58 Pa. Code § 665a.7 - Procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play

(a) All cards shall be dealt from a dealing shoe which must be located on the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment). Once the procedures under § 665a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards) have been completed, the dealer or automated card shuffling device shall place the stacked cards in the dealing shoe.

(b) Each card shall be removed from the dealing shoe with the hand of the dealer that is closest to the dealing shoe and placed on the appropriate area of the layout with the opposite hand. The dealer may deal cards to the two betting positions closest to the dealing shoe with the same hand.

(c) After each full batch of cards is placed in the shoe, the dealer shall remove the first card and place it in the discard rack. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also remove one card and place it in the discard rack before dealing any cards to the players.

(d) If the cover card appears as the first card in the dealing shoe at the beginning of a round of play or appears during play, the cover card shall be removed and placed to the side and the hand will be completed. The dealer shall then collect and reshuffle the cards in accordance with § 665a.5.

(e) At the commencement of each round of play and after all players have been afforded the opportunity to make a Bet and Bust It Wager, one card shall be dealt face up to the dealer. After examining the dealer's up card, a player who placed a Bet Wager may place an optional Double Attack Wager in accordance with § 665a.6(e) (relating to wagers).

(f) After all players have been afforded an opportunity to place a Double Attack Wager, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's left and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, the dealer shall deal the cards as follows:

(1) One card face up to each box on the layout in which a Bet Wager is contained.

(2) A second card face up to each box on the layout in which a Bet Wager is contained.

(3) A second card face down to the dealer.

(g) Immediately after the second card is dealt to each player and the dealer, if the dealer's first card is an ace, the dealer shall offer the Insurance Wager in accordance with § 665a.8 (relating to Insurance Wager). If the dealer's first card is an ace, king, queen or jack, the dealer shall then determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a Blackjack. 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 at the table, including the dealer. If the dealer has a Blackjack, additional cards may not be dealt and each player's Bet, Double Attack, Bust It and Insurance Wagers, if applicable, shall be settled in accordance with this section and § 665a.8.

(h) After the procedures in subsection (g) have been completed, if necessary, the dealer shall start with the player farthest to the dealer's left and continue around the table in a clockwise direction and if the player:

(1) Has Blackjack, the dealer shall announce and pay the Bet and Double Attack Wagers in accordance with subsection (o) and remove the player's cards. If a player also placed a Bust It Wager, the wager shall remain on the layout until subsection (m) is completed.

(2) Does not have Blackjack, the player shall indicate whether he wishes to surrender, as permitted under § 665a.9 (relating to surrender), double down as permitted under § 665a.10 (relating to Double Down Wager), split pairs as permitted under § 665a.11 (relating to splitting pairs), stand or draw additional cards.

(i) As each player indicates his decision, the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate the player's decision.

(j) A player may elect to draw additional cards whenever his point count total is less than 21, except that:

(1) A player having Blackjack or a hard or soft total of 21 may not draw additional cards.

(2) A player electing to make a Double Down Wager may draw only one additional card.

(k) Prior to the dealer exposing his hole card, if player has less than 21 after drawing additional cards, the player may surrender in accordance with § 665a.9.

(l) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional cards have been dealt, the dealer shall turn the hole card face up.

(m) If the first two cards of the dealer's hand:

(1) Equal a total point count of 17 or higher, the dealer shall collect all losing Bust It Wagers before settling the player's Bet or Double Attack Wagers in accordance with subsection (o).

(2) Equal a total point count of less than 17, the dealer shall draw an additional card. If the dealer's three card hand has a total point count:

(i) In excess of 21, the dealer shall pay the winning Bust It Wager in accordance with § 665a.12(c) (relating to payout odds). The payout shall be based on the value of the third card drawn, except that if all three of the dealer's cards are an 8 of the same color or suit, a player shall receive an increased payout based on the three 8s instead of the payout based on the value of the third card drawn.

(ii) Of 21 or less, the dealer shall collect all losing Bust It Wagers.

(n) After settling the player's Bust It Wager, if applicable, if the dealer's first three cards equal a total point count of less than 17, the dealer shall draw additional cards until he has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.

(o) After all additional cards have been dealt to the players and the dealer, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, settle the remaining wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers as follows:

(1) A Bet Wager shall:

(i) Win and be paid in accordance with § 665a.12(a) if:

(A) The total point count of the player's hand is 21 or less and the total point count of the dealer's hand is in excess of 21.

(B) The total point count of the player's hand exceeds the total point count of the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.

(C) The player has a Blackjack and the dealer's hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.

(ii) Lose and be collected if:

(A) The dealer has a Blackjack and the player does not have a Blackjack.

(B) The total point count of the dealer's hand is 21 or less and the total point count of the player's hand is in excess of 21.

(C) The total point count of the dealer's hand exceeds the total point count of the player's hand without exceeding 21.

(iii) Tie and be returned to the player if the total point count of the player's hand is the same as the dealer's or if both the player and dealer have Blackjack.

(2) A Double Attack Wager shall win, lose or tie in accordance with subsection (o)(1) except that the Double Attack Wager shall be returned to the player if the dealer has a Blackjack and the player does not have a Blackjack.

(p) The dealer shall pay all winning wagers and collect all losing wagers beginning with the player farthest to the dealer's right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction. The dealer shall place any losing wagers directly into the table inventory and may not pay off any winning wagers by using value chips collected from a losing wager.

(q) After all wagers have been settled, the dealer shall remove all remaining cards from the table and place them in the discard rack in a manner that permits the reconstruction of each hand in the event of a question or dispute.

(r) Players and spectators may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Double Attack Blackjack.

Notes

58 Pa. Code § 665a.7

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 665a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards); 58 Pa. Code § 665a.6 (relating to wagers); and 58 Pa. Code § 665a.9 (relating to surrender).