RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title 58—RECREATION
PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD
[58 PA. CODE CHS. 617b, 631b AND 633b]
Roulette Side Wagers and Variations; Baccarat Side Wagers and Variations; Blackjack Side Wagers and Variations; Temporary Regulations
[51 Pa.B. 7468]
[Saturday, December 4, 2021]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. § 13A02(1) and (2) (relating to regulatory authority) and § 13A03 (relating to temporary table game regulations), adds the temporary regulations in Chapters 617b, 631b and 633b (relating to Roulette side wagers and variations—temporary regulations; Baccarat side wagers and variations—temporary regulations; and Blackjack side wagers and variations—temporary regulations) to read as set forth in Annex A. The Board's temporary regulations will be added to Part VII (relating to Gaming Control Board) as part of Subpart K (relating to table games).
Purpose of this Temporary Rulemaking
This temporary rulemaking adds several new side wagers and variations to existing games available for play in this Commonwealth, as well as making a modification to a currently existing side wager in the Board's temporary regulations.
Explanation
Chapter 617b includes the modified version of Roulette entitled Lightning Roulette. Lightning Roulette allows a patron to potentially have a winning straight wager pay out at significantly increased odds. After the placement of all bets and prior to the spin of the wheel, a random number generator will select from 1 to 5 Lucky Numbers on the layout, and will assign each one an increased payout. If a player placed a straight wager on one of the Lucky Numbers and the ball ends up in that compartment, the player wins that increased payout amount as opposed to the traditional 35-to-1 payout.
The addition to Chapter 631b is the Majestic Match side wager. This wager wins if the player's hand or the banker's hand have either a Royal Match (suited King and Queen) or a Suited Match (two cards of the same suit) in the initial two cards dealt.
Additions and modifications to Chapter 633b include a change to the Buster Blackjack side wager and the new Upcard Lucky side wager. The modification to the Buster Blackjack side wager involves permitting the game to be played on a gaming table with four decks of cards and includes a paytable for that instance. The Upcard Luck wager wins if the dealer's upcard is a 2 through 7 and the player's initial two cards total 9 through 11, 18 through 20 or are a Blackjack.
Fiscal Impact
Commonwealth. The Board does not expect that this temporary rulemaking will have a fiscal impact on the Board or other Commonwealth agencies. Updates to Rules Submission forms and internal control procedures will be reviewed by existing Board staff.
Political subdivisions. This temporary rulemaking will not have fiscal impact on political subdivisions of this Commonwealth.
Private sector. This temporary rulemaking will provide certificate holders with an additional table game option. If a certificate holder decides to offer any of the side wagers or variations, or both—temporary regulations within the licensed facility, the certificate holder will be required to train their dealers on the rules of play and purchase new equipment—specifically table layouts corresponding to the game and wagers offered. Costs incurred to train employees or purchase/lease equipment should be offset by the proceeds of gaming.
General public. This temporary rulemaking will not have a fiscal impact on the general public.
Paperwork Requirements
If a certificate holder seeks to offer any of the side wagers or variations contained in these temporary regulations the certificate holder will be required to submit a Rules Submission form reflecting the choices in how the game will be offered and with the selected side wagers and variations identified. These forms are available on the Board's public web site and submitted to Board staff electronically.
Effective Date
This temporary rulemaking will become effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and will expire 3 years from the date of publication.
Public Comments
While this temporary rulemaking will be effective upon publication, the Board is seeking comments from the public and affected parties as to how this temporary regulation might be improved. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding this temporary rulemaking within 30 days after the date of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin to Chad W. Zimmermann, Assistant Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, P.O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060, Attention: Public Comment on Regulation # 125-239.
Contact Person
The contact person for questions about this temporary rulemaking is Chad W. Zimmermann, Assistant Chief Counsel at (717) 346-8300.
Regulatory Review
Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1303A, the Board is authorized to adopt temporary regulations which are not subject to the provisions of sections 201—205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L. 769, No. 240) (45 P.S. §§ 1102—1208), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law; the Regulatory Review Act (71 P.S. §§ 745.1—745.14); 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 3 years after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Findings
The Board finds that:
(1) Under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1303A, the temporary regulations are exempt from the requirements of the Regulatory Review Act, sections 201—205 of the Commonwealth Documents Law and sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the Commonwealth Attorney Act.
