Bet or the player who placed a Straddle Bet, if offered, and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, may fold, call or raise the bet. The option to raise also applies to a player who made a Blind Bet or Straddle Bet. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.

 (h) The dealer shall then burn the top card of the deck. Each player who has not folded, starting with the player to the immediate left of the button and continuing in a clockwise rotation, shall have the opportunity to draw new cards one player at a time. Each player may keep his original hand or discard as many cards as he chooses. Each discarded card shall be replaced by the dealer with a new card from the deck. If an insufficient number of cards remain in the deck for a player to draw new cards, the discarded cards, except the cards discarded by that player, shall be reshuffled and the new cards shall be dealt to the player. The first player to the left of the button who has not folded shall commence the next betting round and may bet or check. Each subsequent player may, in clockwise rotation, fold, call, raise or, if preceding players have not made a bet, make an opening bet or check. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the second betting round shall be considered complete.

 (i) Upon completion of the second betting round, the dealer shall burn the top card of the deck. Each player who has not folded shall then have the opportunity to draw new cards in accordance with subsection (h). The next betting round shall be commenced and completed in accordance with subsection (h).

 (j) Upon completion of the third betting round, the dealer shall burn the top card of the deck. Each player who has not folded shall then have the opportunity to draw new cards in accordance with subsection (h). The fourth and final betting round shall be commenced and completed in accordance with subsection (h).

 (k) If more than one player remains in the round of play after the final betting round has been completed, a showdown shall be used to determine the winner of the pot based upon the following rankings in order from highest to lowest:

 (1) The lowest Badugi hand shall win the pot. For purposes of this section, a Badugi hand shall be a hand in which each of the player's four cards are of a different suit from the others and rank in accordance with § 637a.6(c) (relating to Poker rankings) with the best Badugi hand being an ace, 2, 3 and 4.

 (2) If no players have a Badugi, the player with the lowest hand containing three cards, each of which are a different suit and rank.

 (3) If no players have three cards of a different suit and rank than the player with the lowest hand containing two cards, each of which are a different suit and rank shall win the pot.

 (4) If no remaining players have a hand containing two cards of a different suit and rank than the player with the lowest card.

 (5) If a tie exists between two or more players, the pot shall be divided equally among the tied players. If the pot cannot be divided equally among the tied players, the excess, which may not exceed $1, shall be given to the player specified in the certificate holder's Rules Submission under § 601a.2.

[Continued on next Web Page]

---

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.

---