§ 1112a.7. Video gaming terminal minimum design standards.
(a) A video gaming terminal may not be set to pay out less than the theoretical payout percentage, which may not be less than 85%, calculated using the lowest possible wager that could be played for any single play, or equal or exceed 100%, calculated using the highest eligible wager available. The theoretical payout percentage for the total value of video gaming terminal wagers will be calculated using the following:
(1) The defined set of all symbols that will be displayed using spinning reels or video displays, or both.
(2) The finite set of all possible combinations which shall be known as the cycle of the game. All possible combinations in a video gaming terminal cycle must be independent of each other and of all possible combinations from cycles in other video gaming terminal.
(3) The value of each winning combination that corresponds with the set from paragraph (2) which, whether by reason of skill or application of the element of chance, or both, may deliver or entitle the person or persons playing the video gaming terminal to wins.
(4) The odds of any winning combination may not exceed 50 million to 1.
(b) The calculation of the theoretical payout percentage may not include the amount of any progressive wins in excess of the initial or reset amount.
(c) A play offered by a video gaming terminal may not have a theoretical payout percentage which is less than, when calculated to one hundredth of a percentage point, the theoretical payout percentage for any other play offered by that video gaming terminal which is activated by a video gaming terminal wager in a lesser amount than the video gaming terminal wager required for that play. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the theoretical payout percentage of one or more particular plays may be less than the theoretical payout percentage of one or more plays which require a lesser wager provided that:
(1) The aggregate total of the decreases in the theoretical payout percentage for plays offered by the video gaming terminal is not more than 1/2 of 1%.
(2) The theoretical payout percentage for every play offered by the video gaming terminal is equal to or greater than the theoretical payout percentage for the play that requires the lowest possible wager that will activate the video gaming terminal.
(d) The selection from the set of all possible combinations of symbols shall be made applying a pseudo random number generator. At a minimum, a pseudo random number generator must adhere to all of the following criteria:
(1) The random selection process must meet a 95% confidence interval.
(2) A random number generator must pass a standard chi-squared test for goodness of fit.
(3) Each possible video gaming terminal combination which produces winning or losing video gaming terminal outcomes must be available for random selection at the initiation of each play.
(4) A video gaming terminal payout percentage that may be affected by reason of skill must meet the theoretical payout requirements in this subpart when evaluated by the Board using a method of play that will provide the greatest return to the player.
(5) Once a random selection process has occurred, the video gaming terminal must do all of the following:
(i) Display an accurate representation of the randomly selected outcome.
(ii) Not make a secondary decision which affects the result shown to the person playing the video gaming terminal.
(e) A video gaming terminal is prohibited from automatically altering any function of the video gaming terminal based on internal computation of the hold percentage.
(f) The available winning combinations and applicable rules of play for a video gaming terminal must be available at all times the video gaming terminal is idle to the patron playing the video gaming terminal. The award schedule of available winning combinations may not include possible aggregate awards achievable from free plays. A video gaming terminal that includes a strategy choice must provide mathematically sufficient information for a patron to use optimal skill. Information regarding a strategy choice need not be made available for any strategy decisions whenever the patron is not required, in addition to the initial wager, to make an additional wager and, when as a result of playing a strategy choice, the patron cannot lose any credits earned thus far during that game play.
(g) Video gaming terminals approved for use in an establishment licensee’s facility must be equipped with all of the following meters that comply with the technical standards adopted by the Board and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and posted on the Board’s web site:
(1) Coin in. A meter that accumulates the total value of all wagers, whether the wager results from the insertion of currency, gaming vouchers, credits won or any other means. This meter must, for multigame and multidenomination/multigame video gaming terminal, monitor the information necessary, on a per paytable basis, to calculate a weighted average actual payout percentage.
(2) Coin out. A meter that accumulates the total value of all amounts directly paid by the video gaming terminal as a result of winning wagers, whether the payout is made directly from the printer by issuance of a gaming voucher, directly to a credit meter or by any other means. This meter may not record amounts awarded as the result of a progressive payout.
(3) Attendant paid cancelled credits. A meter that accumulates the total value of all amounts paid by an attendant resulting from a player initiated cash-out that exceeds the physical or configured capability of the video gaming terminal.
(4) Bill in. A meter that accumulates the total value of currency accepted. The video gaming terminal must also have a specific meter for each denomination of currency accepted that records the number of bills accepted for each denomination.
(5) Voucher in—cashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of cashable gaming vouchers accepted by the video gaming terminal.
(6) Voucher in—cashable/count. A meter that accumulates the total number of cashable gaming vouchers accepted by a video gaming terminal.
(7) Voucher out—cashable/value. A meter that accumulates the total value of cashable gaming vouchers issued by the video gaming terminal.
(8) Voucher out—cashable/count. A meter that records the total number of cashable gaming vouchers issued by a video gaming terminal.
(9) Video gaming terminal paid progressive payout. A meter that accumulates the total value of credits paid as a result of progressive awards paid directly by the video gaming terminal. This meter may not record awards paid as a result of an external bonusing system.
(10) Attendant paid progressive payout. A meter that accumulates the total value of credits paid by a video gaming terminal attendant as a result of progressive awards that are not capable of being paid by the video gaming terminal. This meter may not include awards paid as a result of an external bonusing system.
(11) Additional requirements. Other meters required by technical standards adopted by the Board and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and posted on the Board’s web site.
(h) A video gaming terminal that does not meter one or more of the events required to be metered under subsection (g) may be approved when a terminal operator’ssystem of internal controls establishes that the meter is not required to capture all critical transactions occurring on the video gaming terminal.
