§ 465a.9. Surveillance system; surveillance department control; surveillance department restrictions.
(a) The surveillance system of a licensed facility must comply with 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 57 (relating to Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act) and section 1522 of the act (relating to interception of oral communications) and shall be submitted to and approved by the Board under § 465a.2 (relating to internal control systems and audit protocols). The Bureau of Casino Compliance will review surveillance system specifications, inclusive of the camera configuration and any changes or modifications to the system specifications, to determine whether the system provides the adequate and effective surveillance of activities inside and outside the licensed facility mandated by section 1207(11) of the act (relating to regulatory authority of board). A slot machine licensee may not commence gaming operations until its surveillance system is approved by the Board.
(b) A slot machine licensee shall at all times provide the Board and the Pennsylvania State Police with access to its surveillance system and its transmissions. Each member of its surveillance department shall comply with any request made by the Board or the Pennsylvania State Police to:
(1) Use, as necessary, any surveillance monitoring room in the licensed facility.
(2) Display on the monitors in the monitoring room any event capable of being monitored by the surveillance system.
(3) Make a video and, if applicable, audio recording of, and take a still photograph of, any event capable of being monitored by the surveillance system.
(i) The slot machine licensee shall preserve and store each recording or photograph in accordance with the directions of the Board or the Pennsylvania State Police.
(ii) The Board and the Pennsylvania State Police shall have unfettered access to each recording or photograph. At the request of the Board or Pennsylvania State Police, access to a recording or photograph may be denied to a particular employee or department of the slot machine licensee.
(c) The surveillance system required in this section must include:
(1) Light sensitive cameras with lenses of sufficient magnification and 360° pan, tilt and zoom capabilities, without camera stops, to allow the operator to clandestinely monitor in detail and from various vantage points the following:
(i) The gaming conducted at the slot machines, electronic wagering terminals and fully automated electronic gaming tables in the licensed facility with sufficient clarity to read information on a reel strip or electronic table layout and the credit meter.
(ii) The gaming conducted at each table game that is not a fully automated electronic gaming table or an electronic wagering terminal in the licensed facility with sufficient clarity to identify patrons and dealers and sufficient coverage to simultaneously view the table and determine the configuration of wagers, card, dice and tile values and game outcomes.
(iii) The operations conducted at and in the main cage and any satellite cage.
(iv) The operations conducted at automated bill breaker machines, automated gaming voucher and coupon redemption machines, automated jackpot payout machines and automated teller machines.
(v) The count processes conducted in the count room.
(vi) The movement of cash, gaming chips and plaques, tip boxes, table game drop boxes, Bad Beat or High Hand Jackpot payout boxes and slot cash storage boxes within the licensed facility.
(vii) The entrances and exits to the licensed facility, the gaming floor and the count room.
(viii) Any other activity or areas designated by the Bureau of Casino Compliance.
(2) The following number of cameras dedicated to table games that are not electronic wagering terminals or fully automated electronic gaming tables:
(i) Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii)—(vii), at least one stationary camera for each table game offered by the licensed facility.
(ii) At least two stationary cameras for each Craps and Three Dice Football table, with one camera covering each end of the table.
(iii) At least two stationary cameras for each Baccarat table, with one camera covering each end of the table.
(iv) At least two stationary cameras for each Roulette table, with one camera covering the wheel and one camera covering the table layout.
(v) At least two stationary cameras for each Big Six Wheel, with one camera covering the wheel and one camera covering the table layout.
(vi) At least two stationary cameras for each Props & Hops table with one camera covering the designated circle on the table layout for the placement of the uncovered shaker and one camera covering the table layout.
(vii) At least two stationary cameras for each High Roll Dice table with one camera covering the throw box and one camera covering the remainder of the table.
(3) Additional cameras as required by the Bureau of Casino Compliance. The additional cameras may include cameras with 360° pan, tilt and zoom capabilities.
(4) Video recording equipment which, at a minimum, must:
(i) Permit the preservation and viewing of a clear copy of the transmission produced by any camera connected to the surveillance system.
(ii) Be capable of superimposing the time and date of the transmission on each recording made by the video recording equipment.
(iii) Enable the operator to identify and locate, through the use of a meter, counter or other device or method, a particular event which was recorded.
(5) Recording media which shall be replaced immediately upon the manifestation of significant degradation in the quality of the images or sound, if applicable, recorded thereon. If videotape is utilized, it may be used for no more than 1 year.
(6) One or more monitoring rooms in the licensed facility which shall be staffed by employees of the slot machine licensee’s surveillance department who shall at all times monitor the activities enumerated in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3). Each monitoring room shall be equipped with or serviced by:
(i) A communication system capable of monitoring all of the licensed facility’s security department activities.
