Md. Code Regs. 36.05.02.13

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 36.05.02.13 - Dice - Receipt, Storage, Inspection, and Removal

A. Receipt.

(1) A shipment of dice that is received from a manufacturer or supplier shall be immediately unloaded and transported to a secure area which is covered by the facility operator's surveillance system under the supervision of at least two employees of the facility operator.

(2) The boxes of dice shall then be inspected by at least two employees of the facility operator to ensure that the seals on each box are intact, unbroken and free from tampering.

(a) Boxes that do not appear to be intact, unbroken and free from tampering shall be immediately inspected to ensure that the dice in those boxes conform to the requirements of this chapter and there is no evidence of tampering with them.

(b) If dice inspected as required under §A(2)(a) of this regulation show no evidence of tampering, they shall be placed, along with boxes of dice that are intact, unbroken and free from tampering, for storage.

(3) Dice shall be stored in a storage area that the Commission has approved in advance under COMAR 36.05.03.16.

(4) The functions required under §A(1), (2), and (3) of this regulation shall be performed by at least the following employees of the facility operator:

(a) A floor supervisor or above; and

(b) An employee from the security department.

B. Storage. The Commission-approved storage area must have two separate locks, to which access shall be controlled as follows:

(1) The security department shall maintain one key and the gaming operations department shall maintain the other key; and

(2) An employee of the gaming operations department, below a floorperson in the organizational hierarchy, may not have access to the gaming operations department key.

C. Dice which are to be distributed to gaming pits or tables for use in gaming shall be distributed from the approved storage area.

D. Once each gaming day and at other times as may be necessary, a floorperson or above, in the presence of a security department employee, shall remove the appropriate number of dice for that gaming day from the approved storage area.

E. Envelopes and containers used to hold or transport dice must be:

(1) Transparent;

(2) Designed or constructed with seals so that any tampering is evident; and

(3) Submitted to the Commission and approved under COMAR 36.05.03.16.

F. Inspection and Distribution. Dice shall be inspected and distributed to the gaming tables in accordance with one of the following alternatives:

(1) Alternative No. 1.

(a) The floorperson or above, and the security department employee who removed the dice from the approved storage area, shall distribute sufficient dice directly to the pit manager or above in each pit, or place them in a locked compartment in the pit stand, the keys to which shall be in the possession of the pit manager or above.

(b) Immediately upon opening a table for gaming, the floorperson or above shall distribute a set of dice to the table.

(i) To ensure that the dice are in a condition to ensure fair play and otherwise conform to the requirements of this chapter, at the time of receipt of a set of dice, a floorperson at each craps, pai gow, pai gow poker, sic bo or mini-craps table, shall, in the presence of the dealer, inspect the dice with a micrometer or any other instrument approved by the Commission to perform the function of a micrometer, a balancing caliper, a steel set square and a magnet.

(ii) The instruments described in §F(1)(b)(i) of this regulation shall be kept in a compartment at each craps table or pit stand and shall be at all times readily available for use by the Commission compliance representatives or other Commission employees.

(iii) The inspection required under §F(1)(b)(i) of this regulation shall be performed on a flat surface which allows the dice inspection to be observed through the facility operator's surveillance system and by any persons in the immediate vicinity of the table.

(c) Following the inspection required under §F(1)(b)(i) of this regulation:

(i) For craps, the floorperson shall, in the presence of a dealer, place the dice in a cup on the table for use in gaming;

(ii) For mini-craps, the floorperson shall, in the presence of a dealer, place the dice in a cup on the table for use in gaming;

(iii) For sic bo, the floorperson shall, in the presence of the dealer, place the required number of dice into the shaker and seal or lock the shaker, and the floorperson shall secure the sic bo shaker to the table in the presence of the dealer who observed the inspection; or

(iv) For pai gow and pai gow poker, the floorperson shall, in the presence of the dealer, place the dice in the pai gow shaker.

(d) The floorperson or above shall place extra dice for the dice reserve in the pit stand.

(i) Dice in the pit stand shall be placed in a locked compartment, the keys to which shall be in the possession of the floorperson or above.

(ii) No dice taken from the pit stand reserve may be used for actual gaming until the dice have been inspected in accordance with §F(1)(b)(i) of this regulation.

(2) Alternative No. 2.

(a) The pit manager or above and the security department employee who removed the dice from the approved storage area shall distribute the dice directly to the following facility operator's employees who shall perform an inspection in each pit:

(i) For craps and mini-craps, a floorperson in the presence of another floorperson, both of whom are assigned the responsibility of supervising the operation and conduct of a craps or mini-craps game;

(ii) For sic bo, pai gow and pai gow poker, a floorperson, in the presence of another floorperson, both of whom are assigned the responsibility of supervising the operation and conduct of sic bo, pai gow or pai gow poker games;

(iii) For storage of the dice for the dice reserve in the pit stand, to the pit manager or above.

