§ 633a.7. Procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play.
(a) Except as provided in § 633a.12(b) (relating to Blackjack variations), all cards shall be dealt from a dealing shoe which must be located on the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment). Once the procedures under § 633a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards) have been completed, the stacked cards shall be placed in the dealing shoe by the dealer or by an automated card shuffling device.
(b) Each card shall be removed from the dealing shoe with the hand of the dealer that is closest to the dealing shoe and placed on the appropriate area of the layout with the opposite hand. The dealer may deal cards to the two betting positions closest to the dealing shoe with the same hand.
(c) After each full batch of cards is placed in the shoe, the dealer shall remove the first card and place it in the discard rack. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also remove one card and place it in the discard rack before dealing any cards to the players.
(d) If a double shoe is utilized, the following procedures shall be used in lieu of the procedures in subsection (c).
(1) Prior to commencement of each round of play, the dealer shall draw a determinate card from either side of the double shoe. The suit of that card shall determine from which side of the shoe that round of play will be dealt. The certificate holder shall designate that the suits of hearts and diamonds correspond to the color of the backs of the cards being dealt from one side of the shoe, and that the suits of spades and clubs correspond to the color of the backs of the cards being dealt from the other side of the shoe.
(2) A determinant card corresponding to the side of the shoe from which it was drawn shall become the player’s first card. A determinant card that does not correspond to the side of the shoe from which it was dealt shall be placed in a segregated area of the dealing shoe.
(e) If the cover card appears as the first card in the dealing shoe at the beginning of a round of play or appears during play, the cover card shall be removed and placed to the side and the hand will be completed. The dealer shall then collect and reshuffle the cards as follows:
(1) When a single dealing shoe is used, the dealer shall remove the cards remaining in the shoe and place them in the discard rack to ensure that no cards are missing.
(2) When a double shoe is used, the dealer shall remove the cards remaining in the side of the shoe from which the cover card was drawn and the cards, if any, that were put in a separate segregated area for the discards from that side of the double shoe, after which the dealer shall place those cards face down in the discard rack in order to ensure that no cards are missing.
(3) Shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed. If a double shoe is utilized, the shuffle of the cards shall be limited to the side of the shoe from which the cover card was drawn.
(f) At the commencement of each round of play, or immediately after the determinant card has been drawn and either removed or used as the player’s first card, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer’s left and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, deal the cards as follows:
(1) One card face up to each box on the layout in which a Blackjack Wager is contained.
(2) One card face up to the dealer.
(3) A second card face up to each box in which a wager is contained.
(4) A second card face down to the dealer.
(g) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, but prior to any additional cards being dealt or before any card reader device is utilized, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer’s right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, settle the player’s optional wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers as follows:
(1) If a player placed a Lucky Ladies Twenty Point Bonus Wager and the player’s initial two cards have a total point count of 20, the dealer shall pay the winning Twenty Point Bonus Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(c) (relating to payout odds; payout limitation). If the first card to the dealer is a 10, jack, queen, king or ace and the player has two queens of hearts, that player’s Twenty Point Bonus Wager shall be settled after all other Twenty Point Bonus Wagers as follows:
(i) If the dealer has determined that the hole card will not give the dealer a Blackjack, the player shall be paid before any other cards are dealt.
(ii) If the dealer has determined that the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack, the player shall be paid when the player’s Blackjack Wager is collected.
(2) If a player placed a Match-the-Dealer Wager and either of the player’s initial two cards match the rank of the dealer’s up card, the dealer shall pay the winning Match-the-Dealer Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(d). If both of the player’s initial two cards match the rank of the dealer’s up card, the player shall be paid for each matching card. Any card with a face value of 10 or a point value of 10 (a jack, queen or king) shall only match an identical card without regard to value.
(3) If a player placed an In Between Wager and the dealer’s up card:
(i) Falls between the player’s initial two cards, the player shall be paid according to the respective card spread. A one-card spread occurs when only one card falls between the player’s initial two cards. For example, if a player is dealt a 7 and a 9, the player shall win with a one-card spread if the dealer’s up card is an 8. The dealer shall pay the winning In Between Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(e).