(ii) Computer terminals which provide read only access to any computerized slot monitoring system or casino management system, or both, used by the slot machine licensee in its gaming operation.
(iii) Connections to all casino alarm systems. The systems must provide a visible, audible or combination signal. A robbery, fire or emergency alarm must be perceptually distinguishable from all nonemergency alarms.
(iv) An updated photo library, consisting of photographs that are no more than 4 years old, of all current employees of the slot machine licensee and a separate photo library that contains the photographs of individuals who are on the Board’s self-exclusion or exclusion list. These photo libraries shall be available to the Board and the Pennsylvania State Police.
(v) Current copies of the following:
(A) An operational blueprint of the gaming floor and all areas of the licensed facility with a camera overlay.
(B) A complete camera list, in a searchable format, which includes the following:
(I) Camera numbers.
(II) A description of the area under surveillance with each camera.
(III) The type of camera such as stationary or a camera with pan, tilt and zoom capabilities.
(IV) The resolution or CIF ratio.
(V) The required retention period for each camera.
(C) Operating procedures addressing the evacuation of the licensed facility in the event of fire or other emergency.
(D) A contingency plan addressing a planned shutdown of the surveillance system and the contingency plan required under subsection (g) addressing any equipment failure that affects the slot machine licensee’s monitoring room together with an emergency contact listing with telephone numbers for persons required to be notified of those events.
(7) An emergency power system, tested at intervals not to exceed 6 months, which can be used to operate the surveillance system in the event of a power failure.
(8) A preventive maintenance program, implemented by technicians assigned to the surveillance department, which insures that the entire surveillance system is maintained in proper working order and that the covers over the cameras are cleaned in accordance with a routine maintenance schedule.
(d) Areas subject to camera coverage under this section must contain continuous lighting that is of sufficient quality to produce clear video recordings and still picture reproductions.
(e) A slot machine licensee’s surveillance system must continuously record transmissions from cameras used to observe the following locations, individuals, activities and transactions:
(1) Each transaction conducted on the gaming floor or at a main cage or satellite cage. Coverage of the transaction must include, but not be limited to, recording transmissions from cameras used to observe the face of each patron transacting business at a main cage or satellite cage from the direction of the cashier.
(2) The gaming conducted at all slot machines and table games.
(3) The main bank, vault and other areas specified by the Board.
(4) The collection of tip boxes, slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes.
(5) The distribution of cards, dice and tiles to gaming pits.
(6) The inspection of cards, dice and tiles in the gaming pits and at the gaming tables.
(7) The retrieval of cards, dice and tiles from the gaming pits at the end of the gaming day and the delivery of the cards, dice and tiles to the location designated and approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(f) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment) for the inspection, cancellation, destruction or, if applicable, packaging for reuse.
(8) The count procedures conducted in the count room.
(9) Any armored car collection or delivery.
(10) The operations conducted at automated bill breaker machines, automated gaming voucher and coupon redemption machines, automated jackpot payout machines and automated teller machines.
(11) The entrances and exits to the licensed facility, the gaming floor, the main bank, the vault, the main cage and any satellite cage and the count room.
(f) Slot machine licensees shall maintain a surveillance log of all surveillance activities in the monitoring room. The log shall be maintained by monitoring room personnel in a book with bound numbered pages that cannot be readily removed or shall be maintained in an electronic format which has an audit function that prevents modification of information after the information has been entered into the system. The log shall be stored and retained in accordance with § 465a.6 (relating to retention, storage and destruction of books, records and documents). The following information shall be recorded in a surveillance log:
(1) The date and time each surveillance event commenced.
(2) The name and Board-issued credential number of each individual who initiates, performs or supervises the surveillance.
(3) When suspicious activity, suspected or alleged regulatory violations or suspected or alleged criminal activity is involved, the reason for the surveillance, including the name, if known, alias or description of each individual being monitored and a brief description of the activity in which the individual being monitoring is engaged. This entry should also include a notation of the reading on the meter, counter or device specified in subsection (c)(4)(iii) that identifies the point on the video recording at which the event was recorded.
(4) The time at which each video recording is commenced and terminated, if different than when surveillance commenced or terminated.
(5) Time each surveillance event terminated.
(6) A summary of the results of the surveillance.
(7) A complete description of the time, date and, if known, the cause of any equipment or camera malfunctions, and the time at which the security department was apprised of the malfunction in accordance with the casino licensee’s internal controls submitted under § 465a.2(d)(5).
(g) In accordance with § 465a.2(d)(5), each slot machine licensee shall have a contingency plan to be utilized whenever there is an equipment failure that affects the slot machine licensee’s monitoring room or other aspect of its surveillance system or operations.
