§ 633b.5. Blackjack played on a hybrid gaming table.
(a) Hybrid gaming tables and electronic wagering terminals used to play Blackjack shall comply with the requirements in Chapter 605a (relating to electronic gaming tables).
(b) The layout for Blackjack played on a hybrid gaming table shall be submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations for approval in accordance with § 601a.10(a) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment) and contain, at a minimum:
(1) The name or logo of the certificate holder.
(2) Three designated boxes for the placement of player’s cards.
(3) A designated box for the placement of the dealer’s cards.
(4) A community box for the placement of additional cards drawn by the dealer.
(c) Each electronic wagering terminal connected to a hybrid gaming table shall contain, at a minimum:
(1) An electronic layout submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations for approval in accordance with § 601a.10(a).
(2) A game rules icon explaining the rules of Blackjack play including that Blackjack pays 3 to 2, dealer stands on all soft 17s, that insurance pays 2 to 1 and any rules selected by the certificate holder regarding the action that may automatically be taken at the conclusion of the countdown clock when a player does not elect to hit or stand.
(3) If the certificate holder is offering the Buzzer Beater wager, a game rules icon explaining the optional wager and the payout odds.
(d) Each hybrid gaming table offering Blackjack must have a card reader device attached to the top of the dealer’s side of the table. The floorperson assigned to the hybrid gaming table shall inspect the card reader device at the beginning of each gaming day to ensure that there has been no tampering with the device and that it is in proper working order.
(e) Unless a continuous shuffler is used, each hybrid gaming table must have a discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer’s side of the table. The height of each discard rack must either:
(1) Equal the height of the cards, stacked one on top of the other, in the total number of decks that are to be used in the dealing shoe at that table.
(2) Be taller than the height of the total number of decks being used if the discard 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 in the number of decks to be used in the dealing shoe at that table.
(f) Blackjack played on a hybrid gaming table shall be played with six or eight decks of cards that are identical in appearance and a card shuffling device.
(g) The decks of cards opened for use at a hybrid gaming table offering Blackjack shall be changed at least once every 24 hours.
(h) The value of the cards shall be as follows:
(1) Any card from 2 to 10 shall have its face value.
(2) Any jack, queen or king shall have a value of 10.
(3) An ace shall have a value of 11 unless that value would give a player or the dealer a score in excess of 21, in which case the ace shall have a value of 1.
(i) After receiving six or eight decks of cards at the table, the dealer shall inspect the cards for any defects. The floorperson assigned to the table shall verify the inspection.
(j) Unless the decks of cards received at the table were preinspected and preshuffled in accordance with § 603a.16(u) or (v) (relating to cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use), the cards shall be turned face down on the table, mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards, stacked and shuffled using an automated cards shuffling device so that the cards are randomly intermixed. Upon completion of the shuffle, the cards shall be placed in the dealing shoe. All cards shall be dealt from a dealing shoe that reads the value of the cards which must be located on the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g).
(k) Wagers at Blackjack played on hybrid gaming tables shall be placed using each player’s electronic wagering terminal. All wagers, except an Insurance Wager under § 633a.8 (relating to Insurance Wager), a Double Down Wager under § 633a.10 (relating to Double Down Wager) or a wager on split pairs under § 633a.11 (relating to splitting pairs), shall be placed prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play.
(l) To participate in a round of play each player shall select a player position between 1 and 3. To compete against the dealer’s hand, each player shall electronically place a Blackjack wager.
(m) If specified in its rules submission required under § 601a.10(a), a certificate holder may offer to each player who placed a Blackjack wager, the option of placing a Buzzer Beater wager that the player’s hand will have a point count of 19 or greater and will lose against the dealer’s hand.
(n) At the commencement of each round of play, the dealer shall, starting with the player position farthest to the dealer’s left that was selected by any player for that round of play and continuing around the table in a clockwise manner, deal the cards as follows:
(1) One card face up to each player position on the hybrid gaming table layout that was selected by any player.
(2) One card face up to the dealer.
(3) A second card face up to each player position on the hybrid gaming table layout.
(4) A second card face down to the dealer.
(o) If the dealer’s first card is an ace, the dealer shall offer the Insurance Wager or even money in accordance with § 633a.8. If the dealer’s first card is an ace, king, queen, jack or 10, 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 Blackjack wager and the Buzzer Beater wager, if applicable, shall be settled.
