Cards: Physical Characteristics

(1) Cards used to play authorized table games shall be in decks of 52 cards, except as otherwise authorized by 205 CMR 146.48(8), with each card identical in size and shape to every other card in such deck. (2) Each deck shall be composed of four suits: diamonds, spades, clubs and hearts, or as otherwise authorized by 205 CMR 146.48(8). (3) Each suit shall be composed of 13 cards: ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, and two. The face of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten value cards may contain an additional marking, which will permit a dealer, prior to exposing his or her hole card at the game of blackjack, to determine the value of that hole card. (4) The backs of each card in the deck shall be identical and no card shall contain any marking, symbol or design that will enable a person to know the identity of any element printed on the face of the card or that will in any way differentiate the back of that card from any other card in the deck. (5) The backs of all cards in the deck shall be designed so as to diminish as far as possible the ability of any person to place concealed markings thereon. (6) The design to be placed on the backs of cards used by gaming licensees shall contain the name or trade name of the gaming licensee and shall be submitted to the Bureau prior to use of such cards in gaming activity. (7) Each deck of cards shall be packaged separately or in a set containing the number of decks authorized by 205 CMR 146.48 and selected by a gaming licensee for use in a particular table game. Each package of cards shall be sealed in a manner so as to provide evidence of any tampering with the package. If multiple decks of cards are packaged and sealed in a set: (a) The package shall have a label affixed thereto that indicates or contain a window that reveals an adequate description of the contents of the package, including without limitation, the name of the gaming licensee for which the cards were manufactured, the type of cards, the color(s) of the backs of the cards, the date and time that the cards were manufactured, and the total number of cards in the set; and (b) No deck of cards shall be separated from the set for independent use at a table game. (8) Nothing in 205 CMR 146.48(8) shall prohibit a manufacturer from manufacturing decks of cards with one or more jokers contained therein; provided, however, such jokers shall not be used by the gaming licensee in the play of any game other than pai gow poker, two-card joker poker, Asia poker or supreme pai gow in accordance with the provisions of the authorized Rules of the Game of Pai Gow Poker, Two Card Joker Poker, Asia Poker, and Supreme Pai Gow. (9) In addition to satisfying the requirements of 205 CMR 146.48(9), the cards used by a gaming licensee at poker must: (a) Be visually distinguishable from the cards used by that gaming licensee to play any other table game; and (b) Be made of plastic. (10) Each gaming licensee which elects to offer the game of poker shall be required to have and use on a daily basis at least four visually distinguishable card backings for the cards to be used at the game of poker. These card backings may be distinguished, without limitation, by different logos, different colors or different design patterns.