§ 603a.3. Value chips; denominations and physical characteristics.
(a) Certificate holders may issue and use value chips in denominations of $1, $2, $2.50, $5, $20, $25, $100, $500, $1,000 and $5,000 and other denominations approved in accordance with § 601a.10(a) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment).
(b) The primary color used for each denomination of value chip must be in accordance with the colors specified in subsection (c). A primary color may not be used as a secondary color on a value chip of another denomination if its use on the edge is reasonably likely to cause confusion as to the chip’s denomination when the edge alone is visible.
(c) Each gaming chip manufacturer shall submit sample color disks to the Bureau of Gaming Operations that identify all primary and secondary colors to be used for the manufacture of value chips for certificate holders in this Commonwealth. Once a gaming chip manufacturer has received approval for a primary or secondary color, those colors shall be consistently manufactured in accordance with the approved samples. For a primary color to be approved for use, it must visually appear, when viewed either in daylight or under incandescent light, to comply with the following colors:
(1) $1—White.
(2) $2—Blue.
(3) $2.50—Pink.
(4) $5—Red.
(5) $20—Yellow.
(6) $25—Green.
(7) $100—Black.
(8) $500—Purple.
(9) $1,000—Fire Orange.
(10) $5,000—Gray.
(d) Each value chip issued by a certificate holder must contain identifying characteristics that may appear in any location at least once on each face of the value chip and are applied in a manner which ensures that each identifying characteristic is clearly visible and remains a permanent part of the value chip. These characteristics must be visible to surveillance employees using the licensed facility’s surveillance system and include, at a minimum:
(1) The denomination of the value chip, expressed in numbers.
(2) The name, logo or other approved identification of the certificate holder issuing the value chip.
(3) The letters ‘‘PA’’ and the name of the city or county in which the licensed facility is located.
(e) In addition to the characteristics specified in subsection (d), each value chip in a denomination of $100 or more must contain a design or other identifying characteristic that is unique to the gaming chip manufacturer. Upon approval of a particular design or characteristic, in accordance with § 601a.10(a), the gaming chip manufacturer shall thereafter have the exclusive right to use that design or characteristic on any denomination of value chip. The approved unique design or characteristic may be used on all value chips manufactured for use in this Commonwealth and may be changed only after receiving written approval of the new unique design or other identifying characteristic from the Board’s Executive Director in accordance with § 601a.10(a).
(f) Each value chip issued by a certificate holder must contain an edge spot that:
(1) Is applied in a manner that ensures that the edge spot:
(i) Is clearly visible on the edge and on each face of the value chip.
(ii) Remains a permanent part of the value chip.
(2) Is created using both:
(i) The primary color of the chip.
(ii) One or more secondary colors.
(3) Includes a design, pattern or other feature that an individual with adequate training could readily use to identify, when viewed through the surveillance system of the certificate holder, the denomination of the particular value chip when placed in a stack of gaming chips, in the table inventory or in any other location when only the edge of the value chip is visible. The design, pattern or feature created by the primary and secondary colors required under paragraph (2) is sufficient by itself to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph.
(g) When determining the secondary colors to be used to make the edge spot on a particular denomination of value chip, a certificate holder shall use only those secondary colors that are reasonably likely to differentiate the certificate holder’s value chip from the same denomination of value chip issued by any other certificate holder.
(h) If an approved value chip uses a single secondary color, no other certificate holder may use a similar secondary color as the sole secondary color on the same denomination of value chip unless it is used in a different approved pattern or design.
(i) If an approved value chip uses a combination of two or more secondary colors, no other certificate holder may use that identical combination of secondary colors on the same denomination of value chip unless it is used in a different approved pattern or design.
(j) Any value chip issued by a certificate holder in the denomination of:
(1) Less than $500 must have a uniform diameter of 1 9/16 inch.
(2) $500 and $1,000 must have a uniform diameter of 1 9/16 inch or 1 11/16 inch.
(3) $5,000 or more must have a uniform diameter of 1 11/16 inch.
(k) In addition to the items in this section that are specifically required to appear on the face and edge of a value chip, each value chip with a denomination below $100 must contain at least one anticounterfeiting measure and each value chip with a denomination of $100 or more must contain at least three anticounterfeiting measures.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 603a.2 (relating to gaming chips; physical characteristics applicable to all gaming chips, issuance and use, promotional nongaming chips).
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