Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 54 Pa.B. 488 (January 27, 2024).

58 Pa. Code § 810a.11. Controls.

§ 810a.11. Controls.

 (a)  A replay last game feature either as a re-enactment or by description must be available to players. The replay must clearly indicate that it is a replay of the entire previous game cycle, and must provide, at a minimum, all of the following information:

   (1)  The date and time the game started or ended, or both.

   (2)  The display associated with the final outcome of the game, either graphically or by a clear text message.

   (3)  Total player cash/credits at start or end of play, or both.

   (4)  Total amount bet.

   (5)  Total cash/credits won for the prize (including progressive jackpots).

   (6)  The results of any player choices involved in the game outcome.

   (7)  Results of any intermediate game phases, such as gambles or feature games.

   (8)  Amount of any promotional awards received, if applicable.

 (b)  For each individual game played, all of the following information must be recorded, maintained and easily demonstrable by the interactive gaming system:

   (1)  Unique player ID.

   (2)  Contributions to progressive jackpot pools, if applicable.

   (3)  Game status (in progress, complete, and the like).

   (4)  The table number, if applicable, at which the game was played.

   (5)  The paytable used.

   (6)  Game identifier and version.

 (c)  An organized event that permits a player to either purchase or be awarded the opportunity to engage in competitive play against other players may be permitted providing all of the following rules are met:

   (1)  While enabled for tournament play, a game may not accept real money from any source, nor pay out real money in any way, but must utilize tournament specific credits, points or chips which have no cash value.

   (2)  Interactive gaming contest/tournament rules are available to a player on the web site where the interactive gaming contest/tournament is being conducted. The rules must include, at a minimum, all of the following:

     (i)   All conditions players shall meet to qualify for entry into and advancement through the contest/tournament.

     (ii)   Any conditions concerning late arrivals or complete tournament no-shows and how auto-blind posting or initial entry purchase, or both, is handled.

     (iii)   Specific information pertaining to any single contest/tournament, including the amount of money placed in the prize pool.

     (iv)   The distribution of funds based on specific outcomes.

     (v)   The name of the organization or person that conducted the contest/tournament on behalf of, or in conjunction with, the operator, if applicable.

   (3)  The results of each contest/tournament shall be made available on the interactive gaming web site for the players to review. Subsequent to being posted on the web site, the results of each contest/tournament shall be available upon request. The recording must include all of the following:

     (i)   Name of the event.

     (ii)   Date of event.

     (iii)   Total number of entries.

     (iv)   Amount of entry fees.

     (v)   Total prize pool.

     (vi)   Amount paid for each winning category.

 (d)  All of the following requirements apply to the disabling and re-enabling of gambling on the interactive gaming system:

   (1)  The interactive gaming system must be able to disable or enable all gambling on command.

   (2)  When any gambling is disabled or enabled on the interactive gaming system an entry must be made in an audit log that includes the reason for any disable or enable.

 (e)  When a game or gaming activity is disabled:

   (1)  The game is not to be accessible to a player once the player’s game has fully concluded.

   (2)  The player should be permitted to conclude the game in play (that is, bonus rounds, double up/gamble and other game features related to the initial game wager should be fully concluded).

   (3)  If wagers have been placed on pending real-life events:

     (i)   The terms and conditions must clearly define what happens to the wagers if the gaming activity is to remain disabled and the corresponding real-life event is completed, and the interactive gaming system must be capable of returning all bets to the players or settling all bets, as appropriate.

     (ii)   The terms and conditions must clearly define what happens to the wagers if the gaming activity is to re-enable before the corresponding real-life event is completed, and the interactive gaming system must be capable of returning all bets to the players, or leaving all bets active, as appropriate.

 (f)  When one or more feature/bonus prize may be paid to the player, the bonus game must be part of the overall paytable theoretical return to player.

 (g)  All progressive jackpots must adhere to all of the following:

   (1)  All players that play progressive jackpot games must be made aware of actions which would make them eligible to win the progressive jackpot.

   (2)  When progressive jackpot contributions are part of the return to player calculation, the contributions may not be assimilated into revenue. If a cap is established on any progressive jackpot all additional contributions once that cap is reached are to be credited to a diversion pool.

   (3)  The rules of the game must incorporate how the progressive jackpot is funded and determined.

   (4)  If a minimum bet amount exists for a player to win a progressive jackpot, then the return to player (excluding the progressive jackpot) must meet the minimum player return in accordance with §  461a.7(a) (relating to slot machine minimum design standards). The calculation of the theoretical payout percentage may not include the amount of any progressive jackpot in excess of the initial reset amount.

   (5)  The current progressive jackpot amount should be displayed on all player devices participating in the progressive jackpot. This display should be updated on all participating player devices at least every 30 seconds.

   (6)  The rules of the game must inform the players of any maximum awards or time limits, or both, which may exist for each progressive jackpot.

   (7)  For progressive jackpots offering multiple levels of awards, the player must always be paid the higher amount if a particular combination is won that should trigger the higher paying award. This may occur when a winning combination may be evaluated as more than one of the available paytable combinations (that is, a flush is a form of a straight flush and a straight flush is a form of a royal flush). There may be situations when the progressive jackpot levels must be swapped to ensure the player is being awarded the highest possible value based on all combinations the outcome may be defined as.

   (8)  If multiple progressive jackpots occur at approximately the same time and there is no definitive way of knowing which jackpot occurred first, the operator shall adopt procedures, approved by the Board, for resolution. The rules of the game must include information which addresses the resolution of this possibility.

   (9)  All progressive jackpots must adhere to standards in § §  461a.12 and 461a.13 (relating to progressive slot machines; and wide area progressive systems), except for any physical requirements deemed inapplicable by the Board and subject to the following modifications:

     (i)   Notice of intent to transfer a progressive jackpot must be conspicuously displayed on the interactive game icon and at all times during a gameplay by means of methodology approved by the Board for a period at least 10 days immediately preceding the transfer of the progressive jackpot.

     (ii)   Within §  461a.12, the term ‘‘gaming floor’’ used regarding land-based progressives shall be analogous to the term ‘‘interactive gaming platform’’ used regarding interactive gaming progressives.

   (10)  If a progressive jackpot is offered as a personal progressive that only one player contributes to and only that player can win, the player’s contributions to the progressive jackpot must be refunded to the player within 30 days if the player’s interactive gaming account is closed for any reason.



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