Dealing Shoes; Automated Shuffling Devices

(1) A gaming licensee and gaming device vendor shall comply with, and the commission adopts and incorporates by reference, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC Standard GLI-29: Card Shufflers and Dealer Shoes, version 1.0, released July 20, 2012, subject to the following amendments: (a) Delete section 1.1.1 and replace with the following: “The following sets forth the technical standards for card shufflers and dealer shoes as identified in 205 CMR 146.00. This GLI standard is adopted in whole subject to the modifications described in 205 CMR 146.51. The standard and modifications should at all times be read in conjunction with 205 CMR and the standards referenced in section 1.4.1 so as to create a harmonious regulatory framework”. (b) Delete section 1.2. (2) The following words and terms, when used in 205 CMR 146.51, have the following meanings: Base Plate. The interior shelf of the dealing shoe on which the cards rest. Face Plate. The front wall of the dealing shoe against which the next card to be dealt rests and which typically contains a cutout. (3) Cards used for blackjack, Spanish 21, double attack blackjack, pai gow poker, mini-baccarat, red dog, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride poker, three-card poker, fast action hold’em, Colorado Hold’em poker, casino war, Boston 5 stud poker, double cross poker, four-card poker, Texas Hold’em bonus poker, ultimate Texas Hold’em poker, flop poker, two-card joker poker, Asia poker, winner’s pot poker, supreme pai gow, Mississippi stud and double down stud shall be dealt from a manual or automated dealing shoe which shall be secured to the gaming table when the table is open for gaming activity and secured in a locked compartment when the table is not open for gaming activity. Cards used to game at baccarat shall be dealt from a dealing shoe which shall be secured in a locked compartment when the table is not open for gaming activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, cards used to game at: (a) Pai gow poker, double down stud, Caribbean stud poker, three-card poker, Colorado Hold’em poker, Boston 5 stud poker, double cross poker, flop poker, four-card poker, Texas Hold’em bonus poker, ultimate Texas Hold’em poker, Asia poker, winner’s pot poker, supreme pai gow, Mississippi stud and two-card joker poker may be dealt from the dealer’s hand in accordance with the rules for each game authorized pursuant to 205 CMR 147.00: Uniform Standards of Rules of the Games; and (b) Blackjack may be dealt from the dealer’s hand in accordance with the authorized Rules of the Game of Blackjack. (4) A device which automatically shuffles cards may be utilized at the game of blackjack, Spanish 21, double attack blackjack, pai gow poker, mini-baccarat, red dog, poker, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride poker, three-card poker, fast action hold’em, Colorado Hold’em poker, casino war, Boston 5 stud poker, double cross poker, four-card poker, Texas Hold’em bonus poker, ultimate Texas Hold’em poker, flop poker, two-card joker poker, Asia poker, winner’s pot poker, supreme pai gow, Mississippi stud and double down stud in addition to a manual or automated dealing shoe, provided that: (a) The automated card shuffling device approved by the Bureau and the procedures for shuffling and dealing the cards through the use of the device are documented in the internal controls; and (b) The security of an automated card shuffling device conforms to the security of any dealing shoe used at the gaming table pursuant 205 CMR 146.51. (5) Each manual or automated dealing shoe shall be designed and constructed with such features as the Bureau may require maintaining the integrity of the game at which such shoe is used. Such features shall include, at a minimum, the following: (a) At least the first four inches of the base plate shall be white; (b) The sides of the shoe below the base plate shall be transparent or have a transparent sealed cutout unless the dealing shoe is otherwise constructed to prevent any object from being placed into or removed from the portion of the dealing shoe below the base plate and to permit the inspection of this portion of the shoe; and (c) A stop underneath the top of the face plate shall preclude the next card to be dealt from being moved upwards for more than ⅛ inch distance. (6) A baccarat dealing shoe, in addition to meeting the requirements of 205 CMR 146.51, shall also adhere to the following specifications: (a) A removable lid shall be opaque from the point where it meets the face plate to a point at least four inches from the face plate; (b) The sides and back above the base plate shall be opaque; and (c) A device within the shoe shall, when engaged, prevent the cards from moving backward in the shoe. (d) A Harrigan plate be used in all baccarat shoes so the backs of the cards cannot be seen until drawn. (7) A pai gow poker dealing shoe, in addition to meeting the requirements of 205 CMR 146.51, may, in the discretion of the gaming licensee, also contain a device on the front of the face plate so as to preclude the players from viewing the next card to be dealt. (8) All dealing shoes and shuffling devices in the casino shall be inspected at the beginning of each gaming day by a floorperson assigned to the table prior to cards being placed in them. The purpose of this inspection shall be to assure that there has been no tampering with the shoe or shuffling device. (9) For gaming tables at which a manual dealing shoe is utilized, the shoe shall be located on the side of the gaming table to the left of the dealer, and the discard rack shall be located on the side of the gaming table to the right of the dealer. For gaming tables at which either an automated card shuffling device or an automated dealing shoe is utilized, the discard rack shall be on the side of the gaming table opposite such device or shoe.