(i) The meters required under subsection (g) must continuously and automatically increment in units equal to the denomination of the video gaming terminal or, in the case of a video gaming terminal configured for multidenomination play, must display the required information in dollars and cents.
(j) A video gaming terminal approved for use in an establishment licensee’s must be equipped with all of the following noncumulative meters:
(1) Credits wagered. A meter, visible from the front exterior of a video gaming terminal, known as a credit wagered meter that advises the patron of the total value of amounts wagered in a particular game or round of video gaming.
(2) Win meter. A meter, visible from the front exterior of the video gaming terminal, known as a win meter that advises the patron of the total value of amounts won in the immediately concluded game or round of video gaming play.
(3) Credits paid. A meter, visible from the front exterior of the video gaming terminal, known as a credits paid meter that advises the patron of the total value of the last:
(i) Cash out initiated by the patron.
(ii) Attendant paid cancelled credit.
(4) Credit meter. A meter, visible from the front exterior of the video gaming terminal and specifically labeled as a credit meter, which advises the patron as to the number of credits or monetary value available for wagering on the video gaming terminal.
(k) A video gaming terminal must have a meter which stores the number of games played, in the manner and for a duration specified in this subpart or in technical standards adopted by the Board and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and posted on the Board’s web site, since the following events:
(1) Power reset.
(2) Door close.
(3) Game initialization (RAM clear).
(l) A video gaming terminal must be equipped with a device, mechanism or method for retaining the total value of all meters required under subsection (g) for 72 hours subsequent to a power loss.
(m) The required meters on a video gaming terminal must be accessible and legible without access to the interior of the video gaming terminal.
(n) A video gaming terminal must be equipped with a tower light capable of effectively communicating the status of the video gaming terminal in accordance with technical standards on tower lights and error conditions.
(o) A video gaming terminal must be equipped with a device, mechanism or method for detecting, displaying and communicating to a video gaming terminal monitoring system error conditions. The error conditions detected, displayed and communicated by a video gaming terminal, and the method to be utilized to clear the message with regard to the error condition, must be in accordance with technical standards on tower lights and error conditions.
(p) A video gaming terminal must, in accordance with 4 Pa.C.S. § 3309 (relating to central control computer system), comply with the comprehensive protocol specifications necessary to enable the video gaming terminal to communicate with the Department’s central control computer as that protocol is amended or supplemented, for the purpose of transmitting auditing program information, real time information retrieval and slot machine activation and disabling.
(q) Printers incorporated into a video gaming terminal must be:
(1) Designed to allow the video gaming terminal to detect and report a low paper level, paper out, presentation error, printer failure and paper jams.
(2) Mounted inside a lockable compartment within the video gaming terminal.
(r) Seating made available by a terminal operator licensee for use during video gaming play may be fixed and stationary or nonfixed. When fixed and stationary seating is used, it shall be installed in a manner that effectively precludes its ready removal by a patron but permits controlled removal, for example for American With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.A. § § 12101—12213) purposes. When nonfixed seating is used, the terminal operator shall maintain a minimum aisle width of 48 inches, measured from the seat back to a wall, divide or another seat back when the nonfixed seating is vacant and is touching or is as close as possible to the video gaming terminal at which the nonfixed seating is being used.
(s) Unless a terminal operator’s video gaming terminal monitoring system is configured to automatically record all of the information required by this subsection, the terminal operator is required to physically house in each video gaming terminal all of the following entry authorization logs:
(1) A machine entry authorization log that documents each time a video gaming terminal or any device connected thereto which may affect the operation of the video gaming terminal is opened. The log must contain, at a minimum, the date, time, purpose for opening the video gaming terminal or device, and the signature and license or permit number of the person opening and entering the video gaming terminal or device. Each log must have recorded thereon a sequence number and the manufacturer’s serial number or the asset number corresponding to the video gaming terminal in which it is housed.
(2) A progressive entry authorization log that documents each time a progressive controller not housed within the cabinet of the video gaming terminal is opened. The log must contain, at a minimum, the date, time, purpose for accessing the progressive controller, and the signature and license or permit number of the person accessing the progressive controller. Each log must be maintained in the progressive controller unit and have recorded thereon a sequence number and the manufacturer’s serial number of the progressive controller.
(t) A video gaming terminal must be equipped with a lock controlling access to the card cage door securing the microprocessor, the key to which must be different from any other key securing access to the video gaming terminal’s components including its belly door or main door, bill validator or video gaming terminal cash storage box. Access to the key securing the microprocessor shall be limited to an employee of a terminal operator whopossesses a valid gaming occupation permit, unless another person is specifically authorized to possess a key by the Board’s Executive Director.
(u) A video gaming terminal must be equipped with a mechanism for detecting and communicating to a video gaming terminal monitoring system any activity with regard to access to the card cage door securing its microprocessor.
(v) A video gaming terminal that does not require a full-time attendant for operation must be equipped with a service button designed to allow the player of a video gaming terminal to request assistance or report a terminal malfunction. The service button must:
(1) Be visible to and within easy reach of the player of the video gaming terminal.
(2) Communicate directly or through the video gaming terminal to the video gaming terminal’s tower light which will provide a signal that is in compliance with the technical standards on video gaming terminal tower lights.
(w) A video gaming terminal on the gaming floor must have a label on the top of the video gaming terminal and on the front of the video gaming terminal near the bill validator that displays the asset number and the gaming floor plan location number of the video gaming terminal. The labels must have white lettering on a black background or other color combination approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance, may not be easily removed and must be easily visible to surveillance cameras. The label on the top of the slot machine must be at least 1.5 inches by 5.5 inches and the label on the front of the video gaming terminal must be a least 1 inch by 2.5 inches or other sizes approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance.
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