Mich. Admin. Code R. 432.1839 - Board approval of EGDs; EGD specifications and requirements

Rule 839.

(1) An EGD proposed for use in a casino must meet the specifications set forth in these rules or other technical specifications adopted by the board in an order or resolution. Any amendments to these rules changing EGD standards shall not apply to EGDs previously approved by the board unless the board withdraws approval of the previously approved EGD using the process described in these rules.

(2) An EGD must be approved in writing by the board prior to use by the casino licensee.

(3) In the process of evaluating EGDs prior to use in the casino, the board may do all of the following:

(a) Require the applicant or licensee who requests approval of an EGD to submit the EGD to the board for evaluation.

(b) Employ the services of an outside gaming test laboratory to conduct testing.

(c) Charge a fee to the applicant or licensee for the submission, evaluation, and any testing performed.

(4) EGDs submitted to the board for approval must be accompanied by a technically accurate description and explanation of the EGD and its intended use. The information must be submitted in a manner and form prescribed by the board. The applicant or licensee requesting approval must provide any information, equipment, or assistance requested by the board.

(5) The board may require the applicant to deliver 2 working models of the gaming equipment for evaluation. The board may dismantle the EGD and may destroy the electronic components in order to fully evaluate the submission.

(6) Verify and release programs are not required to be submitted for review, unless specified by the board. Verify and release programs include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Bill validator firmware.

(b) Printer firmware.

(c) RAM clear programs.

(d) Diagnostic programs.

(7) EGD software submissions must include documentation that individually lists all submitted items, along with corresponding verification signatures that are reported when using the game authentication terminal (GAT) verification program or equivalent.

(8) All of the following provisions apply to calculation sheets:

(a) For each submitted EGD game program, the applicant or licensee requesting approval must supply calculation sheets that determine the theoretical payback percentage, including base game, bonus games or features, free games, double-up options, progressives, and any other game features included in the payback percentage calculation.

(b) Where different player options such as number of credits, lines bet, or player strategy cause the pay table to vary, a separate calculation for each option is required.

(9) The applicant or licensee must submit the EGD source code and any special tool, computer equipment, compiling program, or other technical assistance necessary to compile the submitted software. The result of the compiled source code shall be identical to that in the storage medium submitted for evaluation. The applicant or licensee must provide the board with a method to compensate for or resolve any differences between the compiled program and the submitted program.

(10) EGD general specifications are as follows:

(a) An EGD must be controlled by a microprocessor.

(b) An EGD must be equipped with a RNG to make the selection process.

(c) An EGD must have a random selection process.

(d) An EGD must be capable of connecting to and communicating with an approved casino critical computerized system. An EGD must be capable of reporting all required electronic digital storage meters as well as all tilt and error conditions to the approved casino critical computerized system.

(e) An EGD that is capable of bidirectional communication with internal or external equipment must use a communication protocol that ensures that erroneous data or signals will not adversely affect the operation of the EGD or any attached equipment.

(f) An EGD must clearly display applicable rules of play and the payout schedule. The rules of play must be displayed on the face or screen of the EGD. If displayed on the face of the machine, the rules must be kept under glass or another transparent substance.

(g) An EGD must display an accurate representation of each game outcome utilizing rotating reels, video monitors, or other type of display mechanism that accurately depicts the outcome of the game.

(h) After selection of the game outcome, the EGD must not make a secondary decision that affects the result shown to the player.

(i) When a bonus game or feature is triggered, auto-initiation of the bonus game or feature by the EGD itself is prohibited except under the following circumstances:

(i) The player is presented with a choice and specifically acknowledges his or her intent to have the EGD auto-initiate the bonus or feature by means of a button press or physical player interaction with the machine.

(ii) The bonus or feature provides only 1 choice to the player, such as "press button to spin wheel." In this case, the EGD may auto-initiate the bonus or feature after a time out period of at least 2 minutes.