(p) After the procedures in subsection (o) have been completed, if necessary, and if the player position:
(1) Has Blackjack and the dealer’s up card is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the Blackjack shall be electronically paid in accordance with subsection (v)(1). If any Buzzer Beater wagers were placed on that player position, the losing Buzzer Beater wagers shall be cleared.
(2) Does not have Blackjack, each player shall electronically indicate whether he wishes to double down as permitted under § 633a.10, split pairs as permitted under § 633a.11, stand or draw additional cards. A player that takes no action by the conclusion of the countdown clock will be deemed to stand on his hand.
(q) If any player elects to double down, split or draw additional cards, the dealer shall draw additional cards face up. The drawn cards shall be used as community cards for all player positions.
(r) A player may elect to electronically hit to draw additional cards whenever the point count for his chosen player position 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 will utilize only the first community card.
(s) After the decisions of each player position have been implemented and all additional community cards have been dealt, the dealer shall turn the hole card face up. Any additional cards required to be dealt to the hand of the dealer shall be dealt face up. The dealer shall draw additional cards until he has a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.
(t) A player’s Blackjack wager shall:
(1) Win and be electronically paid in accordance with the payout odds in subsection (v)(1) if:
(i) 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.
(ii) The total point count of the player’s hand exceeds the total point count of the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21.
(iii) The player has a Blackjack and the dealer’s hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.
(2) Push if the total point count of the player’s hand is the same as the dealer’s.
(3) Be lost if:
(i) The total point count of the player’s hand is in excess of 21 and the total point count of the dealer’s hand is 21 or less.
(ii) The total point count of the dealer’s hand exceeds the total point count of the player’s hand without exceeding 21.
(iii) The dealer has a Blackjack and the player’s hand has a total point count of 21 in more than two cards.
(u) If any player placed a Buzzer Beater wager, the player’s Buzzer Beater wager shall:
(1) Win and be electronically paid in accordance with subsection (v)(3) if the player’s hand was a 19, 20, 21 or a Blackjack and the dealer’s hand was equal to or greater than the player’s hand without exceeding 21.
(2) Lose and be electronically collected if:
(i) The player’s hand beat the dealer’s hand.
(ii) The dealer’s hand beat the player’s hand and the player did not have a 19, 20, 21 or Blackjack.
(v) Payout odds:
(1) Each winning Blackjack wager shall be paid electronically at odds of 1 to 1 with the exception of player Blackjack which shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2.
(2) Winning Insurance wagers shall be paid electronically at odds of 2 to 1.
(3) Winning Buzzer Beater wagers shall be paid electronically at the following odds:
Player Hand Dealer Hand Payout Odds Blackjack Blackjack 5 to 1 20 20 5 to 1 20 21 or Blackjack 30 to 1 19 19 5 to 1 19 20 10 to 1 19 21 or Blackjack 10 to 1 (w) A certificate holder may offer a version of Blackjack on a hybrid gaming table whereby the dealer does not receive a hole card. If offering this version of Blackjack, previous subsections (a), (c)(1) and (2) and (d)—(k) apply in addition to the following provisions.
(x) To participate in a round of play, the player shall electronically place a Blackjack wager. If specified in its rules submission required under § 601a.10(a), the certificate holder may offer to each player who placed a Blackjack wager, the option of placing electronically Royal Match 21, Bet the Set or Kings Bounty wagers as provided in § 633a.6(e)(4)—(6) (relating to wagers).
(y) At the commencement of each round of play, the dealer shall deal the cards as follows:
(1) One card face up, which shall be used as all players’ first card.
(2) A second card face up, which shall be used as the dealer’s first card.
(3) A third card face up, which shall be used as all players’ second card.
(4) All cards dealt after the first three shall be community cards and may be designated to a player or to the dealer depending on the choices each player makes with respect to his hand.
(z) If the dealer’s first card is an ace, the electronic wagering terminal shall offer the Insurance Wager in accordance with § 633a.8. Each player shall electronically indicate whether he wishes to place an Insurance Wager, if applicable, or to surrender as permitted under § 633a.9 (relating to surrender), double down as permitted under § 633a.10, split pairs for a total of two hands as permitted under § 633a.11, stand or draw additional cards. A player may elect to electronically draw additional cards whenever the point count for his chosen player position is less than 21, except that a player having Blackjack or a hard or soft total of 21 may not draw additional cards. A player who takes no action by the conclusion of the countdown clock will be deemed to stand on his hand provided that if the certificate holder selects different options, such as a player’s hand of an 11 will automatically hit if the player takes no action at the conclusion of the countdown clock, those options shall be explained to the player in the game rules icon as provided in subsection (c)(2).
