N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 5319.47

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 5319.47 - Bonus games

(a) Bonus game requirements. Games that have awards calculated that occur from game play within the base game's cycle (e.g., bonus features, including free games) shall meet the following:

(1) the game shall display clearly to the player which game rules apply to the current game state. Such rules shall be made available to the player prior to the start of the bonus game (rather than during the bonus game);

(2) the game shall clearly display to the player the possible win-amount ranges, multiplier ranges and so on that can be obtained from bonus play;

(3) a game that offers a bonus game, other than those that occur randomly, shall display to the player sufficient information to indicate the current status towards the triggering of the next bonus game;

(4) if the game requires obtaining several events or symbols toward a feature, the number of events or symbols needed to trigger the bonus shall be indicated along with the number of events or symbols collected to any point;

(5) the game shall not adjust the likelihood of a bonus occurring based on the history of prizes obtained in previous games (i.e., games shall not adapt their theoretical return to the player based on past payouts);

(6) if a game's bonus is triggered after accruing a certain number of events or symbols or combination of events or symbols of a different kind over multiple games, the probability of obtaining like events or symbols shall not deteriorate as the game progresses (e.g., for identical events or symbols it is not permitted that the last few events or symbols needed are more difficult to obtain than the previous events or symbols of that kind);

(7) the game shall make it clear to the player that the player is in a bonus mode, in order to minimize the possibility of the player walking away from the gaming device not knowing that the game is in a bonus mode;

(8) bonus game awards are part of the game cycle with predetermined award values. Bonus play award contributions to the program payout percentage are calculated consistent with awards of the regular game cycle. Specifically, if the cycle for bonus play awards is different from the base game cycle, then the bonus play awards, occurring within the base game's cycle, shall be calculated as part of the game's payout; and

(9) the game shall display the rules of play for the bonus game awards, the rewards associated with each bonus play award and the character combinations that will result in the specific payouts. For bonus play awards achieved by obtaining specific game results, the progress of the award shall be displayed.

(b) Player selection or interaction in bonus games. A gaming devices that offers a bonus game or extended feature that requires player selection or interaction is prohibited from automatically making selections or initiating games or features unless such gaming device meets the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subdivision and explains the mechanism for auto-initiation or selection on the device glass or video display.

(1) A player shall be presented with a choice and shall acknowledge specifically an intent to have the gaming device auto-initiate the bonus or extended play feature by means of a button press or other physical or machine interaction.

(2) The bonus or extended feature shall provide only one choice to the player (i.e., press button to spin wheel). In such a case, the device may auto-initiate the bonus or extended feature after a time-out period of at least two minutes.

(3) The bonus or extended feature shall be offered as part of community play that involves two or more patrons and where the delay of an offered selection or game initiation will impact directly the ability for other players to continue their bonus or extended features. Prior to making selections automatically or initiating a community-based bonus or feature, a player shall be made aware of the time remaining in which the player shall make a selection or initiate play.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 5319.47

Adopted New York State Register November 16, 2016/Volume XXXVIII, Issue 46, eff. 11/16/2016