(j) If an EGD has the capability of auto-initiating the bonus or feature, the mechanism by which the auto-initiation is implemented must be explained in the pay table and help screens, if help screens are a feature of the particular game. For non-video devices or devices with the pay table displayed on glass, the auto-initiation mechanism must be explained on the glass.

(k) An EGD that offers progressive awards must have all of the following functionality within the control program itself or an attached progressive controller:

(i) The ability to display, for each progressive level, the total number of progressive wins, the dollar amount of the last progressive win, and the total dollar amount awarded.

(ii) The ability to display, for each progressive level, a chronological win history of not less than 10 progressive win events. The win history events must include, at a minimum, the date and time of the progressive award, the progressive level that was awarded, and the dollar amount of the award.

(iii) The ability to set or override the current progressive amount for all progressive levels.

(I) A player must have the option of cashing out and redeeming any residual credit or cash values. An EGD must not be designed in such a way that requires a player to gamble residual credits or cash equivalent on a double-up or gamble feature.

(m) All EGDs must incorporate the GAT program for verification, or another game level verification program determined equivalent by the board. The verification program must be readily accessible on demand at the EGD itself and not require extensive or overly burdensome use of specialized equipment. The EGD must calculate and return a digital signature (hash code) for all regulated firmware residing on the device. The board shall determine GAT requirements for equipment on an individual basis.

(n) An EGD must be designed in a manner that prohibits the enabling and operation of any pay table, feature, bonus round, or any other aspect of game operation that does not meet the jurisdictional requirements set forth in this rule or other technical standards issued by the board.

(11) All of the following apply to the EGD control program:

(a) Except as otherwise approved by the board in writing, the control program must reside in the EGD and must be contained either:

(i) in a storage medium that is not alterable through use of the circuitry or programing of the EGD itself, or

(ii) on a storage medium that employs a mechanism to prevent any alteration of the control program and all critical files through use of the circuitry or programming of the EGD.

(b) The control program must be impervious to influences from outside the EGD, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(i) Electromagnetic interference.

(ii) Electrostatic interference.

(iii) Radio frequency interference.

(c) The EGD must use appropriate communication protocols to protect the control program from unwanted influence by equipment that is conducting data communications with the EGD.

(d) EGD control programs must test themselves for possible corruption caused by failure of the program storage media. The test methodology must detect 99.99% of all possible failures. The control program must allow for the EGD to be continually tested during game play. The control program must check for all of the following:

(i) Corruption of RAM locations used for crucial EGD functions.

(ii) All required information relating to the game recall history as outlined in this rule.

(iii) RNG outcome.

(iv) Error states.

(e) Detection of corruption is a game malfunction that must result in a tilt condition that identifies the error and causes the EGD to cease further function.

(f) An EGD control program must routinely perform all of the following self-verification functions:

(i) Employ a verification mechanism that verifies that all program components are authentic copies. The verification method must prevent the execution of any program component if the component is determined to be invalid, and must cause the EGD to cease further function by means of a tilt.

(ii) Employ a mechanism that tests unused or unallocated areas of any alterable media for unintended programs or data and test the structure of the storage media for integrity. The mechanism must cause the EGD to cease operation by means of a tilt if unexpected data or structural inconsistencies are found.

(12) The applicant or licensee must submit the EGD RNG to the board for approval under any of the following circumstances:

(a) The source code of a previously approved RNG has changed or the implementation of the RNG has changed.

(b) The RNG is new or was not previously board approved.

(c) The RNG is being implemented on a new hardware platform with a new microprocessor.

(13) The applicant or licensee must submit the following for all EGD RNG submissions:

(a) The internal RNG test data and analysis detailing the types of tests performed and the results of the testing, certifying compliance with the specifications set forth in this rule or another standard adopted by the board.

(b) Upon request, all hardware and software necessary to collect the random number data. Direct collection of the random number data from the actual submitted EGD is required unless it is not possible. If direct collection from the actual submitted EGD is not possible, an external random data generation method may be used if found acceptable by the board.

(c) Explanation of any differences between the test application and the production application if generating random data with an external test application.

