§ 461a.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this subpart, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Asset number—A unique number assigned to a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table, electronic wagering terminal or piece of associated equipment by a slot machine licensee for the purpose of tracking the slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table, electronic wagering terminal or piece of associated equipment while owned by the slot machine licensee.
Automated jackpot payout machine—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to facilitate the payment of a jackpot that is not totally and automatically paid directly from a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table or electronic wagering terminal.
Bill validator—An electronic device designed to interface with a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table or electronic wagering terminal for the purpose of accepting and validating any combination of United States currency, gaming vouchers, coupons or other instruments authorized by the Board for incrementing credits on a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table or electronic wagering terminal.
Bonus award—An award of cash or credits to a randomly selected player that is not generated by the slot machine.
Cash equivalents—Instruments with a value equal to United States currency or coin including value chips and plaques, Counter Checks, personal checks, certified checks, cashier’s checks, travelers’ checks, money orders, gaming vouchers or other representations of value that the Board deems a cash equivalent.
Cashless funds transfer system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to facilitate the electronic transfer of cashable or noncashable credits to a patron at a slot machine.
Casino management system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to collect, monitor, interpret, analyze, report and audit data with regard to activity at slot machines, fully automated electronic gaming tables or electronic wagering terminals, inclusive of slot machine level accounting transactions, player tracking and productivity analysis.
Common carrier—An entity that transports persons or goods, and offers its services to the general public.
Conversion—A change or alteration to a slot machine that does not affect the manner or mode of play or operation of the slot machine.
Count team—The group of employees of a slot machine licensee who are responsible for counting the contents of slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes.
Coupon—An instrument issued by a slot machine licensee under which cashable or noncashable slot machine credits are provided directly or indirectly to a patron with or without regard to the identity of the patron or the patron’s level of gaming activity.
Coupon system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to facilitate the issuance of coupons, the acceptance of a coupon by a slot machine or its redemption at an automated coupon redemption machine, cashiers’ cage or other locations.
Currency cassette—A container that holds banknotes that are available for dispensing.
Double-up—An optional wager on a slot machine in which the player has a mathematically equal probability of winning or losing the wager.
Drop team—The group of employees of a slot machine licensee who are responsible for collecting and transporting slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes.
Educational institution—A facility that teaches and certifies students in slot machine design, operation, repair or servicing.
External bonusing system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used in conjunction with slot machines to deliver randomly selected player incentives (bonus awards) to active slot machine players and to effect the accurate metering of the bonus award event on the slot machine.
Fill—The distribution of gaming chips, coins and plaques to a gaming table to replenish the table inventory.
Finance department—The department that is responsible for the management of the financial and accounting activities relating to slot machines and table games being utilized in a licensed facility.
Gaming day—A period of time not to exceed 24 hours corresponding to the beginning and ending times of gaming activities for the purpose of accounting reports and determination of gross terminal and gross table game revenue.
Gaming voucher—An instrument that upon insertion into a bill validator entitles the patron inserting the gaming voucher to cashable or noncashable credits on a slot machine and cashable credits on an electronic gaming table corresponding to the value printed on the gaming voucher. A gaming voucher that contains noncashable credits may be used only for the purpose of slot machine gaming.
Gaming voucher system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to facilitate the issuance of gaming vouchers and the redemption of gaming vouchers by slot machines, fully automated electronic gaming tables, electronic wagering terminals, automated gaming voucher redemption machines, the cashiers’ cage or in other locations.
Hand pay—The payment of credits that are not totally and automatically paid directly from a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table or electronic wagering terminal.
Machine displayed payout percentage—The selectable payout percentage that is set by the slot machine licensee during the initial configuration or a subsequent reconfiguration of a slot machine and is displayed in the slot machine’s service menu during normal operation.
Manufacturer’s par sheet—A document supplied by the manufacturer that shows payable information including, but not limited to, theoretical payout percentage, winning combinations, awards and reel strips.
Merchandise jackpot—A slot machine jackpot in the form of:(i) A cash payout and a payout of merchandise or a thing of value.
(ii) An option to choose between a cash payout and a payout of merchandise or a thing of value.
Minimum payout percentage—The lowest aggregate awards expected to be paid out over one cycle of the game divided by the total number of combinations in the cycle of the game.
Modification—A change or alteration in a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table, electronic wagering terminal or associated equipment that affects the manner or mode of play or operation of the slot machine or associated equipment.(i) The term includes a change to control or graphics programs and to the theoretical hold percentage.
(ii) In the case of slot machines, the term does not include:
(A) A conversion.
(B) Replacement of one approved component with an identical component.