(ii) And the player’s initial two cards are all the same rank, the player has a Triple Match. The dealer shall pay the winning In Between Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(e).
(4) If a player placed a Royal Match 21 Wager and the player’s initial two cards are a Suited Match or a Royal Match, the dealer shall pay the winning Royal Match 21 Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(f). If the player has a Royal Match and the dealer’s up card is a king or a queen, that player’s Royal Match 21 Wager shall be settled after the dealer’s hole card is exposed but prior to settling the player’s Blackjack Wager. If after exposing the hole card, the dealer also has a Royal Match, the player shall be paid a Crown Treasure Bonus, if offered by the certificate holder, in addition to the payout for the player’s Royal Match.
(5) If a player placed a Bet the Set 21 Wager and the player’s initial two cards are a pair of the same rank or a suited pair of the same rank, the dealer shall pay the winning Bet the Set 21 Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(g).
(6) If a player placed a King’s Bounty Wager and the player’s initial two cards have a total point count of 20, the dealer shall pay the winning King’s Bounty Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(h). If the first card to the dealer is a 10, jack, queen, king or ace and the player has two kings of spades, that player’s King’s Bounty Wager shall be settled after all other King’s Bounty Wagers as follows:
(i) If the dealer has determined that the hole card will not give the dealer a Blackjack, the player shall be paid before any other cards are dealt.
(ii) If the dealer has determined that the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack, the player shall be paid when the player’s Blackjack Wager is collected.
(7) If a player placed a Super Match Wager at a Blackjack Switch table and the player’s initial four cards are a pair, a three-of-a-kind, two pair or a four-of-a-kind, the dealer shall pay the winning Super Match Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(i).
(8) If a player placed a Three Card Poker Wager and the dealer’s up card and the player’s initial two cards form a three-card Poker hand of a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, straight or a flush, the dealer shall pay the winning Three Card Poker Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(k).
(9) If a player placed a Straight Jack Progressive Wager and the player’s initial two cards do not form a two-card straight, the dealer shall collect the player’s Straight Jack Progressive Wager.
(10) If a player placed a House Money Wager and the player’s initial two cards do not form a two-card straight, a pair, a two-card straight flush or an ace-king suited, the dealer shall collect the player’s House Money Wager. If a player has a winning hand:
(i) And the dealer’s up card is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, the dealer shall determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack in accordance with subsection (h). If the dealer:
(A) Has a Blackjack, the dealer shall pay the winning House Money Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(n).
(B) Does not have a Blackjack, the dealer shall follow the requirements in subparagraph (ii).
(ii) And the dealer’s up card is not an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, the dealer shall pay all winning wagers in accordance with § 633a.13(n) provided that, at a player’s discretion, the player may add the winning House Money payout to the player’s Blackjack Wager in accordance with the following:
(A) All of the winning House Money payout or, if specified in the certificate holder’s Rules Submission filed in accordance with § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), only a specified portion of the winning House Money payout shall be added to the area designated for the placement of the player’s Blackjack Wager.
(B) A player may not touch the winning House Money payout. The dealer shall either hand the entire winning House Money payout to the player or place all or a portion thereof, as authorized by the certificate holder, on the area designated for the placement of the player’s Blackjack Wager. If a player has a Blackjack, the player may add the House Money payout to the Blackjack Wager.
(C) If the player adds the House Money payout to his Blackjack Wager, the House Money payout and the Blackjack Wager must be considered the entire Blackjack Wager. Thus, if the player elects to split in accordance with § 633a.11 (relating to splitting pairs) or doubles down in accordance with § 633a.10 (relating to Double Down Wager), the player shall match the entire Blackjack Wager.
(h) After settling the player’s optional wagers in accordance with subsection (g), if the dealer’s first card is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, the dealer shall, after offering the Insurance Wager or even money in accordance with § 633a.8 (relating to Insurance Wager), determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack. The dealer shall insert the hole card into the card reader device by moving the card face down on the layout without exposing it to anyone at the table, including the dealer. If the dealer has a Blackjack, additional cards may not be dealt and each player’s Blackjack Wager and the Bad Beat, Hit and Run Progressive and Insurance Wagers, if applicable, shall be settled.