(2) The adoption of the temporary regulations is necessary and appropriate for the administration and enforcement of 4 Pa.C.S. Part II (relating to gaming).
Order
The Board, acting under 4 Pa.C.S. Part II, orders that:
(1) The regulations of the Board, 58 Pa. Code Chapters 617b, 631b and 633b, are amended by adding §§ 617b.3, 631b.7 and 633b.15 and amending § 633b.13 to read as set forth in Annex A, with ellipses referring to the existing text of the regulation.
(2) The temporary regulations are effective December 4, 2021.
(3) The temporary regulations will be posted on the Board's web site and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(4) The temporary regulations shall be subject to amendment as deemed necessary by the Board.
(5) The Chairperson of the Board shall certify this order and Annex A and deposit them with the Legislative Reference Bureau as required by law.
DAVID M. BARASCH,
ChairpersonFiscal Note: 125-239. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A
TITLE 58. RECREATION
PART VII. GAMING CONTROL BOARD
Subpart K. TABLE GAMES
CHAPTER 617b. ROULETTE SIDE WAGERS AND VARIATIONS—TEMPORARY REGULATIONS § 617b.3. Lightning Roulette.
(a) A certificate holder may, if specified in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), offer to players a game variation entitled Lightning Roulette, where each player who placed and wins a straight wager in Roulette accordance with § 617a.3 (relating to placement of wagers) has the ability to win an increased payout based upon the results of a random number generator. If the certificate holder is offering Lightning Roulette, it must be played on a single zero Roulette wheel as described in § 617a.1(d) (relating to Roulette ball; Roulette wheel and table; physical characteristics; double zero Roulette wheel used as a single zero Roulette wheel).
(b) The layout for a Lightning Roulette table shall be submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations for approval in accordance with § 601a.10(a) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment). Any Lightning Roulette table shall have in place a Board approved Roulette random number generator that determines the Lucky Numbers and also determines the specific payout that will be paid for a winning straight wager placed on a Lucky Number.
(c) A player may place a straight wager before each Roulette spin at any time before the croupier calls, ''no more bets'' in accordance with § 617a.3 or before any betting time has expired.
(d) After all wagers have been placed, the random number generator shall be initiated and will select between 1 and 5 numbers on the layout that are the Lucky Numbers. The Lucky Numbers will be illuminated and will also indicate what the increased payout will be for a winning straight wager placed on that Lucky Number.
(e) If the Roulette ball comes to rest in one of the Lucky Numbers and a player has placed a straight wager on that number, the player's straight wager shall win and be paid based upon the increased payout displayed on the layout and listed in subsection (g).
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 617a.4 (relating to payout odds), if a player's straight wager wins but the number the player wagered on is not selected as a Lucky Number by the random number generator, the player shall be paid 29 to 1.
(g) The possible payouts, all of which shall be included in the certificate holder's Rules Submission form filed in accordance with § 601a.2, that may be selected by the random number generator are as follows:
(i) 499 to 1.
(ii) 399 to 1.
(iii) 349 to 1.
(iv) 299 to 1.
(v) 249 to 1.
(vi) 199 to 1.
(vii) 149 to 1.
(viii) 99 to 1.
(ix) 49 to 1.
CHAPTER 631b. BACCARAT SIDE WAGERS AND VARIATIONS—TEMPORARY REGULATIONS § 631b.7. Majestic Match wager.
(a) 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 game layouts, signage and equipment) and if the certificate holder offers the Majestic Match wager authorized under subsection (b), the layout shall contain separate areas designated for the placement of the Majestic Match wager on the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand for each player.
(b) A certificate holder may, if specified in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), offer to each player the option of placing a Majestic Match wager on the Player Hand, the Banker Hand or both, without the necessity of placing a Baccarat wager. The Majestic Match wager shall win if the initial two cards dealt to the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand or both contain a Royal Match or Suited Match.
