Sec. 36.04.01.28. Progressive Video Lottery Terminals

A. A video lottery terminal offering a progressive jackpot may:

(1) Stand alone; or

(2) Be linked to:

(a) Other video lottery terminals in a facility; or

(b) Video lottery terminals in two or more facilities in or outside the State through a wide area progressive system under Regulation .29 of this chapter.

B. A manufacturer may not install in a facility, and a facility operator may not make available for play, a video lottery terminal offering a progressive jackpot without Commission approval in writing of:

(1) A progressive proposal under Regulation .30 of this chapter; and

(2) Internal controls submitted under COMAR 36.03.10.05 addressing the payment of a progressive jackpot.

C. A manufacturer may not modify the terms of a progressive jackpot, and a facility operator may not make available for play, a video lottery terminal which offers a progressive jackpot that differs from its approved progressive proposal without the approval in writing of the Commission under Regulation .30B of this chapter.

D. A video lottery terminal may offer multiple progressive jackpots.

E. A progressive jackpot amount may be calculated and transmitted to a video lottery terminal by:

(1) The operating system of a video lottery terminal; or

(2) A separate progressive controller interfaced to a video lottery terminal.

F. A progressive controller shall be:

(1) Located in a:

(a) Restricted area; or

(b) Video lottery terminal;

(2) Secured:

(a) In a dual key controlled compartment with:

(i) One key controlled by the operations department; and

(ii) One key controlled by the security department; or

(b) By alternative means approved by the Commission; and

(3) Capable of:

(a) Displaying an available progressive jackpot amount on a video lottery terminal’s:

(i) Progressive meter; or

(ii) Common progressive meter;

(b) Transmitting to a video lottery terminal for metering purposes the amount of a progressive jackpot;

(c) If linked to a common progressive meter in accordance with §H of this regulation, displaying the Commission asset number of the video lottery terminal on which a progressive jackpot is won;

(d) If a progressive controller is servicing multiple video lottery terminals, automatically resetting all video lottery terminals connected to it to a pre-established reset amount; and

(e) If the progressive offers multiple jackpot levels, maintaining and displaying for each progressive level the:

(i) Number of progressive jackpots won;

(ii) Cumulative amount paid;

(iii) Maximum progressive payout;

(iv) Minimum amount or reset amount; and

(v) Rate of progression.

G. A video lottery terminal offering a progressive jackpot shall be equipped, for each progressive jackpot offered, with the following mechanical, electrical, or electronic meters:

(1) A progressive meter which:

(a) May increase in value based upon wagers;

(b) Advises the player of the amount which may be won if the video lottery terminal characters that result in the award of a progressive jackpot appear as a result of activation of play; and

(c) Is visible from the front of the video lottery terminal through:

(i) A meter display housed in the video lottery terminal; or

(ii) A common progressive meter display unit;

(2) A progressive payout meter under Regulation .16C(2)(b) of this chapter;

(3) An attendant paid progressive jackpot meter under Regulation .16C(2)(f) of this chapter; and

(4) A cumulative progressive payout meter that continuously and automatically records the total value of progressive jackpots paid whether paid:

(a) Directly by the video lottery terminal; or

(b) Hand paid by a facility operator as a result of a progressive jackpot that exceeds the physical or configured capability of a video lottery terminal.

H. A video lottery terminal linked to a common progressive meter for the purpose of offering the same progressive jackpot on two or more video lottery terminals shall:

(1) Have the same probability of hitting the combination of characters that will award the progressive jackpot as every other video lottery terminal linked to that common progressive meter; and

(2) Require each:

(a) Player to wager the same amount to receive a chance at winning the progressive jackpot; and

(b) Wager to increment the progressive meter by the same rate of progression on every video lottery terminal connected to the common progressive meter.

I. Notwithstanding the requirements of §H of this regulation, video lottery terminals linked to a common progressive meter for the purpose of offering the same progressive jackpot on two or more video lottery terminals may be of different denominations or require different wagers, or both, if:

(1) The probability of winning the progressive jackpot is directly proportional to the wager required to win a jackpot; and

(2) A notice indicating the proportional probability of hitting the progressive jackpot on the common progressive meter is conspicuously displayed in a manner specified by the Commission on each linked video lottery terminal.

J. A manufacturer may not:

(1) Set a limit for a progressive jackpot which exceeds the display capability of the progressive meter; or

(2) Adjust a progressive meter without the prior approval of the Commission unless the adjustment is:

(a) Required as a direct result of video lottery terminal or meter malfunction; and

(b) Reported by the manufacturer in a form and in a time frame specified by the Commission to the:

(i) Commission; and

(ii) Facility operator.