(d) RNG selection parameters, including the number of selections made per game and the range of numbers used.

(e) Description of the RNG, including the type, seeding method, and seeding frequency.

(14) Specifications for RNG data collection or generation are as follows:

(a) Test software must allow the tester to specify the amount and range of random numbers that will be generated.

(b) The test software must output an unsorted ASCII text file of unsigned integers, 1 per line, with no additional characters or leading zeros.

(c) The output file must be able to be extracted to a removable storage device or be sent via a communication port to an external PC.

(15) The following EGD RNG requirement provisions apply to randomness events and randomness testing:

(a) Events in EGDs are occurrences of elements or particular combinations of elements that are available on the particular EGD.

(b) A random event has a given set of possible outcomes that has a given probability of occurrence called the distribution.

(c) Two events are called independent if both of the following conditions exist:

(i) The outcome of 1 event does not have an influence on the outcome of the other event.

(ii) The outcome of 1 event does not affect the distribution of another event.

(d) The RNG in an EGD must produce game plays that are random and independent, so that a future game outcome cannot be predicted by a previous game outcome.

(e) A selection process is considered random if all of the following specifications are met to the 95% confidence level or better:

(i) The RNG passes the standard chi-squared analysis.

(ii) The RNG does not produce a statistic with regard to producing patterns of occurrences (runs analysis or similar pattern testing statistic).

(iii) The RNG produces numbers that are independently chosen without regard to any other symbol produced during that play (correlation analysis).

(iv) The RNG produces numbers that are chosen without reference to the series of outcomes in the previous game (serial correlation analysis).

(f) The RNG and random selection process must be impervious to influences from outside the EGD, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(i) Electromagnetic interference.

(ii) Electrostatic interference.

(iii) Radio frequency interference.

(g) An EGD must use appropriate communication protocols to protect the RNG and random selection process from influence by equipment that is conducting data communications with the EGD.

(h) The RNG must continue to run in the background at all times, whether or not games are being played on the EGD.

(i) When determining if an EGD award, pay table win, bonus game, progressive, or other feature will be awarded, an EGD utilizing any of the following restricted selection processes exclusively to make the determination is prohibited:

(i) Coin based or threshold triggering in which an award has been predetermined to be triggered at a certain point or between 2 points or values and utilizes a pool value, coin in value, threshold value or any other non-random mechanism to determine when the EGD exceeds the predetermined threshold and awards a prize.

(ii) Time based triggering in which an award has been predetermined to be triggered at a specific time or between 2 points in time and utilizes a clock, either internal or external, to determine when the EGD awards a prize.

(iii) Any other non-RNG based selection processes, other than player skill, both internal and external to the EGD.

(j) If a restricted selection process is utilized, an approved RNG based selection process must also be utilized simultaneously that is capable of triggering the same award, pay table win, bonus game, progressive award, or other feature on every game play. The trigger probability of the restricted selection process and the RNG selection process must be equivalent.

(16) An EGD must meet all of the following minimum and maximum theoretical percentage pay out requirements during the lifetime of the EGD:

(a) The EGD must pay out not less than 80% and not more than 100% of the amount wagered unless otherwise approved by the board.

(b) The theoretical payback percentage must be determined using standard methods of probability theory. The percentage must be calculated using both the highest and lowest level of skill, where player skill impacts the payback percentage.

(c) An EGD must not automatically alter pay tables or any function of the device based on internal computation of the actual hold percentage.

(d) When calculating the minimum theoretical payback percentage of a progressive EGD, only the base or reset amount (the lowest possible amount) of progressive awards can be used. A progressive EGD must meet or exceed the minimum jurisdictional requirement of 80% payback without the addition of progressive incremental rates.

(e) Double-up or gamble options must have a theoretical payback percentage of 100% for that feature.

(f) A skill based bonus game or feature utilizing a players physical skill, dexterity, or knowledge to determine or influence an EGD award must include calculations for the lowest and highest level of skill possible.

