N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 5322.15

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

Section 5322.15 - Playing cards; receipts, storage and removal from use

(a) When decks of cards are received for use in the gaming facility from the manufacturer or distributor thereof, such decks shall be placed in a secured storage area approved by the commission.

(b) Immediately prior to the commencement of each gaming day and at other times as may be necessary, table games management, in the presence of the on-site commission staff, shall remove the appropriate number of decks of cards for that gaming day from a secured storage area approved by the commission.

(c) All decks, prior to their use at a gaming table, shall be inspected by the dealer and with such inspection verified by a supervisor. Card inspection at a gaming table shall require each deck to be used at that table to be sorted into new deck sequence, by suit, to assure that all cards are in the deck. The dealer also shall check the back of each card to assure that such card is the same color as the other cards in the deck and is not flawed, scratched or marked in any way.

(1) If, after checking the cards, the dealer finds that a card is unsuitable for use, a supervisor immediately shall notify the commission and replace the deck with a new one from the pit stand.

(2) An unsuitable deck shall be placed in a clear sealed envelope, bag or container, identified by table number, date and time and shall be signed by the dealer and supervisor assigned to that table. The supervisor shall either maintain the envelope, bag or container in a secure locked compartment within the pit stand until collection or shall turn the sealed envelope, bag or container over to the on-site commission staff if so directed.

(d) All envelopes, bags and containers used to hold or transport cards collected shall be transparent. The envelopes, bags or containers and the method used to seal them shall be designed and constructed so that any tampering shall be evident. The envelopes, bags or containers and seals shall be approved in writing by the commission.

(e) Any decks that have been opened and placed on a gaming table for use in a multi-deck dealing shoe shall be changed at least every 24 hours. In addition, cards opened for use:

(1) at any card game authorized by the commission that permits players to handle the cards and that are dealt from a dealing shoe shall be changed at least every four hours; and

(2) at any card game authorized by the commission that permits players to handle the cards and that are dealt from the dealer's hand shall be changed at least every four hours.

(f) A dealer shall replace cards damaged during the course of play by requesting a supervisor to replace the card or cards with a new card or cards from a locked compartment in the pit stand. Damaged cards shall be placed in a clear sealed envelope or bag identified by table number, date and time and shall be signed by the dealer and the employee who brought the replacement card to the table. The supervisor shall maintain the envelopes, bags or containers in a locked compartment within the pit stand and notify the on-site commission staff for inspection.

(g) At the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming day at the same time each day, as designated by the gaming facility and approved in writing by the commission, and at such other times as may be necessary or if so directed by the on-site commission staff, a supervisor shall collect all used decks. Such decks shall be placed in a clear sealed envelope, bag or container. A label shall be attached to each envelope, bag or container that shall identify the table number, date and time and shall be signed by the dealer and supervisor assigned to the table. The supervisor shall maintain the envelopes, bags or containers in a locked compartment within the pit stand until collection.

(h) The gaming facility shall remove any decks:

(1) at any time during the day if there is any indication of tampering, flaws, scratches, marks or other defects to a card or cards that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game; or

(2) at the direction of the commission.

(i) All extra decks in card reserve with broken seals shall be placed in a clear sealed envelope, bag or container, with a label attached to each envelope or container identifying the date and time, that is signed by management of the gaming facility.

(j) At the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming day at the same time each day, as designated by each gaming facility and approved in writing by the commission, and at such other times as may be necessary, all envelopes, bags or containers with damaged cards, cards used during the gaming day and all extra decks in card reserve with broken outer wrappings or seals shall be collected and delivered to the card cancellation and destruction area approved by the commission. All employees involved shall record their signatures.

(k) At the end of each gaming day or, in the alternative, at least once each gaming day at the same time each day, as designated by the gaming facility and approved in writing by the commission, and at such other times as may be necessary, gaming facility management may collect all extra decks held in card reserve in a locked compartment in the pit stand. If collected, all sealed decks shall either be transported to the approved card cancellation and destruction area or returned to the secured storage area approved by the commission.

(l) When the envelopes, bags or containers of used cards and reserve cards with broken outer wrappings or seals are transported to the approved card cancellation and destruction area, such cards shall be inspected for tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair play, prior to cancellation or destruction.

