205 CMR, § 146.13 - Blackjack Table; Card Reader Device; Physical Characteristics; Inspections
(1) Blackjack shall be played at a table
having on one side places for the players and on the opposite side a place for
the dealer. A true-to-scale rendering and a color photograph of the layout(s)
shall be submitted to the Bureau prior to utilizing the layout
design.
(2) The layout for a
blackjack table shall contain, at a minimum:
(a) The name or trade name of the gaming
licensee offering the game; and
(b)
Specific areas designated for the placement of wagers, which betting areas
shall not exceed seven in number.
(3) The following inscriptions shall appear
on the blackjack layout:
(a) Blackjack pays 3
to 2 or 6 to 5;
(b) The draw rules
of one of the following options:
1. Dealer
must draw to 16 and stand on all 17s;
2. Dealer must hit on soft 17s; or
(c) Insurance pays 2 to
1.
(4) If a gaming
licensee offers blackjack rule variations, the blackjack layout shall have
imprinted on it the appropriate rules or payout odds observed for the
particular version of blackjack being offered, which may include:
(a) Blackjack pays 1 to 1;
(b) Dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all
17s or Dealer must hit on soft 17s;
(c) Dealer's hole card dealt face up;
or
(d) Other similar language
approved by the Assistant Director of the IEB.
(5) Each blackjack table shall have a drop
box and a tip box attached to it with the location of said boxes on the same
side of the gaming table, but on opposite sides of the dealer, or an area
approved by the Assistant Director of the IEB.
(6) If a gaming licensee offers one of the
permissible additional wagers pursuant to the authorized Rules of the Game of
blackjack, the blackjack layout shall have designated areas for the placement
of the additional wager and shall have the payout odds for the additional wager
imprinted on the layout or a separate sign located at the table containing the
payout odds for the additional wager.
(7) A blackjack table may have attached to it
an approved card reader device which permits the dealer to read their hole card
in order to determine if the dealer has a blackjack in accordance with the
authorized Rules of the Game of blackjack. If a blackjack table has an approved
card reader device attached to it, the floor person assigned to the table shall
inspect the card reader device at the beginning of each gaming day to insure
that there has been no tampering with the device and that it is in proper
working order. A card reader device may not be used on a blackjack table
offering a progressive blackjack wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of the
Game of blackjack.
(8)
Notwithstanding the requirements of 205 CMR 146.13(2), if a gaming licensee
offers multiple action blackjack in accordance with the authorized Rules of the
Game of blackjack, the blackjack layout shall contain, at a minimum:
(a) Three separate designated betting areas
for each player position at the table with each separate betting area being
numbered one through three; provided, however, that the number of player
positions at each table shall not exceed six;
(b) A separate designated area on the layout
for each player position for the placement of insurance wagers;
(c) A separate designated area on the layout
for each player position for the placement of double down wagers;
(d) A separate designated area on the layout
for each player position for the placement of split pair wagers; and
(e) Three separate areas designated for the
placement of the dealer's original face up card with each separate area being
numbered one through three.
(9) In order to collect the cards at the
conclusion of a round of play as required by the authorized Rules of the Game
of blackjack and at such other times as provided in
205 CMR
146.49, each blackjack table shall have a
discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer's side of the table.
The height of each discard rack shall equal the height of the cards, stacked
one on top of the other, contained in the total number of decks that are to be
used to play the game at that table; provided, however, that a taller discard
rack may be used if such rack has a distinct and clearly visible mark on its
side to show the exact height for a stack of cards equal to the total number of
cards contained in the number of decks to be used to play the game at that
table. Whenever a double shoe is used at a blackjack table, the same number of
decks shall be used in each side of the double shoe, and the height and marking
requirements for that table's discard rack shall be determined from the number
of decks used in one side of the shoe.
(10) If a gaming licensee offers a
progressive blackjack wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of the Game of
blackjack, the blackjack layout shall have designated areas for the placement
of the progressive blackjack wager and shall contain the following equipment:
(a) A separate acceptor device for the
placement of a progressive wager. Each acceptor device shall have a light which
shall illuminate upon placement and acceptance of a gaming chip;
(b) A method to ensure that only one
progressive blackjack wager is made per spot, per round of play;
(c) A device or method to indicate that a
progressive blackjack wager has been won;
(d) A sign describing the winning wagers and
the payouts to be awarded on winning progressive blackjack wagers at a location
near or on the table;
(e) A table
controller panel which shall be equipped with a "lock-out" button which, once
activated by the dealer, will prevent any player's gaming chip from being
recognized in the acceptor device; and
(f) A mechanical, electrical or electronic
table inventory return device which shall permit all gaming chips deposited
into the acceptor devices to be collected and immediately returned to a
designated area within the table inventory container prior to the dealing of a
hand. The table inventory return device shall be designed and constructed to
contain any feature the Bureau may require to maintain the security and
integrity of the game. The procedures for the operation of all functions of the
table inventory return device shall be submitted to the
Bureau.