(g) An extended play collection (trophy) feature is one where a given award is not attainable on a single game play and a player must collect items or "trophies" over a series of games before winning an award or participating in a bonus round or feature. These features are allowed but, when calculating minimum theoretical payback for an EGD utilizing a collection or trophy feature, contributions from the collection or trophy feature cannot be used to achieve the minimum jurisdictional requirement of 80% theoretical payback.

(h) EGD programs designed for tournament or promotional use may have a theoretical payback percentage that exceeds 100%.

(i) An EGD may have multiple percentage settings if the settings do not violate these rules and if the settings are accessed only by software switches approved by the board.

(j) The probability of obtaining any payout on an EGD must be better than 1 in 50,000,000.

(k) Unless otherwise approved by the board in writing and denoted on the pay glass or pay table screen, where the EGD offers a game that is recognizable such as poker, blackjack, roulette, keno, or craps, the same probabilities associated with the live game must be used in the EGD. For example, each side on a die must have a 1 in 6 probability of occurrence.

(17) All of the following provisions apply to an EGD with multigame features:

(a) An EGD that offers a menu of more than 1 game to the player is considered a multigame. A multigame may have various games with configurable payback percentages.

(b) In addition to any other requirements or rules, a multigame may be approved by the board if electronic digital storage meters with at least 10 digits are available upon display for each game offered on the menu. Additionally, a multigame must retain the electronic digital storage meters of any games that are installed on the EGD but are not currently available on the menu. The electronic digital storage meters must include credits wagered and credits won, or equivalent.

(c) If the method of configuring the multigame menu may be accomplished by entering a configuration mode of the device, then the method employed must meet both of the following standards:

(i) The method has sufficient safeguards to prevent unauthorized access.

(ii) The method does not result in data loss or corruption of data sent to the casino critical computerized systems.

(18) All of the following provisions apply to electronic digital storage meters in EGDs:

(a) Electronic digital storage meters in EGDs must tally totals to at least 10 digits, be capable of rolling over when the maximum value is reached, and have an accuracy rate of at least 99.99%.

(b) An EGD must be equipped with all of the following electronic digital storage meters:

(i) A "coin-in" meter that accumulates the total value of all wagers, excluding subsequent wagers of intermediate winnings accumulated during game play sequences such as those acquired from "double up" games.

(ii) A "coin-out" meter that accumulates the total value of all amounts directly paid by the machine as a result of winning wagers, whether the payout is made to a credit meter or by any other means. This meter will not record amounts awarded as the result of an external bonusing system or a progressive payout.

(iii) An "attendant paid jackpots" meter that accumulates the total value of credits paid by an attendant resulting from a single winning alignment or combination, the amount of which is not capable of being paid by the machine itself. This does not include progressive amounts or amounts awarded as a result of an external bonusing system. This meter is only to include awards resulting from a specifically identified amount listed in the manufacturers par sheet.

(iv) An "attendant paid cancelled credits" meter that accumulates the total value paid by an attendant resulting from a player-initiated cash-out that exceeds the physical or configured capability of the machine to make the proper payout amount.

(v) A "bill in" meter that accumulates the total value of currency accepted. Additionally, the machine must have a specific meter for each denomination of currency accepted that records the number of bills accepted of each denomination.

(vi) A "voucher in" meter that accumulates the total value of all slot machine wagering vouchers accepted by the machine.

(vii) A "voucher out" meter that accumulates the total value of all slot machine wagering vouchers and payout receipts issued by the machine.

(viii) A "wagering account transfer in" or "WAT in" meter that accumulates the total value of cashable credits electronically transferred to the machine from a wagering account by means of an external connection between the machine and a cashless wagering system.

(ix) A "wagering account transfer out" or "WAT out" meter that accumulates the total value of cashable credits electronically transferred from the machine to a wagering account by means of an external connection between the machine and a cashless wagering system.

(x) A "non-cashable electronic promotion in" meter that accumulates the total value of non-cashable credits electronically transferred to the machine from a promotional account by means of an external connection between the machine and a cashless wagering system.