(iii) In the case of a wide area progressive system, the term includes a change in:
(A) A system name or theme.
(B) The odds to win the progressive payout.
(C) The reset amount.
(D) The rate at which a progressive award increases.
(E) The wager necessary to win the progressive payout.
Paytable—A selectable part of a slot machine program that contains slot machine characteristics including, but not limited to, the theoretical payout percentage, reel strips and awards.
Player rating—A score or ranking assigned to a player based on an evaluation of the amount and frequency of play by the person.
Player rating system—A computerized system by which a player is assigned a score or ranking based upon an evaluation of the amount and frequency of play by the person.
Player tracking system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to collect, monitor, interpret, analyze, authorize, report and audit data with regard to player activity generally or on an individual basis at slot machines or table games.
Progressive awards—The award to be paid out when the event in the progressive game that triggered the award occurs.
Progressive controller—A program or computer system, other than an approved program that controls the operation of the slot machine, which controls, adjusts and displays the amount of the progressive jackpot.
Progressive payout—A slot machine payout that increases in a monetary amount based on the amounts wagered in a progressive system.
Progressive slot machine—A slot machine that offers a jackpot that may increase in value based upon the slot machine wagers placed.
Pseudo random number generator—Software or hardware, or both, that ensures the randomness of slot machine outcomes.
RAM—Random access memory.
RAM clear—A process initiated by a service technician that results in the zeroing out of any meter information, configuration information or data stored in the memory of a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table, electronic wagering terminal or associated equipment.
Randomness—The observed unpredictability and absence of pattern in a set of elements or events that have definite probabilities of occurrence.
Reel strips—Components of a slot machine which display symbols.
Related systems—Systems which interface with slot machines or slot monitoring systems.
Remote system access—Connectivity to casino systems from outside the slot machine licensee’s network.
Reset amount—The award value that a progressive award will revert to after the progressive award is paid out.
Server supported slot system—One or more slot machines connected to a slot machine server and an associated computer network.
Skill—The application of intelligence and specific knowledge to achieve the best result when a slot machine offers a choice of options during game play.
Slot machine bill validator—A component, made up of software and hardware that accepts and reads instruments such as bills, vouchers and coupons, into gaming devices such as slot machines and automated gaming voucher and coupon redemption machines.
Slot machine server—A computer configured to receive, store, authenticate and download to slot machines, Board-approved slot machine game themes and other approved software.
Slot monitoring system—The collective hardware, software, communications technology and other ancillary equipment used to collect, monitor, interpret, analyze, authorize, report and audit data with regard to activity at slot machines, inclusive of slot machine meter readings, error conditions, slot machine security, accounting, player tracking and productivity analysis.
Slot operations department—The department that is responsible for all operations in any area of the licensed facility where slot machines are kept.
Slot system operator—The persons designated in a slot system agreement as being responsible for the operation and administration of a wide area progressive system.
Strategy choice—A particular play option on a slot machine that requires the use of skill to consistently achieve the best result.
Theme—A concept, subject matter and methodology of design of a slot machine.
Theoretical payout percentage—The aggregate awards expected to be paid out over one cycle of the game divided by the total number of combinations in the cycle of the game.
Trolley—A wheeled apparatus used for the secured transport of slot cash storage boxes and drop boxes.
Unredeemed gaming voucher—A gaming voucher that has not been presented to a slot machine licensee for redemption or a gaming voucher that has been found and returned to a slot machine licensee.
Wager—Placing at risk in a slot machine, fully automated electronic gaming table or electronic wagering terminal a coin, bill, ticket, gaming voucher, coupon or similar object or, upon payment of any consideration, including the use of cashless funds transfer systems and external bonusing systems.
Wide area progressive system—Progressive slot machines located at a licensed facility that are linked with progressive slot machines at another licensed facility.
Authority The provisions of this § 461a.1 amended under 4 Pa.C.S. § § 1202, 1207, 1322, 13A02(1)—(6), 13A25 and 13A62(a).
Source The provisions of this § 461a.1 amended July 27, 2007, effective July 28, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 4068; amended September 26, 2008, effective December 26, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 5316; amended October 10, 2008, effective October 11, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 5652; amended December 12, 2008, effective December 13, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 6749; amended July 24, 2009, effective July 25, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 4338; corrected July 31, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 4422; amended September 25, 2009, effective September 26, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 5562; amended May 11, 2012, effective May 12, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 2585; amended February 1, 2013, effective February 2, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 660; amended January 31, 2014, effective February 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 599; amended December 15, 2017, effective December 16, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 7563. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (370301) to (370306).
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