(b) To ensure that the dice are in a condition to ensure fair play and otherwise conform to the requirements of this chapter, at the time of receipt of a set of dice, the dice shall be inspected by one of the individuals listed in §F(2)(a) of this regulation with a micrometer or other instrument approved by the Commission which performs the same function as a micrometer, a balancing caliper, a steel set square, and a magnet.

(c) The instruments described in §F(2)(b) of this regulation shall be kept at the pit stand and shall be at all times readily available for use by the Commission compliance representatives or other Commission employees.

(d) The inspection required under §F(2)(a) of this regulation shall be performed on a flat surface which allows the dice inspection to be observed through the facility operator's surveillance system and by any persons in the immediate vicinity of the pit stand.

(e) After completion of the inspection, the dice shall be distributed as follows:

(i) For craps and mini-craps, the floorperson who inspected the dice shall, in the presence of the other floorperson who observed the inspection, distribute the dice to the floorperson assigned at each craps table or to the floorperson assigned at each mini-craps table, and the craps floorperson or the mini-craps floorperson shall, in the presence of the dealer, place the dice in a cup on the table for use in gaming.

(ii) For sic bo, the floorperson who inspected the dice shall, in the presence of the other floorperson who observed the inspection, place the required number of dice into the shaker and seal or lock the shaker, and the floorperson shall then secure the sic bo shaker to the table in the presence of the other floorperson who observed the inspection.

(iii) For pai gow and pai gow poker, the floorperson who inspected the dice shall, in the presence of the other floorperson who observed the inspection, distribute the dice directly to the dealer at each pai gow table, and the dealer shall immediately place the dice in the pai gow shaker.

(f) The pit manager or above shall place extra sets of dice for the dice reserve in the pit stand, as follows:

(i) Dice in the pit stand shall be placed in a locked compartment, the keys to which shall be in the possession of the pit manager or above.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in §F(2)(e) of this regulation, dice taken from the reserve in the pit stand shall be reinspected by a floorperson or above in the presence of another floorperson or above in accordance with the inspection procedures set forth in §F(2)(b) of this regulation prior to their use for actual gaming.

(g) Previously inspected reserve dice may be used for gaming without being reinspected if the dice are maintained in a locked compartment in the pit stand in accordance with the following procedures:

(i) For craps and mini-craps, a set of five dice, after being inspected, shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container, to which shall be attached a label that identifies the date of inspection and contains the signatures of those responsible for the inspection shall be attached to the envelope or container.

(ii) For sic bo, three dice, after being inspected, shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container or sealed or locked in a sic bo shaker, to which shall be attached a label or seal that identifies the date of inspection and contains the signatures of those responsible for the inspection shall, respectively, be attached to each envelope or container or placed over the area that allows access to open the sic bo shaker.

(iii) For pai gow and pai gow poker, a set of three dice, after being inspected, shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container, to which shall be attached a label that identifies the date of inspection and contains the signatures of those responsible for the inspection shall be attached to each envelope or container.

G. Removal. A facility operator shall remove dice at any time of the gaming day and submit a Dice Discrepancy Report as required under §H of this regulation:

(1) If there is any indication of tampering, flaws or other defects that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game; or

(2) At the request of a Commission compliance representative or other Commission employee.

H. Inspection.

(1) At the end of each gaming day or at other times as may be necessary, a floorperson or above, other than the individual who originally inspected the dice, shall visually inspect each die that was used for play for evidence of tampering. Evidence of tampering shall be immediately reported to a Commission compliance representative by:

(a) Completing a two-part Dice Discrepancy Report; and

(b) Submitting the completed Dice Discrepancy Report and the dice to a Commission compliance representative.

(2) Dice showing evidence of tampering shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container.

(a) A label shall be attached to each envelope or container that:

(i) Identifies the table number, date, and time the dice were removed; and

(ii) Contains the signatures of the person assigned to directly operate and conduct the game at that table and the floorperson assigned the responsibility for supervising the operation and conduct of the game.

(b) A floorperson or above, or a security department employee responsible for delivering the dice to the casino compliance representatives, shall also sign the label.

(c) The Commission compliance representative receiving the dice shall sign the original and duplicate copy of the Dice Discrepancy Report and retain the original copy.

(d) The Commission compliance representative shall return the duplicate copy to the pit and maintain it in a secure place within the pit until it is collected by a security department employee.

(3) Other dice that were used for play shall be put into envelopes or containers when removed from active use at the table.