(xi) A "non-cashable electronic promotion out" meter that accumulates the total value of non-cashable credits electronically transferred from the machine to a promotional account by means of an external connection between the machine and a cashless wagering system.

(xii) A "cashable electronic promotion in" meter that accumulates the total value of cashable credits electronically transferred to the machine from a promotional account by means of an external connection between the machine and a cashless wagering system.

(xiii) A "cashable electronic promotion out" meter that accumulates the total value of cashable credits electronically transferred from the machine to a promotional account by means of an external connection between the machine and a cashless wagering system.

(xiv) A "coupon promotion in" meter that accumulates the total value of all slot machine coupons accepted by the machine.

(xv) A "coupon promotion out" meter that accumulates the total value of all slot machine coupons issued by the machine.

(xvi) A "machine paid external bonus payout" meter that accumulates the total value of additional amounts awarded as a result of an external bonusing system and paid by the slot machine.

(xvii) An "attendant paid external bonus payout" meter that accumulates the total value of amounts awarded as a result of an external bonusing system and paid by an attendant.

(xviii) An "attendant paid progressive payout" meter that accumulates the total value of credits paid by an attendant as a result of progressive awards that are not capable of being paid by the machine itself. This meter does not include awards paid as a result of an external bonusing system.

(xix) A "machine paid progressive payout" meter that accumulates the total value of credits paid as a result of progressive awards paid directly by the machine. This meter does not include awards paid as a result of an external bonusing system.

(xx) A "games-played" meter that displays the cumulative number of games played.

(xxi) A "cabinet door" meter that displays the number of times the front cabinet door was opened.

(xxii) A "drop door" meter that displays the number of times the drop door or bill validator door was opened.

(xxiii) Any additional meters necessary to fully reconcile transfers to and from the EGD.

(xxiv) Any additional meters required, in writing, by the board.

(c) An EGD must have electronic digital storage meters that continuously and accurately display to the player all of the following information relating to the current play or monetary transaction:

(i) The number of credits wagered in the current game.

(ii) The number of credits won in the current game, if applicable.

(iii) The number of credits cashed out or a direct pay from a winning combination.

(iv) The number of credits available for wagering, if applicable.

(d) An EGD may not have a mechanism that causes any of the required electronic digital storage meters to clear automatically when an error occurs. The required electronic digital storage meters may be cleared only in a manner approved by the board. Required meter readings, when possible, must be recorded before and after the electronic digital storage meter is cleared.

(e) All electronic digital storage meters must be preserved after a power loss to the EGD and must be maintained for a period of not less than 180 days.

(19) All of the following provisions apply to game recall requirements:

(a) Unless otherwise approved by the board in writing, an EGD must have the capacity to display a complete play history for the current game and the previous 9 games.

The game recall shall reflect at least the last 50 events of completed bonus games. If a bonus game consists of "x number of events," each with separate outcomes, each of the "x events", up to 50, shall be displayed with its corresponding outcome, regardless of whether the result was a win or loss.

(b) The EGD game recall must display an indication of all of the following:

(i) The game outcome or representative equivalent.

(ii) The outcome of any bonus round or feature game.

(iii) All bets placed.

(iv) Credits won or cashed out.

(v) Any error conditions.

(vi) Any other information deemed necessary by the board to ensure compliance with the act and these rules.

(20) All of the following provisions apply to error conditions and malfunctions:

(a) A description of the EGD error codes and their meanings must be contained inside each EGD only if the error codes are required for troubleshooting tilts or malfunctions.

(b) The following provisions apply to error conditions and automatic clearing. The EGD must be capable of detecting and displaying the error conditions listed below. These error conditions must be automatically cleared by the EGD upon initiation of a new play sequence. The following error conditions apply:

(i) Power reset.

(ii) Door open.

(iii) Inappropriate coin-in, bill-in, or voucher-in if not automatically returned to the player.

(c) The following provisions apply to error conditions and clearing by an attendant. The EGD must be capable of detecting and displaying all of the following error conditions that an attendant may clear:

(i) Printer jam or error.

