§ 42-61.2-3.1. Table-game regulation. (a) In addition to the powers and duties of the Division director under §§ 42-61-4, 42-61.2-3 and 42-61.2-4, and pursuant to § 42-61.2-2.1 and § 42-61.2-2.2, the Division director shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations relating to state-operated table gaming and set policy for these table games. These rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Establishing standards and procedures for table gaming and associated equipment.

(2) Establishing standards, rules and regulations to govern the conduct of table games and the system of wagering associated with table games, including without limitation:

(i) The object of the table game and method of play, including what constitutes win, loss or tie bets;

(ii) Physical characteristics of the table games and table-game equipment;

(iii) Wager and payout odds for each type of available wager;

(iv) The applicable inspection procedures for any of the following, as required by a table game:

(A) Cards;

(B) Dice;

(C) Wheels and balls; and

(D) Other devices, equipment and accessories related to table games.

(v) Procedures for the collection of bets and payouts, including requirements for internal revenue service purposes;

(vi) Procedures for handling suspected cheating or table-gaming irregularities; and

(vii) Procedures for handling any defective or malfunctioning table-game equipment.

(3) Establishing the method for calculating net table-game revenue and standards for the daily counting and recording of cash received in the conduct of table games, and ensuring that internal controls are followed, including the maintenance of financial books and records and the conduct of annual audits at the expense of the table game retailer.

(4) Establishing the number and type of table games authorized at a table-game retailer's facility, and all rules related thereto.

(5) Establishing any table-game rule changes, table-game minimum and maximum wager changes, and changes to the type of table game being offered at a particular gaming table, including any notice by the table-game retailer to the public.

(6) Requiring the table-game retailer to:

(i) Provide written information at each table game about game rules, payoffs or winning wagers and other information as the Division may require.

(ii) Provide specifications approved by the Division to integrate and update the table-game retailer's surveillance system to cover all areas where table games are conducted and other areas as required by the lottery division. The specifications shall include provisions providing the Division and other persons authorized by the Division with onsite access to the system.

(iii) Designate one or more locations within the table-game retailer's facility to conduct table games.

(iv) Ensure that visibility in a table-game retailer's facility is not obstructed in any way that could interfere with the ability of the Division, the table-game retailer or other persons authorized under this section or by the Division to oversee the surveillance of the conduct of table games.

(v) Ensure that the count room for table gaming has appropriate security for the counting and storage of cash.

(vi) Furnish each table game with a sign acceptable to the division indicating the permissible minimum and maximum wagers at the table game.

(vii) Adopt policies or procedures to prohibit any table-game equipment from being possessed, maintained or exhibited by any person on the premises of a table-game retailer's facility except in the areas of such facility where the conduct of table games is authorized or in a restricted area designated to be used for the inspection, service, repair or storage of table-game equipment by the table-game retailer or in an area used for employee training and instruction by the table-game retailer.

(viii) Ensure that drop boxes are brought into or removed from an area where table games are conducted or locked or unlocked in accordance with procedures established by the Division.

(ix) Designate secure locations for the inspection, service, repair or storage of table-game equipment and for employee training and instruction to be approved by the Division.

(7) Establishing the size and uniform color by denomination of table-game chips used in the conduct of table games, including tournaments, and a policy for the use of promotional or commemorative chips used in the conduct of certain table games. All types of table-game chips shall be approved by the Division prior to being used for play at a table game.

(8) Establishing the procedure to be used by a table-game retailer to determine and extract a rake for the purposes of generating net, table-game revenue from nonbanking games.

(9) Establishing minimum standards relating to the acceptance of tips or gratuities by dealers at a table game, which shall include:

(i) The requirement that tips or gratuities accepted by dealers at banking table games be placed in a common pool for complete distribution pro rata among all dealers based on the daily collection of such tips or gratuities; provided however, the Division may establish an alternative distribution method for tips or gratuities at a banking table game upon submission by the table-game retailer of a proposal acceptable to the division to modify the existing distribution method for tips or gratuities.

(ii) The requirement that tips or gratuities accepted by dealers at nonbanking table games are not required to be pooled and may be retained by the dealers; provided however, the Division may establish an alternative distribution method for tips or gratuities at a nonbanking table game upon submission by the table-game retailer of a proposal acceptable to the division to modify the existing distribution method for tips or gratuities.

(10) Establishing the minimal proficiency requirements for table-game personnel, including without limitation table-game dealers. The foregoing requirements of this subsection (10) shall not affect any rules or regulations of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation requiring licensing of personnel of state-operated gaming facilities.

(11) Establishing the practices and procedures governing the conduct of table-game tournaments.

(12) Establishing appropriate eligibility requirements and standards for traditional table-game equipment suppliers.

(13) Any other matters necessary for conducting table games.

(b) The Division shall promulgate the table-game regulations authorized by this section on or before March 31, 2013.

(c) A table-game retailer shall reimburse and pay to the Division (or to such other entities as the Division may identify) all reasonable costs and expenses associated with the Division's review of the business or operations of the table-game retailer, including, but not limited to, such items as ongoing auditing, legal, investigation services, compulsive and problem gambling programs, and other related matters.

(d) The table-game retailer shall provide secure, segregated facilities as required by the Division on the premises for the exclusive use of the Lottery staff and the State Police. Such space shall be located proximate to the gaming floor and shall include surveillance equipment, monitors with full camera control capability, as well as other office equipment that may be deemed necessary by the Division. The location and size of the space shall be subject to the approval of the Division.

History of Section. (P.L. 2012, ch. 289, § 5; P.L. 2012, ch. 290, § 5.)