Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 205 CMR - MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION › Title 205 CMR 146.00 - Gaming Equipment › Section 146.53 - Pai Gow Tiles: Receipt; Storage; Inspections, and Removal From Use

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) When sets of tiles to be used at pai gow
			 are received from the manufacturer or distributor thereof, they shall
			 immediately following receipt be inspected by a member of the security
			 department and a supervisor to assure that the seals on each package are
			 intact, unbroken and free from tampering. Packages that do not satisfy these
			 criteria shall be inspected at this time to assure that the tiles conform to
			 Bureau standards and there is no evidence of tampering. Packages satisfying
			 these criteria, together with packages having unbroken, intact, and untampered
			 seals shall then be placed for storage in a locked cabinet within a primary or
			 secondary storage area. Sets of tiles which are to be distributed to gaming
			 pits or tables for use in gaming shall be distributed from a locked cabinet in
			 the cashiers' cage or from another secure primary storage area, the location
			 and physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the Bureau.
			 Secondary storage areas shall be used for the storage of surplus tiles. Tiles
			 maintained in secondary storage areas shall not be distributed to gaming pits
			 or tables for use in gaming until the tiles have been moved to a primary
			 storage area. All secondary storage areas shall be located in secure areas, the
			 location and physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the
			 Bureau.
(2) All primary and
			 secondary storage areas, other than the cashiers' cage, shall have two separate
			 locks. The security department shall maintain one key and the casino department
			 or cashiers' cage shall maintain the other key; provided, however, that no
			 person employed by the casino department below the table games shift manager in
			 the organization hierarchy shall have access to the casino department key.
			 Tiles stored in a cabinet within the cashiers' cage shall be secured by a lock,
			 the key to which shall be maintained by a table games shift manager or casino
			 supervisor thereof.
(3) Immediately
			 prior to the commencement of each gaming day and at such other times as may be
			 necessary, the table games shift manager or supervisor thereof, in the presence
			 of a security officer, shall remove the appropriate number of sets of tiles for
			 that gaming day from a primary storage area. Tiles are to be inspected by
			 surveillance prior to the game beginning for the gaming day or when new tiles
			 are being put into play.
(4) All
			 envelopes and containers used to hold or transport tiles shall be transparent.
			 The envelopes or containers and the method used to seal them shall be designed
			 or constructed so that any tampering shall be evident.
(5) The table games shift manager or casino
			 supervisor thereof shall distribute sufficient sets of tiles to the pit boss in
			 each pai gow pit. The pit boss shall then distribute the sets to the dealer at
			 each table, and shall place extra sets in reserve at the pit stand. Sets of
			 tiles in reserve shall be placed in a locked compartment, keys to which shall
			 be in the possession of the pit boss or casino supervisor thereof.
(6) If during the course of play any damaged
			 tile is detected, the entire set of tiles shall be immediately replaced. The
			 dealer or floorperson shall request that the pit boss bring a substitute set of
			 tiles to the table from the reserve in the pit stand. The set of damaged tiles
			 shall be placed in a sealed envelope, identified by table number, date and time
			 and shall be signed by the dealer and casino supervisor. The pit boss shall
			 maintain the envelope or container in a secure place within the pit until
			 collection by a casino security officer.
(7) Tiles used at pai gow shall be changed at
			 least every 12 hours. The supervisor shall collect used tiles which shall be
			 placed in a sealed envelope or container. A label shall be attached to each
			 envelope or container which shall identify the table number, date and time and
			 shall be signed by the dealer and casino supervisor. The pit boss shall
			 maintain the envelopes or containers in a secure place within the pit until
			 collection by a casino security officer.
(8) The gaming licensee shall remove any
			 tiles at any time of the gaming day if there is any indication of tampering,
			 flaws, scratches, marks or other defects that might affect the integrity or
			 fairness of the game, or at the request of the Commission or the
			 Bureau.
(9) All extra sets of tiles
			 in reserve which have been opened shall be placed in a sealed envelope or
			 container, with a label attached to each envelope or container which identifies
			 the date and time and is signed by the pit boss.
(10) At the end of each gaming day or at such
			 other times as may be necessary, a security officer shall collect and sign all
			 envelopes or containers with damaged tiles, tiles used during the gaming day,
			 and all extra tiles in reserve which have been opened, and shall return the
			 envelopes or containers to the security department.
(11) At the end of each gaming day or at such
			 other times as may be necessary, a table games shift manager or supervisor
			 thereof may collect all extra sets of tiles in reserve which have not been
			 opened. If collected, all unopened sets of tiles shall either be cancelled or
			 destroyed or returned to the storage area.
(12) When the envelopes or containers of used
			 tiles and reserve sets of tiles which have been opened are returned to the
			 security department, they shall be inspected for tampering, marks, alterations,
			 missing or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair play.
(a) The gaming licensee shall cause to be
			 inspected all sets of tiles used during the gaming day.
(b) The procedures for inspecting all sets of
			 tiles shall at least include the following:
1.
			 The sorting of tiles by pairs;
2.
			 The visual inspection of the sides and back of each tile for tampering,
			 markings or alterations;
3. The
			 inspection of the sides and back of each tile with an ultra-violet light;
			 and
4. White light to ensure no
			 light can be seen coming through the tile ensuring that it is not transparent
			 or translucent.
(c) The
			 individual performing the inspection required by 205 CMR 146.53 shall complete
			 a work order form which shall detail the procedures performed and list the
			 tables from which the tiles were removed and the results of the inspection. The
			 individual shall sign the form upon completion of the inspection
			 procedures.
(d) Evidence of
			 tampering, marks, alterations, missing or additional tiles or anything that
			 might indicate unfair play discovered at this time, or at any other time, shall
			 be immediately reported to the security department and the Bureau.
A security department member shall complete a two-part
				Discrepancy Report, which Report along with the evidence shall be retrieved by
				an agent of the Bureau.
The original and duplicate Report shall contain at a
				minimum:
1. The date and shift of
			 inspection;
2. The name of the
			 supervisor conducting the inspection. The inspection required by 205 CMR
			 146.53(12)(a) shall be performed by a supervisor other than the one who
			 originally inspected the tiles;
3.
			 The pit number, table number, and type of game;
4. A description (for example, shaved
			 corners);
5. The signature of the
			 supervisor conducting the inspection;
6. The signature of the security
			 representative taking custody of the tile; and
7. The signature of the agent of the Bureau
			 inspecting or accepting the tile, who shall retain the original and return the
			 duplicate to security. A receipt shall be issued to the agent of the Bureau for
			 any tile retained by the Bureau. The receipt shall be signed the by the
			 security representative releasing the tile to the Bureau and the agent of the
			 Bureau accepting the tile. The receipt shall be retained with the Security copy
			 of the Discrepancy Report. Any tile not retained by the Bureau shall be
			 destroyed in accordance with the licensee's destruction procedures.
(e) If after completing the
			 inspection procedures required in 205 CMR 146.53, it is determined that a
			 complete set of 32 tiles removed from a gaming table is free from tampering,
			 markings, or alterations, that set may be returned to the pai gow storage area
			 for subsequent gaming use in accordance with the gaming licensee's internal
			 control procedures. In no event may individual tiles from different sets be
			 used to make a complete set for subsequent gaming use.