(ii) RAM error.

(iii) Program error.

(iv) A reel spin error of any type, including an index error condition for rotating reels. The specific reel number must be identified in the error indicator.

(v) Low RAM battery, for batteries external to the RAM itself, or low power source.

(d) Except in the case of total memory failure, and if the machine is still operable, an EGD must be capable of continuing the current play with all the current play features after an EGD error condition or malfunction is cleared.

(21) EGD hardware specifications are as follows:

(a) An EGD must provide the means for on-demand display of the electronic accounting meters utilizing a key switch on the exterior of the EGD.

(b) An EGD is not required to have electromechanical meters installed.

(c) The internal space of an EGD must not be readily accessible when the door is closed.

(d) An on and off power switch that controls the electrical current to operate the EGD must be located in an accessible place within the interior of the EGD.

(e) All of the following must be secured inside a separate internal enclosure inside the EGD that is capable of being locked:

(i) Logic boards.

(ii) Program storage media.

(iii) RAM.

(f) An EGD must have its logic boards, computer chips, and any other devices that store memory secured in a locked enclosure, as described in subdivision (e) of this subrule. The board must be allowed immediate access to the locked area described in subdivision (e) of this subrule. A casino licensee must maintain its keys to EGDs in accordance with the casino licensees approved internal controls.

(g) A light must be installed on the top of the EGD and must automatically illuminate when the door to the EGD is opened or when equipment that may affect the security or operation of the EGD is exposed, if the equipment is physically attached to the EGD.

(h) A bar-top EGD must have a light alarm or an audio door alarm, or both, installed. The alarm must be designed to activate when the machine is entered.

(i) An EGD must be Underwriters Laboratories approved or equivalent.

(j) Electrical and mechanical parts and design principles must not subject a player to physical hazards.

(k) Spilling conductive liquid on the EGD must not create a safety hazard or alter the integrity or performance of the EGD.

(l) The power supply used in an EGD must be designed to make minimum leakage of current in the event of an intentional or inadvertent disconnection of the AC power ground.

(m) An EGD power supply filtering must be sufficient to prevent disruption of the EGD by a repeated switching on and off of the AC power.

(n) A surge protector must be installed on each EGD.

(o) An EGD must be capable of maintaining the accuracy of the required electronic meter information and game data after power is discontinued from the EGD.

(p) After a power failure, the EGD must be able to continue a game without loss of data.

(q) A hardware switch may not be installed if it alters the pay tables or payout percentages in the operation of the EGD.

(r) Unless otherwise approved by the board in writing, a hardware switch may only be installed to control any of the following:

(i) Graphic routines.

(ii) Speed of play.

(iii) Sound.

(iv) Other approved cosmetic play features.

(22) If a bill validator is utilized, the bill validator must be approved by the board and must meet the following requirements:

(a) The bill validator must exchange currency, tickets, or vouchers for equal value of EGD credits. If EGD credit is issued, then the player must have the option of taking the entire amount of credits or utilizing any portion of the registered credits to activate the EGD as a wager.

(b) A bill validator must have software programs that enable the acceptor to differentiate between genuine and counterfeit bills to a high degree of accuracy.

(c) A bill validator may be for a single denomination or combination of denominations, including tickets and vouchers.

(d) A bill validator must be equipped with a drop box to collect the currency, tickets, or vouchers inserted into the bill validator. The drop box must comply with all of the following requirements:

(i) The drop box must be housed in a locked compartment separate from any other compartment of the EGD.

(ii) The drop box must be accessible by a key that will access only the bill validator drop box and no other area of the EGD.

(iii) The drop box must have a slot opening through which currency, tickets, or vouchers can be inserted.

(iv) The drop box must be identifiable to the EGD from which it was removed.

(23) Wagering credits available for play must be wagered in the following order:

(a) Non-cashable credits.

(b) Cashable credits given away by a casino licensee.

(c) All other credits.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 432.1839

1998-2000 AACS; 2008 AACS; 2019 MR 9, Eff. 5/17/2019