New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 15 - GAMBLING AND LIQUOR CONTROL › Chapter 1 - GAMES AND GAMING GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part 24 - PROGRESSIVE GAMES AND GAMING DEVICES › Section 15.1.24.10 - MULTIPLE LINKAGE OF PROGRESSIVE GAMING MACHINES; TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. There is no
				administrative limit on the number of progressive gaming machines that may be
				linked at a New Mexico licensed gaming premise. Each linked gaming machine must
				have the same probability of hitting the combination or other event that will
				trigger an award of the progressive jackpot. All progressive gaming machines on
				any link shall be located on the licensed premises of one establishment; or
				they may be linked across telecommunication lines among more than one licensed
				establishment provided they comply with the following requirements.
(1) The method of communication over the
				multi-link system shall consist of either dedicated on-line communication lines
				(direct connect) or dial-tone lines which may be subject to certain
				restrictions imposed by the board.
(2) All communication packets between each
				multi-link location and the progressive central system shall be encrypted, and
				encryption keys shall be alterable upon demand.
(3) All multi-link systems shall be on-line
				with a maximum one-way communication time to or from the linked slot machines
				of no more than 15 seconds.
(4)
				Acceptable method of obtaining meter reading values shall consist of either
				pulses leading from the slot machine computer board or associated wiring, or
				the use of communication interface to the gaming device's RAM or other
				non-volatile memory.
(5) Because
				the polling cycle does cause a delay, the jackpot meter need not precisely show
				the actual monies in the progressive pool at each instance. In addition,
				nothing shall prohibit the use of odometer or other "paced" updating
				progressive displays. In the case of the use of "paced" updating displays, the
				progressive meter shall display the winning value within 30 seconds of the
				jackpot being recognized by the progressive central system, if the remote site
				is communicating to the progressive central system. If a jackpot is recognized
				in the middle of a system-wide poll cycle, the overhead display may contain a
				value less than the aggregated jackpot amount calculated by the progressive
				central system. The coin values from the remaining portion of the poll cycle
				shall be received by the progressive central system but not the local site, in
				which case the jackpot amount paid shall always be the higher of the two
				reporting amounts.
(6) Approval by
				the board of any multi-link system shall occur in two phases:
i) initial approval; and ii) on-site testing.
				The approval of any multi-link system shall include a phase I system approval
				whereby the underlying progressive gaming machines and communication hardware
				shall be tested and approved by the board, or its authorized agents. Phase II
				approval shall include field inspection at the progressive central computer
				site to ensure compliance with these rules. Operation of the system shall be
				authorized only after the board is satisfied that the system meets both the
				phase I and phase II testing requirements, as well as any other requirements
				that the board may impose to assure the integrity, security, and legal
				operation of the multi-link.
(7) The progressive central computer site
				shall be equipped with non-interruptible power supply and the progressive
				central computer shall be capable of on-line data redundancy should hard disk
				peripherals fail during operation.
(8) The progressive central system for the
				multi-link shall be in a secure location approved by the board. The progressive
				central system memory device shall be approved for use in the state of New
				Mexico. The licensee operating the progressive central system shall provide
				sufficient internal controls to address the security of the
				equipment.
(9) If all progressive
				gaming machines connected to a multi-link system do not offer the same maximum
				bet value, all such gaming machines shall equalize the expected value of
				winning the progressive jackpot by setting the odds of winning the progressive
				jackpot in proportion to the amount wagered on each device, or by requiring the
				same wager value on each device to win the progressive jackpot. The method of
				equalizing the expected value of winning the progressive jackpot shall be
				conspicuously displayed on each device connected to the system.
(10) A licensee utilizing a multi-link system
				shall suspend play on the multi-link at the premises of that licensee if a
				communication failure in the system cannot be corrected within 24
				hours.