(i) After the procedures in subsection (h) have been completed, if necessary, the dealer shall start with the player farthest to the dealer’s left and continue around the table in a clockwise direction and if the player:
(1) Has Blackjack and the dealer’s up card:
(i) Is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the dealer shall announce and pay the Blackjack and remove the player’s cards.
(ii) Is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10 but the dealer’s hole card will not give the dealer a Blackjack, the dealer shall announce the player’s Blackjack and either:
(A) Immediately pay the player’s Blackjack and remove the player’s cards.
(B) Leave the player’s cards on the table and not make a payment to the player. After all other cards are dealt to the players and the dealer reveals his hole card, the dealer shall pay the player’s Blackjack and remove the player’s cards.
(2) Does not have Blackjack, the player shall indicate whether he wishes to surrender, as permitted under § 633a.9 (relating to surrender), double down as permitted under § 633a.10, split pairs as permitted under § 633a.11, stand or draw additional cards.
(j) As each player indicates his decision, the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate the player’s decision.
(k) A player may elect to draw additional cards whenever his point count total is less than 21, except that:
(1) A player having Blackjack or a hard or soft total of 21 may not draw additional cards.
(2) A player electing to make a Double Down Wager may draw only one additional card.
(l) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional cards have been dealt, the dealer shall turn the hole card face up. Any additional cards required to be dealt to the hand of the dealer, in accordance with subsection (m), shall be dealt face up. The dealer shall announce the dealer’s total point count after each additional card is dealt.
(m) Except as provided in subsection (n), the dealer shall draw additional cards until he has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.
(n) A dealer shall draw no additional cards to his hand, regardless of the point count, if decisions have been made on all players’ hands and the point count of the dealer’s hand will not have an effect on the outcome of the round of play.
(o) After all additional cards have been dealt to the players and the dealer, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer’s right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, settle the remaining optional wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers as follows:
(1) If a player placed a Bad Beat Progressive Wager:
(i) A player shall win if the player’s hand has a total point count of 20 and the dealer has Blackjack or the total point count of the dealer’s hand is 21. If selected by the certificate holder in its Rules Submission under § 601a.2, a player may also win if the total point count of the player’s hand is 20, irrespective of the total point count of the dealer’s hand.
(ii) If a player has won the Bad Beat Progressive Wager or a Magic Card or Lucky Player Bonus, if offered by the certificate holder, the dealer shall:
(A) Verify that the hand is a winning hand.
(B) Have a floorperson or above verify any Bad Beat Progressive payout with odds of 100 for 1 or greater in accordance with approved internal control procedures submitted under § 465a.2 (relating to internal control systems and audit protocols).
(C) Credit the player’s game account for the winning Bad Beat Progressive Wager or the Magic Card or Lucky Player Bonus in accordance with § 633a.13(j). If more than one player at the table has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, each player shall share the maximum amount proportionally to the amount of the player’s respective Bad Beat Progressive Wager.
(2) If a player placed a Hit and Run Progressive Wager:
(i) A player shall win if the dealer has Blackjack or the dealer’s hand has five or more cards inclusive of any card which would give the dealer’s hand a total point count of greater than 21. For example, if the dealer’s hand has a total point count of 14 with five cards drawn and the dealer draws an additional card resulting in a total point count of 23, the dealer’s sixth card shall also count toward the Hit and Run Progressive payout.
(ii) If a player has won the Hit and Run Progressive Wager, the dealer shall:
(A) Verify that the hand is a winning hand.
(B) Have a floorperson or above verify any Hit and Run Progressive payout with odds of 200 for 1 or greater in accordance with approved internal control procedures submitted under § 465a.2.
(C) Pay the player the winning Hit and Run Progressive Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(l). If a player has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, the progressive payout may not be paid from the table inventory container. If a player has won a progressive payout that is not being paid from the table inventory container, the cards of the player must remain on the table until the necessary documentation has been completed. If more than one player at the table has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, each player shall share the maximum amount equally.