(aa) After the decisions of each player position have been implemented, the dealer shall deal a community card face up which shall be used as follows:
(1) If the player’s two cards gave the player Blackjack, the community card dealt shall be used as the dealer’s hole card. If the hole card:
(i) Also gave the dealer a Blackjack, the player’s Blackjack wager shall push and be electronically returned to player and, if applicable, the winning Insurance Wager shall be electronically paid in accordance with subsection (ee)(1).
(ii) Did not give the dealer Blackjack, the player’s winning Blackjack wager shall be paid in accordance with subsection (ee)(2) and the losing Insurance Wager, if applicable, shall be electronically collected.
(2) If the player’s two cards did not give the player Blackjack but the player elected to stand and not receive additional cards, the first community card dealt shall be used as the dealer’s hole card. If the hole card:
(i) Gives the dealer a Blackjack, no additional community cards shall be designated to the player or dealer’s hand and the player’s losing Blackjack wager shall be electronically collected. If applicable, the winning Insurance Wager shall be electronically paid in accordance with subsection (ee)(1).
(ii) Did not give the dealer Blackjack, the losing Insurance Wager, if applicable, shall be electronically collected. The community cards revealed thereafter shall be added to the dealer’s hand in accordance with subsection (bb).
(3) If the player’s two cards did not give the player Blackjack and the player elected to hit, split pairs or double down, the first community card shall be added to the player’s hand. If a player:
(i) Split aces or doubled down in accordance with § § 633a.10 and 633a.11, the player’s hand shall be complete after the first community card is dealt and the player may not hit to receive additional community cards. After the first community card is designated to the player’s hand, if the player’s hand is over 21 before any additional cards are revealed, the player’s losing Blackjack wager shall be electronically collected. The community cards revealed thereafter shall be added to the dealer’s hand in accordance with subsection (bb).
(ii) Elected to hit or split pairs, other than aces, the player may then stand or may elect to continue to hit and receive additional community cards added to the player’s hand until the point count of each of the player’s hands is a hard or soft 21 or less. If the player’s hand is over 21 before the dealer’s second/hole card is revealed, the player’s losing Blackjack wager shall be electronically collected. Once a player stands, the community cards revealed thereafter shall be added to the dealer’s hand in accordance with subsection (bb).
(bb) Once the player has made all decisions with respect to his hand or hands, the next card dealt shall be designated to the dealer’s hand. If the dealer’s two cards:
(1) Gives the dealer a Blackjack, no additional community cards shall be designated to the dealer’s hand and the player’s losing Blackjack wager shall be electronically collected. If applicable, the winning Insurance wager shall be electronically paid in accordance with subsection (ee)(1). If a player split pairs and the dealer’s second card gave the dealer Blackjack, the amount of the original wager of the player shall be electronically collected and if the player’s split hand did not exceed 21, the additional amount wagered in splitting pairs shall be electronically returned to the player.
(2) Does not give the dealer a Blackjack, the losing Insurance Wager, if applicable, shall be electronically collected. The additional community cards dealt thereafter shall be designated to the dealer’s hand until the point count of the dealer’s hand is a hard or soft total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21.
(cc) A player’s Blackjack wager shall win, lose or push as provided in previous subsection (t).
(dd) If any player placed a Royal Match, Bet the Set or a King’s Bounty wager, those wagers shall be electronically settled in accordance with § 633a.7(g)(4)—(6) (relating to procedure for dealing the cards; completion of each round of play).
(ee) Payout odds:
(1) Winning Insurance wagers shall be paid electronically at odds of 2 to 1.
(2) Each winning Blackjack wager shall be paid electronically at odds of 1 to 1 with the exception of player Blackjack which shall be paid at odds of 3 to 2.
(3) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Royal Match and the Crown Treasure Bonus as provided in § 633a.13(f) (relating to payout odds; payout limitation).
(4) The certificate holder shall pay out winning Bet the Set wagers as provided in § 633a.13(g).
(5) The certificate holder shall pay out winning King’s Bounty wagers as provided in § 633a.13(h).
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