Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 609a.14 - Issuance and reconciliation of Counter Checks(a) A certificate holder may issue Counter Checks in exchange for: (1) Value chips or plaques provided to a patron at a gaming table.(2) Cash or gaming voucher provided to a slot patron at the cage or at a slot machine.(b) For a Counter Check exchanged for value chips or plaques at a gaming table, a pit clerk or above shall: (1) Verify the patron's identity by either: (i) Obtaining the patron's signature, on a form, which shall be compared to the signature contained within a patron signature file. The pit clerk or above shall sign the form indicating that the signature of the patron on the form appears to agree with the signature in the patron signature file. The form shall be attached to the accounting copy of the Counter Check exchanged by the patron prior to forwarding it to the accounting department. After the patron's identity has been verified by the pit clerk or above, the requirements for subsequent verification of the patron's identity during the same shift and in the same gaming pit may be satisfied by the employee who performed the initial verification signing a form attesting to the patron's identity before each subsequent Counter Check is exchanged. The form must include the patron's name and the serial number of the initial Counter Check exchanged by the patron. The form shall be attached to the accounting copy of the subsequent Counter Check prior to forwarding the accounting copy to the accounting department.(ii) Obtaining the attestation of a floorperson or above as to the identity of the patron. The floorperson or above shall record his Board credential number and sign a form or the Counter Check attesting to the patron's identity. If the form is used, it shall be attached to the accounting copy of the Counter Check exchanged by the patron prior to forwarding it to the accounting department.(2) Determine the patron's remaining credit limit from the cage or casino management system.(3) Prepare the Counter Check for the patron's signature by recording or by electronically inputting, the following information:(i) The name of the patron exchanging the Counter Check.(ii) The current date and time.(iii) The amount of the Counter Check expressed in numerals.(iv) The game and table number.(v) The signature of the floorperson or above authorizing acceptance of the check.(vi) The signature of the preparer or, if computer prepared, the identification code of the preparer.(4) Place an impression on the back of the original Counter Check a restrictive endorsement "for deposit only" to the certificate holder's bank account.(5) Present the original and all duplicate copies of the Counter Check to the patron for signature.(6) Receive the signed Counter Check directly from the patron. The issuance copy of the Counter Check shall then be immediately given to the dealer or boxperson to be exchanged for value chips or gaming plaques. A certificate holder may allow a dealer or boxperson to give the patron value chips or gaming plaques before the patron has signed the Counter Check if the certificate holder includes procedures in the certificate holder's internal controls to verify the patron's identity and available credit limit prior to giving the patron the value chips or gaming plaques. (i) The original, redemption and, if applicable, the acknowledgement copies of the Counter Check shall be expeditiously transported to the cage where the original and redemption copies shall be maintained and controlled by the cage cashier designated to act as the check bank.(ii) The accounting copy of the Counter Check shall be maintained and controlled by the pit clerk or above until forwarded to the accounting department as required under subsection (g).(iii) The issuance copy of the Counter Check shall be deposited by the dealer or boxperson in the drop box.(c) For a Counter Check exchanged by a slot player for cash or gaming voucher at the cage, a cage cashier shall:(1) Verify the patron's identity by either:(i) Obtaining the slot patron's signature, on a Counter Check Request Form, which shall be compared to the signature contained within a patron signature file. The cage cashier shall sign the form indicating that the signature of the patron on the form appears to agree with the signature in the patron signature file. The form shall be attached to the accounting copy of the Counter Check exchanged by the slot patron prior to forwarding it to the accounting department.(ii) Obtaining the attestation of a cage supervisor as to the identity of the patron. The cage supervisor shall record his Board credential number and sign a form or the Counter Check attesting to the patron's identity. If the form is used, it shall be attached to the accounting copy of the Counter Check exchanged by the patron prior to forwarding it to the accounting department.(2) Determine the slot patron's remaining credit limit.(3) Prepare the Counter Check for the slot patron's signature by recording or by electronically inputting the following information:(i) The name of the slot patron exchanging the Counter Check.(ii) The current date and time.(iii) The amount of the Counter Check expressed in numerals.(iv) The signature of the cage supervisor authorizing acceptance of the check.(v) The signature of the preparer or, if computer prepared, the identification code of the preparer.(4) Place an impression on the back of the original Counter Check a restrictive endorsement "for deposit only" to the certificate holder's bank account.(5) Present the original and all duplicate copies of the Counter Check to the slot patron for signature.