(a) A label shall be attached to each envelope or container which:

(i) Identifies the table number, date and time the dice were removed; and

(ii) Contains the signatures of the person assigned to directly operate and conduct the game at that table and the floorperson assigned the responsibility for supervising the operation and conduct of the game.

(b) The envelope or container shall be sealed and maintained within the pit until it is collected by a security department employee.

I. Reserve dice in the locked compartment in a pit stand at the end of the gaming day may be:

(1) Collected and transported to the security department for cancellation or destruction;

(2) Returned to the approved storage area; or

(3) Retained in the locked compartment in the pit stand for future use.

J. Reserve dice in the locked compartment in a pit stand at the end of the gaming day that are to be destroyed or cancelled shall be placed in a sealed envelope or container, with a label attached to each envelope or container which:

(1) Identifies the pit stand where the reserve dice were being stored;

(2) Identifies the date and time the dice where placed in the envelope or container; and

(3) Contains the signature of the pit manager or above.

K. At the end of each gaming day or at least once each gaming day, as designated by the facility operator and approved in advance by the Commission under COMAR 36.05.03.16, and at other times as may be necessary:

(1) Except as provided in §K(2) of this regulation, a security department employee shall collect and sign all envelopes or containers of used dice and reserve dice that are to be destroyed or cancelled and transport the dice to the security department for cancellation or destruction;

(2) If an alternative procedure for collecting, destroying or cancelling dice described in §(K)(1) of this regulation has been submitted to, and approved by, the Commission, a security department employee:

(a) Shall collect all envelopes or containers and return them to the security department; and

(b) May sign the envelopes or containers; and

(3) The security department employee shall also collect any duplicate copies of Dice Discrepancy Reports.

L. An assistant table games shift manager or above may collect all reserve dice in a locked compartment in a pit stand.

(1) If collected:

(a) Reserve dice shall be returned to the approved storage area; and

(b) Reserve dice shall be collected at the end of each gaming day or at least once each gaming day, as designated by the facility operator and approved in advance by the Commission under COMAR 36.05.03.16.

(2) Except for dice maintained in a locked compartment in accordance with §F(2) of this regulation, if the reserve dice are not collected, all dice in the dice reserve shall be reinspected in accordance with one of the alternatives listed in §F of this regulation prior to their use for gaming.

M. Facility operators shall submit to the Commission for approval internal control procedures for:

(1) A dice inventory system which includes, at a minimum, records of the:

(a) Number of three and five dice sticks, and the corresponding number of single die, received from a manufacturer or supplier;

(b) Balance of three and five dice sticks, and the corresponding number of single die, on hand;

(c) Number of three and five dice sticks removed from storage;

(d) Number of three and five dice sticks returned to storage;

(e) Number of single die destroyed or canceled;

(f) Date of each transaction; and

(g) Signatures of the individuals involved.

(2) A daily reconciliation of the:

(a) Number of three or five dice sticks distributed;

(b) Number of single die destroyed or cancelled;

(c) Number of three or five dice sticks returned to the approved storage area; and,

(d) Reserve three or five dice sticks in a locked compartment in a pit stand, if any; and

(3) A physical inventory of all dice at least once every 3 months:

(a) That shall be performed by an individual with no incompatible functions and shall be verified to the balance of dice on hand required under §M(1)(a) of this regulation; and

(b) For which discrepancies shall immediately be reported to a Commission compliance representative.

N. Destruction or Cancellation of Dice.

(1) Other than those retained for Commission or facility operator inspection, destruction or cancellation of dice shall be completed within 7 days of collection.

(2) Cancellation shall be accomplished by drilling a circular hole of at least 1/4 inch in diameter through the center of the die.

(3) Destruction shall be accomplished by shredding or crushing the die.

(4) The destruction or cancellation of dice must take place in a secure location in the facility that is covered by the facility operator's surveillance system.

O. Rotation and Replacement of Dice.

(1) A set of five dice used at a craps or mini-craps table shall be changed at least once every 24 hours.

(2) A new set of dice shall be used:

(a) When a craps or mini-craps table is reopened for gaming;

(b) If a die goes off the table during play and is lost;

(c) If a die show signs of tampering or alteration; or

(d) A die is otherwise marked, chipped, scratched, or no longer suitable for play.

(3) Dice that have been placed in a shaker for use in gaming may not remain on a table for more than 24 hours in the games of:

(a) Pai Gow Tiles; and

(b) Pai Gow Poker.

Md. Code Regs. 36.05.02.13

Regulations.13 adopted as an emergency provision effective 40:6 Md. R. 471, eff. 3/1/2013 ; adopted permanently effective 40:12 Md. R. 1044, eff.6/24/2013
Regulation .13K amended effective 41:16 Md. R. 948, eff.8/18/2014 ; amended effective 43:20 Md. R. 1111, eff. 10/10/2016