N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69E-1.39C - Wide area progressive standards for linked progressive gaming devices used in more than one casino facility

(a) Two or more progressive gaming devices located within two or more casinos may be connected using an approved progressive system to establish a shared wide area progressive (WAP) link. The progressive system includes all hardware and software responsible for the operation of a WAP link including but not limited to communication and configuration of the link.

(b) WAP links for slot machines and multiplayer systems shall be administered from an approved location within Atlantic County, provided that wagering and account information for a multi-state slot system shall be transmitted by the operator of such multi-state slot system to either a restricted area on the premises of a casino hotel or to a secure facility inaccessible to the public and specifically designed for that purpose off the premises of a casino hotel but within the territorial limits of Atlantic County, New Jersey, and from there to slot machines of New Jersey casino licensees, provided all locations are approved by the Division. The system shall utilize a central server which is responsible for, at a minimum:

1. Maintaining all meter information for all progressive links on the system;

2. Communicating the appropriate incrementation amount to all participating progressive gaming devices and displays;

3. Recording and maintaining all progressive meters;

4. Recording the date, time, and location of each progressive win;

5. Recording and maintaining material security events such as a door open;

6. Recording and maintaining all progressive parameter changes; and

7. Recording and maintaining progressive error events which may negatively impact the operation of the link.

(c) The progressive system shall prevent unauthorized changes to progressive parameters.

(d) The progressive system shall secure all contribution and meter information from unauthorized alteration.

(e) The progressive system shall be designed to comply with the Division's rules for critical computer systems.

(f) Progressive systems shall utilize a dedicated network using secure lines, such as virtual private network (VPN) or other method as approved by the Division.

(g) A progressive system shall be capable of generating the following reports:

1. A progressive summary report which details the amount of and basis for the current jackpot amount for each WAP link;

2. An aggregate summary report which provides system wide totals of progressive liabilities; and

3. A payoff report that clearly demonstrates the method of arriving at the payoff amount when a WAP progressive has been awarded.

(h) Progressive systems shall be designed to enable the WAP system operator and casino licensee to:

1. Reconcile progressive meters; and

2. Reconcile jackpot awards.

(i) WAP systems shall utilize a progressive controller located at each participating casino. The role of a progressive controller in a WAP configuration is to communicate meter information from the progressive gaming device to the central server.

(j) All progressive gaming devices within a WAP system may remain operational during a communication failure between the central server and the progressive controller within the casino if the progressive controller is designed with a buffer that retains all meter information required to calculate the progressive liability.

(k) All progressive gaming devices within a WAP system shall become inoperable during a communication failure between the central server and the progressive controller within a casino if:

1. The progressive controller's buffer is full; or

2. The progressive controller is not designed with a buffer to retain the progressive gaming device's critical gaming information during a communication failure.

(l) Each WAP progressive gaming device connected to a progressive controller shall become inoperable if there is a communication failure between the progressive controller and the progressive gaming device connected to it.

(m) All WAP progressive gaming devices connected to a progressive controller shall become inoperable if the progressive controller becomes inoperable.

(n) Progressive controllers shall accurately identify and record the order of the winning WAP progressive jackpots when two or more linked progressive gaming devices achieve the same winning game outcome at nearly the same time. If more than one valid jackpot occurred simultaneously, internal procedure shall be implemented to address such occurrence.

(o) Nothing shall prevent a casino licensee from creating a manual system to operate a WAP link at a table game provided that the manual process has been approved by the Division.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69E-1.39C

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 1954(a), effective 8/3/2015