Pontoon 21 Table; Physical Characteristics

(1) Pontoon 21 shall be played at a table having player positions for no more than six players on one side of the table and a place for the dealer on the opposite side. (2) A true-to-scale rendering and a color photograph of the layout(s) shall be submitted to the Bureau prior to utilizing the layout design. The layout for a Pontoon 21 table shall have imprinted thereon, at a minimum: (a) The name or trade name of the gaming licensee offering the game; (b) A separate designated betting area at each player position for the placement of the following wagers: 1. The required Pontoon 21 wager; and 2. An optional match super bonus wager; (c) The following inscriptions: 1. “Blackjack Pays 3 to 2"; 2. “Dealer Must Draw to 16 and Stand on All 17s” or “Dealer must stand on any 17”; 3. “Insurance Pays 2 to 1"; (d) The payout odds for each of the wagers listed in the authorized Rules of the Game of Pontoon 21; and (e) The payout odds for the match super bonus wager, unless the odds are included in the sign required by 205 CMR 146.28(3). (3) A gaming licensee shall post a sign at each Pontoon 21 table, which explains: (a) That doubled down hands and split hands are not eligible for the additional payouts in the authorized Rules of the Game of Pontoon 21; and (b) The payout odds for the match super bonus wager, if those payout odds are not imprinted on the layout. (4) Each Pontoon 21 table shall have a drop box and a tip box attached to it on the same side of the gaming table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer or an area approved by the Assistant Director of the IEB or their designee. (5) In order to collect the cards at the conclusion of a round of play as required by the authorized Rules of the Game of Pontoon 21 and at such other times as provided in 205 CMR 146.49, each Pontoon 21 table shall have a discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer’s side of the table. The height of each discard rack shall equal the height of the cards, stacked one on top of the other, contained in the total number of decks that are to be used in the dealing shoe at that table; provided, however, that a taller discard rack may be used if such 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 contained in the number of decks to be used in the dealing shoe at that table. (6) A Pontoon 21 table may have attached to it, as approved by the Bureau, a card reader device which permits the dealer to read their hole card in order to determine if the dealer has a blackjack pursuant to the definition of “blackjack” in the authorized Rules of the Game of Pontoon 21. If a Pontoon 21 table has an approved card reader device attached to it, the floorperson assigned to the table shall inspect the card reader device at the beginning of each gaming day. The purpose of this inspection shall be to ensure that there has been no tampering with the device and that it is in proper working order. (7) Each Pontoon 21 table shall also have an approved table game progressive payout wager system for the placement of progressive wagers. A table game progressive payout wager system shall include, without limitation: (a) A wagering device at each player position that acknowledges or accepts the placement of the progressive wager; (b) A control device that controls or monitors the placement of progressive wagers at the gaming table, including a mechanism, such as a “lock-out” button, that prevents the recognition of any progressive wager that a player attempts to place after the dealer has announced “No more bets”; (c) One or more devices that meet the requirements of 205 CMR for progressive wagers and payouts at table games; (d) Any other equipment or device that contributes to the efficient operation or integrity of the game; and (e) Written procedures for the operation and use of the system and its components.