(c) After the cards are positioned in accordance with § 631a.9(c) or (d)(1)—(3) (relating to hands of player and banker; procedure for dealing initial two cards to each hand), the dealer shall announce the Point Count of the Player's Hand and the Banker's Hand and shall settle any Majestic Match wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers. If a player placed the Majestic Match wager on the Player's Hand or the Banker's Hand and the initial two cards dealt to the Player's Hand or Banker's Hand:
(1) Are a Royal Match or Suited Match, the dealer shall pay the winning Majestic Match wager in accordance with subsection (d). If a player placed a Majestic Match wager on both the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand, and both the Player's Hand and Banker's Hand contain a Royal Match or Suited Match, the player shall receive a payout in accordance with subsection (d) for both winning hands.
(2) Do not contain a Royal Match or Suited Match, the dealer shall collect the Perfect Pairs wager.
(d) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Majestic Match wagers at the odds in the following paytable specified by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2:
Majestic Match
Outcome Payback Royal Match (Suited KQ) 25 to 1 Suited Match (Any Other Suited) 2.5 to 1 (e) For purposes of the Majestic Match wager, the following words and terms have the following meanings:
(1) Royal Match—The initial two cards dealt to the player or banker that are a King and Queen of the same suit.
(2) Suited Match—The initial two cards dealt to the player or banker that are of the same suit but are not a King and Queen.
CHAPTER 633b. BLACKJACK SIDE WAGERS AND VARIATIONS—TEMPORARY REGULATIONS § 633b.13. Buster Blackjack wager.
* * * * * (c) The Buster Blackjack wager may be offered on tables where Blackjack is played with one-deck, four-deck, six-deck or eight-deck shoes.
* * * * * (h) If the dealer's hand results in a bust, the Buster Blackjack wager wins, and shall be paid out based upon one of the following paytables which shall be specified in the Rules Submission under § 601a.2, with the payout determined by the number of cards in the dealer's hand when the bust occurs:
* * * * *
Four Deck Shoe
Dealer Busts with Paytable 8 or more cards 250 to 1 7 cards 50 to 1 6 cards 15 to 1 5 cards 4 to 1 4 cards 2 to 1 3 cards 2 to 1 * * * * * § 633b.15. Upcard Luck wager.
(a) A certificate holder may offer players the option to place an Upcard Luck wager that the dealer's upcard will be a 2 through 7 and that the player's two cards will total either 9 through 11, hard and soft 18 through 20 or will be a Blackjack.
(b) The Upcard Luck wager may be played on a Blackjack table that utilizes four, six or eight decks of cards.
(c) The layout for a 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 if the certificate holder offers the Upcard Luck Blackjack wager, in addition to the requirements in § 633a.2 (relating to Blackjack table; card reader device; physical characteristics; inspections) the layout shall contain a separate area for each player designated for the placement of the Upcard Luck Blackjack wager for each player.
(d) If specified in its Rules Submission required 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 § 633a.6(d) (relating to wagers), the option of placing Upcard Blackjack wager in any amount that does not exceed the player's Blackjack wager.
(e) After placing a Blackjack wager, as required in § 633a.6(d), and any optional wagers including the Upcard Luck Blackjack wager, the dealer shall announce ''No more bets.''
(f) The dealer shall then deal the cards in accordance with § 633a.7 (a)—(g). Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, but prior to any additional cards being dealt, the dealer shall settle any Upcard Blackjack wagers as follows:
(1) If the dealer's upcard is not a 2 through 7, the dealer shall collect the player's losing Upcard Luck wager.
(2) If the dealer's upcard is a 2 through 7 but the total of the player's two cards is 2 through 8 or 12 through 17, the dealer shall collect the player's losing Upcard Luck wager.
(3) If the dealer's upcard is 2 through 7 and the total of the player's two cards is 9 through 11 or 18 through 20, or if the player has Blackjack, the dealer shall pay the player's winning Upcard Luck wager in accordance with subsection (g).
(g) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Upcard Luck wagers at the odds in the following payout tables specified by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2:
Outcome (with Dealer Upcard 2—7) Payback Ace Spades and Jack Spades 80 to 1 Blackjack 8 to 1 9, 10 or 11 4 to 1 18, 19 or 20 (including soft totals) 3 to 1
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 21-1995. Filed for public inspection December 3, 2021, 9:00 a.m.]
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