(3) If a player placed a Straight Jack Progressive Wager:
(i) A player shall win if the player’s initial two cards were a two-card straight. Each additional card drawn by the player which does not break the sequence of the two-card straight shall result in a payout increase, provided that an ace, king shall be a two-card straight. For example, if the player’s initial two cards are a 4 and a 5 and the player draws:
(A) A 6, the player has a three-card straight.
(B) A 3 then a 6, the player has a four-card straight.
(C) A 2 then a 3, the 2 breaks the sequence and the player has a two-card straight.
(D) A 6 then a 7, resulting in a hand with a total point count greater than 21, the last card drawn may not count toward the Straight Jack Progressive Payout. The player will receive a payout for only a three-card straight.
(ii) If a player has won the Straight Jack Progressive Wager, the dealer shall:
(A) Verify that the hand is a winning hand.
(B) Have a floorperson or above verify any Straight Jack Progressive Payout with odds of 100 for 1 or greater in accordance with approved internal control procedures submitted under § 465a.2.
(C) Pay the player the winning Straight Jack Progressive Wager in accordance with § 633a.13(m). If a player has won a progressive payout that is 10% or more of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, the progressive payout may not be paid from the table inventory container. If a player has won a progressive payout that is not being paid from the table inventory container, the cards of the player must remain on the table until the necessary documentation has been completed. If more than one player at the table has won a progressive payout that is 100% of the jackpot amount on the progressive meter, each player shall share the maximum amount equally.
(p) A player shall win the Blackjack Wager and be paid in accordance with the payout odds in § 633a.13(a) if:
(1) The total point count of the player’s hand is 21 or less and the total point count of the dealer’s hand is in excess of 21.
(2) The total point count of the player’s hand exceeds the total point count of the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21.
(3) The player has a Blackjack and the dealer’s hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.
(q) A Blackjack wager shall tie and be returned to the player if the total point count of the player’s hand is the same as the dealer’s. A player’s Blackjack wager shall be lost if the dealer has a Blackjack and the player’s hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.
(r) The dealer shall collect all losing wagers and pay off all winning wagers in accordance with one of the following procedures designated in the certificate holder’s Rules Submission under § 601a.2:
(1) Collect all losing wagers and then pay off all winning wagers.
(2) Pay off all winning wagers and collect all losing wagers beginning with the player farthest to the dealer’s right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction. The dealer shall place any losing wagers directly into the table inventory and may not pay off any winning wagers by using value chips collected from a losing wager.
(s) After all wagers have been settled, the dealer shall remove all remaining cards from the table and place them in the discard rack in a manner that permits the reconstruction of each hand in the event of a question or dispute.
(t) Except as provided in § 633a.12(b), players and spectators may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Blackjack.
Authority The provisions of this § 633a.7 amended under 4 Pa.C.S. § § 1202(b)(9)—(23) and (30), 1205, 1206(f) and (g), 1207(1)—(3), (6), (9) and (21), 1208(1)(iii), 1209(b), 1212, 1213, 13A02(1), (2) and (4), 13A11, 13A12—13A14, 13A15 and 1802 and Chapter 13.
Source The provisions of this § 633a.7 amended January 31, 2014, effective February 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 599, 44 Pa.B. 619; amended June 12, 2015, effective June 13, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 2829. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (370538) to (370545).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 633a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards); 58 Pa. Code 633a.9 (relating to surrender); 58 Pa. Code § 633a.12 (relating to Blackjack variations); 58 Pa. Code § 633b.16 (relating to EZ Bust Blackjack); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.1 (relating to Perfect Pairs wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.2 (relating to Jackpot Party progressive wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.3 (relating to Match the Dealer progressive); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.4 (relating to Switch Hands and Blackjack Premium); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.5 (relating to Blackjack played on a hybrid gaming table); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.6 (relating to Super 4 progressive Blackjack wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.7 (relating to Top 3 wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.8 (relating to Lucky Aces wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.9 (relating to Blazing 7’s progressive wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.10 (relating to Blackjack Match progressive); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.11 (relating to TriLux Deluxe wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.12 (relating to AxMan wager); 58 Pa. Code § 633c.13 (relating to Buster Blackjack wager); and 58 Pa. Code § 633c.15 (relating to Upcard Luck wager).
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