(h) The casino compliance representatives at the licensed facility shall be notified within 30 minutes of any incident of equipment failure as noted in subsection (f) including the time and cause of the malfunction, if known, the time the slot machine licensee’s security department was notified of the malfunction and the nature of communications with the security department relating to the malfunction.
(i) The casino compliance supervisor at the licensed facility shall be notified at least 48 hours in advance of the following:
(1) Relocation of an approved camera.
(2) Change in an approved camera’s specifications.
(3) Change in lighting for areas required to be subject to camera coverage.
(4) Addition or change to the surveillance system.
(j) The surveillance recordings required under subsection (e)(1), (8), (9), (10) and (11) shall be retained for a minimum of 30 days. All other surveillance recordings shall be retained for a minimum of 7 days. Surveillance recordings shall be made available for review upon request by the Board or the Pennsylvania State Police.
(k) Any recording determined by the Board or the Pennsylvania State Police as being of potential evidentiary value shall be stored in accordance with Board or Pennsylvania State Police directives or turned over to the Board or the Pennsylvania State Police upon request.
(l) A surveillance employee assigned to the monitoring room shall work from the employee’s own monitoring station.
(m) In accordance with § 465a.11(b)(1) (relating to slot machine licensee’s organization; jobs compendium), each slot machine licensee shall submit for Board approval an initial minimum surveillance room staffing plan. The surveillance room staffing plan must provide for the continuous monitoring of activities inside and outside the licensed facility taking into account the size and layout of the licensed facility as well as the number and location of slot machines and table games on the gaming floor. A slot machine licensee may not implement a change to its surveillance room staffing plan without prior approval of the Board’s Executive Director in accordance with § 601a.10(a).
(n) A slot machine licensee’s surveillance department employees shall be independent of all other departments.
(o) A present or former surveillance department employee may not accept employment as a key employee or gaming employee with the same slot machine licensee for whom he was previously employed as a surveillance department employee unless 1 year has passed since the former surveillance department employee worked in the surveillance department. The present or former surveillance department employee may file a written petition as required under § 493a.4 (relating to petitions generally) requesting the Board to waive this restriction and permit the employment of a present or former surveillance department employee in a particular position. The Board may grant or deny the waiver upon consideration of the following factors:
(1) Whether the former surveillance department employee will be employed in a department or area of operation that the surveillance department monitors.
(2) Whether the surveillance and security systems of the slot machine licensee will be jeopardized or compromised by the employment of the former surveillance department employee in the particular position.
(3) Whether the former surveillance department employee’s knowledge of the procedures of the surveillance department would facilitate the commission by any individual of irregularities or illegal acts or the concealment of any actions or errors.
(p) Entrances to the surveillance monitoring rooms may not be visible from the gaming floor. An individual entering the surveillance monitoring room who is not an employee of the surveillance department assigned to the monitoring room on the particular shift corresponding to the time of entry shall sign a monitoring room entry log upon entering the monitoring room. The monitoring room entry log shall be:
(1) Maintained in the monitoring room by monitoring room personnel and retained in accordance with § 465a.6.
(2) Maintained in a book with bound numbered pages that cannot be readily removed or shall be maintained in an electronic format which has an audit function that prevents modification of information after the information has been entered into the system.
(3) Signed by each individual entering the monitoring room, with each entry containing the following:
(i) The date and time of each entry.
(ii) The entering individual’s name, Board-issued credential number and department or affiliation.
(iii) The reason for entering the monitoring room.
(iv) The name of the individual authorizing the entry into the monitoring room.
(v) The date and time of exiting the monitoring room.
(4) Made available for inspection by the Board and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Authority The provisions of this § 465a.9 amended under 4 Pa.C.S. § § 1202(b)(30), 1207, 13A02(1)—(7), 13A23(a), 13A25, 13A62(a), 1321 and 1322.
Source The provisions of this § 465a.9 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 September 25, 2009, effective September 26, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 5562; amended February 26, 2010, effective February 27, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 1082; amended May 14, 2010, effective May 15, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 2535; amended May 11, 2012, effective May 12, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 2585; amended January 31, 2014, effective February 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 619; amended August 26, 2016, effective August 27, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 5540; amended December 15, 2017, effective December 16, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 7563. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (382914) to (382916), (370359) to (370360) and (382917) to (382918).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 461a.10 (relating to automated gaming voucher and coupon redemption machines); 58 Pa. Code § 465a.8 (relating to licensed facility); 58 Pa. Code § 465a.11 (relating to slot machine licensee’s organization; jobs compendium); 58 Pa. Code § 465a.25 (relating to counting and recording of slot cash storage boxes and table game drop boxes); 58 Pa. Code § 465b.1 (relating to digital video recording formats); 58 Pa. Code § 467a.1 (relating to gaming floor plan); and 58 Pa. Code § 816a.1 (relating to live studio simulcasting).
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