(11) If a gaming
licensee offers a blackjack bonus wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of the
Game of blackjack, the blackjack layout shall have designated areas for the
placement of the blackjack bonus wager, and shall contain the following
equipment:
(a) A table controller located in
an area of the table or the pit which area shall be secured by dual locking
mechanisms, which are unique from one another. One locking mechanism shall be
maintained and controlled by a gaming establishment security supervisor, and
the second locking mechanism shall be maintained and controlled by a table
games supervisor;
1. One table controller
shall control no more than four blackjack tables. Procedures for the operation,
security and control of the table controller shall be submitted to the Bureau
prior to implementation;
2.
Whenever it is required that a table controller or any device connected thereto
which may affect the operation of the blackjack bonus system be accessed or
opened, certain information shall be recorded on a form entitled "Controller
Access Authorization Log", which shall include, at a minimum, the date, time,
purpose of accessing or opening the controller or device, and the signature of
the authorized employee accessing or opening the machine or device. The
Controller Access Authorization Log shall be maintained in the same secured
location as the table controller, and shall have recorded thereon a sequential
number and the manufacturer's serial number or the asset number of the
controller;
(b) A
blackjack bonus button, which shall be located at the table by the dealer, and
used by each player with a winning blackjack bonus wager to generate a bonus
amount to be won by that player. The blackjack bonus button shall be attached
to the table in a manner that will enable the dealer to place the blackjack
bonus button directly in front of each winning player;
(c) A blackjack bonus display, which shall be
located at the table and shall display the amount of the winning blackjack
bonus on both sides of the device, so that the amount is visible to all
players, the dealer and supervisory personnel; and
(d) A sign containing the amount of the
blackjack bonus wager, as well as the minimum and maximum possible blackjack
bonus amounts to be awarded, pursuant to
205 CMR
147.03: Notice and Patron
Access.
(12) If
a gaming licensee offers a streak wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of the
Game of blackjack, the blackjack table shall also contain:
(a) A layout which shall include, at a
minimum:
1. Four additional separate
designated betting areas for each of the player positions at the table, which
areas shall be numbered "2" through "5"; and
2. The inscriptions "Two consecutive wins
pays 3 to 1", "Three consecutive wins pays 7 to 1", "Four consecutive wins pays
17 to 1", and "Five consecutive wins pays 37 to 1"; and
(b) The following equipment:
1. Marker buttons ("lammers") with the gaming
licensee's name or logo, to indicate how many consecutive blackjack hands a
patron has won or another device or method approved by the Bureau;
and
2. A sign containing the
permissible amount of the streak wager, posted pursuant to
205 CMR
147.03: Notice and Patron
Access.
(13) If a gaming licensee offers a
Match-the-dealer wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of the Game of
blackjack, the blackjack table shall contain:
(a) A layout which shall include, at a
minimum, an additional designated betting area bearing the inscription
"Match-the-dealer" at each of the player positions at the table; and
(b) A layout inscription or sign posted at
the blackjack table indicating the payout odds for the Match-the-dealer
wager.
(14) If a gaming
licensee offers the 20-point bonus wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of
the Game of blackjack, the layout otherwise required by 205 CMR 146.13 shall
also include, at a minimum, an additional designated betting area for the
20-point bonus wager at each of the player positions at the table. The
blackjack table shall also contain a sign setting forth the payout odds for the
20-point bonus wager.
(15) If a
gaming licensee offers the option set forth in the authorized Rules of the Game
of blackjack that requires the dealer to draw additional cards on a soft 17,
the blackjack layout shall have imprinted on it, at a minimum, the following
inscription instead of the inscription set forth in 205 CMR 146.13(3)(b):
"Dealer must draw to 16 and soft 17 and stand on hard 17's and all
18's."
(16) If a gaming licensee
offers the optional bonus wager pursuant to the authorized Rules of the Game of
blackjack, the layout otherwise required by 205 CMR 146.13 shall include, at a
minimum, an additional designated betting area for such wager at each of the
player positions at the table. In addition, payout odds for the optional bonus
wager shall be inscribed on the layout or posted on a sign at each such
blackjack table.
(17) If a gaming
licensee requires a hand fee, the approved layout otherwise required by 205 CMR
146.13 shall include, at a minimum, an additional designated area at each
player position for the placement of the hand fee.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.