Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 1112a.8 - Gaming vouchers(a) A terminal operator may utilize gaming vouchers and a gaming voucher system that has been tested and approved by the Board under § 461a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval).(b) The design specifications for a gaming voucher, the voucher verification methodologies utilized and any limitation on the value of a gaming voucher must be in compliance with technical standards on gaming vouchers.(c) The design specifications for a gaming voucher system must be in compliance with technical standards on gaming voucher systems.(d) Prior to issuing a gaming voucher, a terminal operator shall establish a system of internal controls for the issuance and redemption of gaming vouchers. The internal controls shall be submitted and approved by the Board and address all of the following:(1) Procedures for assigning an asset number and identifying other redemption locations in the system, and enabling and disabling voucher capabilities for video gaming terminal and redemption locations.(2) Procedures for issuance, modification and termination of a unique system account for each user.(3) Procedures used to configure and maintain user passwords.(4) Procedures for restricting special rights and privileges, such as administrator and override capabilities.(5) The duties and responsibilities of the information technology, internal audit, video gaming terminal operations and finance departments, respectively, and the level of access for each position with regard to the gaming voucher system.(6) A description of physical controls on all critical hardware such as locks and surveillance, including the location and security protocols applicable to each piece of equipment.(7) Procedures for the backup and timely recovery of critical data in accordance with technical standards.(8) Logs used to document and maintain the details of Board-approved hardware and software modifications upon implementation.(9) Procedures for the retention, tracking and payment of the value of unredeemed gaming vouchers to the State Treasurer as required under Article XIII.1 of The Fiscal Code (72 P.S. §§ 1301.1-1301.29), regarding the disposition of abandoned and unclaimed property.(e) The system of internal controls required to be submitted and approved by the Board under subsection (d) must also include the procedures to be applied in all of the following instances: (1) The procedures used by the terminal operator to pay a patron the value of a video gaming voucher when the gaming voucher system is inoperable.(2) The procedures used by the terminal operator to pay a patron the value of a video gaming voucher when the redemption terminal is inoperable.(f) At the end of each gaming day, the video gaming voucher system must generate reports and the reports must be provided to the terminal operator, either directly by the system or through the information technology department. The report, at a minimum, must contain all of the following information: (1) A report of all gaming vouchers that have been issued which includes the asset number and the serial number of the video gaming terminal, and the value, date and time of issuance of each gaming voucher.(2) A report of all gaming vouchers that have been redeemed and cancelled by redemption location, including the asset number of the video gaming terminal, the serial number, the value, date and time of redemption for each voucher, and the total value of all vouchers redeemed.(3) The unredeemed liability for gaming vouchers.(4) The readings on gaming voucher related video gaming terminal meters and a comparison of the readings to the number and value of issued and redeemed video gaming vouchers, as applicable.(5) Exception reports and audit logs.(g) A terminal operator shall immediately report to the Board evidence that a video gaming voucher has been counterfeited, tampered with or altered in any way which would affect the integrity, fairness, reliability or suitability of the voucher.(h) Upon presentation of a gaming voucher for redemption at a video gaming terminal, the total value of which gaming voucher cannot be completely converted into an equivalent value of credits that match the denomination of the video gaming terminal, the video gaming terminal must perform one of the following procedures: (1) Automatically issue a new gaming voucher containing the value that cannot be completely converted.(2) Not redeem the gaming voucher and immediately return the gaming voucher to the patron.(3) Allow for the additional accumulation of credits on an odd cents meter or a meter that displays the value in dollars and cents.(i) A terminal operator that utilizes a system or a video gaming terminal that does not print a test gaming voucher that is visually distinguishable from a valid gaming voucher whenever the video gaming terminal is tested on the video gaming floor must have in place internal controls approved by the Board for the issuance of test currency and the return and reconciliation of the test currency and any gaming vouchers printed during the testing process.(j) Except as provided by the approved internal controls procedures outlined in § 1114a.1(c)(8) (relating to video gaming accounting and internal controls) with regard to employee redemption of gaming vouchers, a gaming voucher shall be redeemed by a patron for a specific value of cash through a redemption terminal on the premises of the establishment licensee or at a video gaming terminal. Notwithstanding the forgoing, a terminal operator may not permit a gaming voucher that is presented for redemption to be redeemed if it knows, or has reason to know, that the gaming voucher:(1) Is materially different from the sample of the gaming voucher approved by the Board.(2) Was previously redeemed.(3) Was printed as a test gaming voucher.(k) Gaming vouchers redeemed at automated gaming voucher redemption terminals shall be retained by the terminal operator representatives with no incompatible functions shall perform, at a minimum, all of the following: (1) On a weekly basis, or other period approved by the Board:(i) Compare gaming voucher system report data to any redemption terminal report data available to ensure proper electronic cancellation of the gaming voucher.(ii) Calculate the unredeemed liability for gaming vouchers, either manually or by means of the gaming voucher system.(2) On a weekly basis, compare appropriate video gaming terminal meter readings to the number and value of issued and redeemed gaming vouchers per the gaming voucher system. Meter readings obtained through a video gaming terminal monitoring system may be utilized to complete this comparison.(l) A terminal operator shall provide written notice to the Bureau of Casino Compliance of any adjustment to the value of any gaming voucher. The notice shall be made prior to, or concurrent with, the adjustment.(m) A gaming voucher system must be configured to alert a terminal operator to any malfunction. Following a malfunction of a system, a terminal operator shall notify the Bureau of Casino Compliance within 24 hours of the malfunction and may not utilize the system until the malfunction has been successfully eliminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bureau of Casino Compliance may permit a terminal operator to utilize the system prior to its being successfully restored, for a period not to exceed 72 hours, provided all of the following apply:(1) The malfunction is limited to a single storage media device, such as a hard disk drive.(2) In addition to the malfunctioning storage media device, the system contains a backup storage media device not utilized in the normal operation of the system. The backup device must immediately and automatically replace the malfunctioning device to permit a complete and prompt recovery of all information in the event of an additional malfunction.(3) Continued use of the malfunctioning system would not inhibit the ability to perform a complete and prompt recovery of all information, and would not otherwise harm or affect the normal operation of the system.(n) Other than a modification to a gaming voucher system required on an emergency basis to prevent cheating or malfunction and approved by the Board, a modification to a gaming voucher system may not be installed without the gaming voucher system having undergone the testing and approval process required under § 1112a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval).