N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-2.6 - Procedure for dealing of cards

(a) All cards used to game at blackjack shall be dealt from a dealing shoe specifically designed for such purpose unless such cards are dealt from the dealer's hand in accordance with the procedure set forth at 13:69F-2.6A.

(b) Each dealer shall remove cards from the shoe with his or her left hand, turn them face upwards, and then place them on the appropriate area of the layout with his or her right hand, except that the dealer has the option to deal hit cards to the first two positions with his or her left hand.

(c) After each full set of cards is placed in the shoe, the dealer shall remove the first card therefrom face downwards and place it in the discard rack. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also burn one card as described herein before the new dealer deals any cards to the players. The burn card shall be disclosed if requested by the player. This procedure shall not be applicable to the "Bart Carter shuffle."

(d) If a double shoe is utilized, the following procedures shall be used in lieu of those set forth in (c) above.

1. Prior to commencement of each round of play, the dealer shall draw a card from either side of the double shoe. The suit of that card shall determine from which side of the shoe that round of play will be dealt. The casino licensee shall designate that the suits of hearts and diamonds shall correspond to the color of the backs of the cards being dealt from one side of the shoe, and that the suits of spades and clubs shall correspond to the color of the backs of the cards being dealt from the other side of the shoe.

2. A determinant card corresponding to the side of the shoe from which it was drawn shall become the player's first card. A determinant card that does not correspond to the side of the shoe from which it was dealt shall be burned by placing it in a segregated area of the dealing shoe.

(e) At the commencement of each round of play, or immediately after the determinant card has been drawn and either burned or used as the player's first card, the dealer shall, starting on his or her left and continuing around the table, deal the cards in the following order:

1. One card face upwards to each box on the layout in which a wager is contained;

2. One card face upwards to himself or herself; and

3. A second card face upwards to each box in which a wager is contained.

(f) After two cards have been dealt to each player and the appropriate number to the dealer, the dealer shall, beginning from his or her left, announce the point total of each player. As each player's point total is announced, such player shall indicate whether he or she wishes to surrender, double down, split pairs, stand or draw, as provided for by this chapter.

(g) As each player indicates his or her decision(s), the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate such decision consistent with these regulations and shall announce the new point total of such player after each additional card is dealt.

(h) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional cards have been dealt, the dealer shall deal a second card face upward to himself or herself provided, however, that such card shall not be removed from the dealing shoe until the dealer has first announced "Dealer's Card" which shall be stated by the dealer in a tone of voice calculated to be heard by each person at the table. Any additional cards authorized to be dealt to the hand of the dealer by 13:69F-2.12(b) shall be dealt face upwards at this time after which the dealer shall announce his or her total point count. In lieu of the requirements of this subsection, the procedures set forth in (j) or (k) below may be implemented.

(i) At the conclusion of a round of play, all cards still remaining on the layout shall be picked up by the dealer in order and in such a way that they can be readily arranged to indicate each player's hand in case of question or dispute. The dealer shall pick up the cards beginning with those of the player to his or her far right and moving counterclockwise around the table. After all the players' cards have been collected, the dealer shall pick up his or her cards against the bottom of the players' cards and place them in the discard rack or in a segregated area of the double shoe.

(j) In lieu of the procedures set forth in (h) above, a casino licensee may permit a blackjack dealer to deal his or her hole card face downward after a second card and before additional cards are dealt to the players provided that said dealer not look at the face of his or her hole card until after all other cards requested by the players pursuant to those regulations are dealt to them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a casino licensee elects to utilize a card reader device and the dealer's first card is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10 of any suit, the dealer shall determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a blackjack prior to dealing any additional cards to the players at the table, in accordance with the casino licensee's internal control procedures. The dealer shall insert the hole card into the card reader device by moving the card face down on the layout without exposing it to anyone, including the dealer, at the table.

1. If the dealer has a blackjack, no additional cards shall be dealt and each player's wager shall be settled in accordance with 13:69F-2.3, 2.7, and 2.20.

2. The alternative dealing procedure described in this subsection shall not be used at any blackjack table which offers the progressive blackjack wager authorized by 13:69F-2.19.

3. If a casino licensee offers the additional wager authorized by 13:69F-2.17(a)3 at a blackjack table that has a card reader device and the dealer has a blackjack, the dealer shall, starting from his or her left, offer any player that has been dealt two sevens as his or her initial two cards an additional card to complete the hand on which the additional wager has been made.

(k) In lieu of the procedures set forth in (h) above, a casino licensee may permit a blackjack dealer to deal his or her hole card face upward after a second card and before additional cards are dealt to the players, provided that the casino licensee complies with the notice requirements set forth in 13:69F-8.3. The alternative dealing procedure described in this subsection shall not be used at any blackjack table which offers the progressive blackjack wager authorized by 13:69F-2.19. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the following rules shall apply whenever cards used to game at blackjack are dealt in accordance with this subsection:

1. Winning wagers shall be determined in accordance with 13:69F-2.3(a) and (b); provided, however, that a player's wager shall be lost if the score of the player is the same as the dealer, except that a player's wager shall win if both the player and dealer have blackjack;

2. Winning wagers shall be paid in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:69F-2(e), except that standard blackjack shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1;

3. Surrender, pursuant to 13:69F-2.8, and insurance wagers, pursuant to 13:69F-2.9, shall not be available;

4. A player may double down, pursuant to 13:69F-2.10, only on a point count of 9, 10, or 11;

5. Any player who elects to split cards of identical value, pursuant to 13:69F-2.11, may not split pairs again if the second card so dealt is identical in value to a card of the split pair; and

6. If the dealer has a blackjack, no additional cards shall be dealt and each player's wager shall be settled in accordance with 13:69F-2.3 and 2.7; provided, however, if a casino elects to offer the additional wager authorized by 13:69F-2.17(a)3 and the dealer has blackjack, the dealer shall, starting from his or her left, offer each player that has been dealt two sevens as his or her initial two cards an additional card to complete the hand on which the additional wager has been made.

(l) Whenever the cutting card is reached in the deal of the cards, the dealer shall continue dealing the cards until that round of play is completed after which the dealer shall:

1. Collect the cards as provided in (i) above;

2. Prepare to shuffle the cards, as follows:

i. Whenever a single dealing shoe is used, the dealer shall remove the cards remaining in the shoe and place them in the discard rack to ensure that no cards are missing; or

ii. Whenever a double shoe is used, the dealer shall remove the cards remaining in the side of the shoe from which the cutting card was drawn and the cards, if any, that were put in a separate segregated area for the discards from that side of the double shoe, after which the dealer shall place those cards face down in the discard rack in order to ensure that no cards are missing; and

3. Shuffle the cards. If a double shoe is utilized, the shuffle of the cards shall be limited to the side of the shoe from which the cutting card was drawn.

i. If the "Bart Carter shuffle" is utilized and the cards in the discard rack exceed approximately one deck in number, the dealer shall continue dealing the cards until that round of play is completed after which he shall remove the cards from the discard rack and shuffle those cards so that they are randomly intermixed. After the cards taken from the discard rack are shuffled, they shall be split into three separate stacks and each stack shall be inserted into premarked locations within the remaining decks contained in the dealing shoe.

ii. No player or spectator shall handle, remove or alter any cards used to game at blackjack except as explicitly permitted by these regulations and no dealer or other casino employee shall permit a player or spectator to engage in such activity.

iii. Each player at the table shall be responsible for correctly computing the point count of his or her hand and no player shall rely on the point counts required to be announced by the dealer under this section without himself or herself checking the accuracy of such announcement.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-2.6