(6) Receive the signed original and all duplicate copies of the Counter Check directly from the slot patron. (i) The original, redemption and, if applicable, the acknowledgement copies of the Counter Check shall be expeditiously transferred to the cage cashier designated to act as the check bank who shall maintain and control the original and redemption copies.(ii) The accounting copy of the Counter Check shall be maintained and controlled by the cage cashier until forwarded to the accounting department as required under subsection (g).(iii) The issuance copy of the Counter Check shall be exchanged for cash or gaming voucher and shall be maintained by the cage cashier in the impress fund.(d) A certificate holder may also issue a Counter Check to a slot patron directly at a slot machine, provided the following procedures and requirements are followed: (1) A slot attendant shall obtain the amount of the requested Counter Check and the patron's signature on a two-part Counter Check Request Form and transport both copies of the Counter Check Request Form directly to the cage cashier. The cage cashier shall verify the slot patron's signature in accordance with subsection (c)(1)(i).(2) Once the slot patron's signature has been verified, the cage cashier shall prepare the Counter Check in accordance with subsection (c)(2)-(4).(3) The cage cashier shall sign the Counter Check as the preparer of the Counter Check and shall present the original and all duplicate copies of the Counter Check, the original and duplicate copy of the request form and the cash or gaming voucher in the amount of the Counter Check to the slot attendant.(4) The slot attendant shall verify the cash or gaming voucher against the amount recorded on the Counter Check and the request form. If in agreement, the slot attendant shall sign the original and duplicate copy of the request form and return the duplicate copy of the request form to the cage cashier.(5) The cage cashier shall retain the duplicate copy of the request form as evidence of the slot attendant's receipt of the Counter Check and the cash or gaming voucher.(6) Once the cash or gaming voucher has been verified, the funds shall be transported, along with the original request form and the original and all copies of the Counter Check, to the slot patron by the slot attendant in the presence of a security department employee.(7) The slot attendant shall present the original and all duplicate copies of the Counter Check to the slot patron for signature.(8) Upon receiving the signed original and all duplicate copies of the Counter Check from the slot patron, the security department employee shall verify the slot patron's signature on the original Counter Check against the patron's signature on the original request form. If in agreement, the cash or gaming voucher shall be immediately given to the slot patron. Cash or gaming vouchers may not be given to the slot patron prior to the receipt of the signed Counter Check from the patron.(9) Once the slot patron has received the cash or gaming voucher, the security department employee shall sign the back of the accounting copy of the Counter Check as a witness to the transfer of funds to the slot patron in exchange for the signed Counter Check from the patron. The accounting copy of the Counter Check shall be maintained and controlled by the slot attendant until forwarded to the accounting department as required under subsection (g).(10) The security department employee shall immediately return the original, redemption, issuance and acknowledgement copies of the Counter Check to the cage cashier. The cage cashier shall attach the duplicate of the request form to the issuance copy of the Counter Check and maintain them in the impress fund.(11) The original, redemption and, if applicable, the acknowledgement copies of the Counter Check shall be expeditiously transferred to the cage cashier designated to act as the check bank who shall maintain and control the original and redemption copies.(e) The cage cashier designated to act as the check bank shall sign and time stamp the acknowledgement copy of the Counter Check and expeditiously return it to the pit clerk or slot attendant by means of a security department employee or to the cage cashier. The check bank shall maintain the original and redemption copies of the Counter Check.(f) The acknowledgement copy of the Counter Check returned to the pit clerk, slot attendant or the cage cashier shall be reconciled with the accounting copy and maintained and controlled by the pit clerk, slot attendant or cage cashier until forwarded to the accounting department as required under subsection (g).(g) At the end of each gaming day the following procedures and requirements shall be observed: (1) The original and all copies of voided Counter Checks shall be forwarded to the accounting department.(2) The accounting and acknowledgement copies of Counter Checks retained by the pit clerk, slot attendant or cage cashier shall be forwarded to the accounting department for agreement with the issuance copy of the Counter Check removed from the drop box or cage cashier's impress fund.(3) The redemption copy of a Counter Check shall be forwarded to the accounting department subsequent to the redemption, consolidation or deposit of the original Counter Check for agreement with the accounting and issuance copies of the Counter Check or stored data. This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 609a.19 (relating to use of an electronic credit system for the processing of Counter Checks and customer deposits).