(1) For playing cards used at gaming tables in which the players handle the cards, the gaming facility shall cause to be inspected either:

(i) all decks used during the day; or

(ii) a sample of decks selected at random or in accordance with an approved stratification plan, provided that the procedures for selecting the sample size and for assuring a proper selection of the sample are submitted to and approved in writing by the commission. Such sample shall be collected, stored and inspected separately from the sample required by subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (2) of this subdivision and shall not be commingled with any cards from such sample.

(2) For playing cards used in baccarat, mini-baccarat or midi-baccarat, a gaming facility shall cause to be inspected either:

(i) all decks used during the day; or

(ii) a sample of decks selected at random or in accordance with an approved stratification plan, provided that the procedures for selecting the sample size and for assuring a proper selection of the sample are submitted to and approved in writing by the commission. This sample shall be collected, stored and inspected separately from the sample required by subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (1) of this subdivision and shall not be commingled with any cards from such sample.

(3) A gaming facility also shall inspect:

(i) any cards that the commission requests the gaming facility to remove for the purpose of inspection;

(ii) any cards the gaming facility removed for indication of tampering; and

(iii) all cards used at games that permit players to handle cards.

(4) The procedures for inspecting all decks required to be inspected under this subdivision shall, at a minimum, include:

(i) the sorting of the cards sequentially by suit into new deck order;

(ii) the inspection of the backs with an ultraviolet light;

(iii) the inspection of the sides of the cards for crimps, bends, cuts and shaving;

(iv) the inspection of the front and back of all plastic cards for consistent shading and coloring; and

(v) any other test required by the commission.

(5) Each gaming facility shall develop internal control procedures for returning the repackaged cards to the secured storage area approved by the commission. Repackaged cards shall be collected by a supervisor and returned to the pit stand.

(6) The employee performing a card inspection shall detail the procedures performed and list the tables from which the cards were removed and the results of the inspection. The employee performing such inspection shall record his or her signature upon completion of the inspection procedures.

(7) Each gaming facility shall submit the training procedures for those employees performing the inspection, which shall be approved in writing by the commission.

(8) Evidence of tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair play discovered at this time, or at any other time, shall be reported immediately to the commission. Such report shall accompany the cards when delivered to the commission. The cards involved shall be retained for investigation by the commission. The commission representative receiving the cards shall record his or her signature and secure and retain the original cards. The gaming facility shall retain an additional copy of such report.

(m) Each gaming facility shall control the card inventory through documentation, which at a minimum shall include the following:

(1) the total number of decks of cards on hand;

(2) the total number of decks of cards removed from storage;

(3) the total number of decks of cards returned to storage or received from the manufacturer;

(4) the date of each transaction;

(5) the name and signatures of the employees involved;

(6) a reconciliation by gaming facility management on a daily basis of the total number of decks of cards distributed, the total number of decks of cards destroyed and canceled, the total number of decks of cards returned to the secured storage area or areas approved by the commission and, if any, the total number of decks of cards in card reserve; and

(7) a physical inventory of the cards at least once every three months by the accounting or internal audit departments. Such inventory shall be verified to the total number of decks of cards on hand. Any discrepancies shall be reported immediately to the commission.

(n) Where decks of cards in an envelope, bag or container are inspected and found to be without any indication of tampering marks, alterations, missing or additional cards or anything that might indicate unfair play, those cards, shall, within 48 hours of collection, be destroyed or canceled. All decks of cards released by the commission immediately shall be destroyed or canceled as set forth in subdivision (j) of section 5322.10.

(o) Destruction and cancellation of cards shall take place in a secure place, the location of which shall be approved in writing by the commission. The adequacy of the destruction and cancellation process shall be approved in writing by the commission.

(1) Destruction of cards shall be by shredding by the security department or a vendor approved in writing by the commission.

(2) Cancellation of cards shall be by drilling a circular hole of at least one-fourth of an inch in diameter through the center of each card in the deck or another method approved in writing by the commission.

(3) The gaming facility shall maintain a log, which the commission may inspect from time to time, of all destroyed or cancelled cards under this subdivision.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 5322.15

Adopted New York State Register September 21, 2016/Volume XXXVIII, Issue 38, eff. 9/21/2016