Sec. 36.05.02.19. Pai Gow Tiles — Receipt, Storage, Inspection, and Removal

A. Receipt.

(1) A shipment of tiles that a facility operator receives from a manufacturer or contractor shall be unloaded immediately and transported to a secure area which is covered by the facility operator’s surveillance system under the supervision of at least two employees of the facility operator.

(2) The boxes of tiles shall then be inspected by at least two employees of the facility operator to ensure that the seals on each box are intact, unbroken, and free from tampering.

(a) Boxes that do not appear to be intact, unbroken and free from tampering shall be inspected immediately to ensure that the tiles in those boxes conform to the requirements of this chapter and there is no evidence of tampering with them.

(b) If tiles inspected as required under §A(2)(a) of this regulation show no evidence of tampering, they shall be placed, along with boxes of tiles that are intact, unbroken and free from tampering, for storage in a storage area, the location and physical characteristics of which shall be approved by the Commission under COMAR 36.05.03.16.

(3) The functions required under §A(1) and (2) of this regulation shall be performed by at least the following employees of a facility operator:

(a) A floorperson or above; and

(b) An employee from the security department.

B. Sets of tiles which are to be distributed to gaming pits or tables for use in gaming shall be distributed from the approved storage area.

C. Approved Storage Area. The approved storage area shall have two separate locks, to which access shall be controlled as follows:

(1) The security department shall maintain one key and the gaming operations department shall maintain the other key; and

(2) An employee of the gaming operations department below a floorperson in the facility’s organizational hierarchy may not have access to the gaming operations department key.

D. Once each gaming day and at other times as may be necessary, a floorperson or above, in the presence of a security department employee, shall remove the appropriate number of sets of tiles from the approved storage area.

E. Envelopes and containers used to hold or transport tiles shall be:

(1) Transparent;

(2) Designed or constructed with seals so that any tampering is evident; and

(3) Submitted to, and approved by, the Commission in advance under COMAR 36.05.03.16.

F. Distribution of Tiles.

(1) The floorperson or above shall distribute sufficient sets of tiles to the pit manager or above in each pai gow pit.

(2) The pit manager or above shall then distribute the sets of tiles to the dealer at each pai gow table and place extra sets of tiles in the reserve in the pit stand.

(3) Sets of tiles in the reserve shall be placed in a locked compartment in the pit stand, keys to which shall be in the possession of the pit manager or above.

G. Damaged Tiles.

(1) If during the course of play a damaged tile is detected, the dealer or a floorperson shall immediately notify the pit manager or above, who shall bring a substitute set of tiles to the table from the reserve in the pit stand to replace the entire set of tiles.

(2) A set containing a damaged tile shall be placed in an envelope or container, identified by table number, date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above.

(3) The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelope or container in a secure place within the pit until collection by a security department employee.

H. Collection.

(1) The floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above shall collect used tiles which shall be placed in an envelope or container when removed from active use.

(2) A label shall be attached to each envelope or container which identifies the table number, date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above.

(3) The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelopes or containers in a secure place within the pit until collection by a security department employee.

I. Removal.

(1) A facility operator shall remove a tile from play if there is any indication of tampering, flaws, or other defects that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game, or at the request of a Commission compliance representative or other Commission employee.

(2) A label shall be attached to each envelope or container which identifies the table number, date, and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and signed by the dealer and the floorperson responsible for supervising the table or the pit manager or above.

(3) The pit manager or above shall maintain the sealed envelopes or containers in a secure place within the pit until collection by a security department employee.

J. Extra sets of tiles in the reserve which have been opened shall be placed in an envelope or container with a label attached to each envelope or container which identifies the date and time the tiles were placed in the envelope or container and sealed and is signed by the pit manager or above.

K. At the end of each gaming day or in the alternative, at least once each gaming day, as designated by the facility operator and approved by the Commission under COMAR 36.05.03.16, and at other times as may be necessary:

(1) A security department employee shall collect and sign all envelopes or containers with damaged tiles, tiles used during the gaming day, and all extra tiles in the reserve which have been opened, and return the envelopes or containers to the security department; and

(2) A floorperson or above may collect all extra sets of tiles in the reserve which have not been opened, and, if collected, all unopened sets of tiles shall be cancelled, destroyed, or returned to the approved storage area.

L. Inspection.

(1) When envelopes or containers of used tiles and reserve sets of tiles which have been opened are returned to the security department, the security department shall inspect the tiles for tampering, marks, alterations, missing, or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair play.

(2) The procedures for inspecting sets of tiles shall include:

(a) Sorting of tiles by pairs;

(b) Visually inspecting the sides and back of each tile for tampering, markings, or alterations; and

(c) Inspecting the sides and back of each tile with an ultraviolet light.

(3) The individual performing the inspection shall complete a work order form which details the procedures performed, lists the tables from which the tiles were removed and the results of the inspection, and shall sign the form upon completion of the inspection procedures.

(4) The facility operator shall submit to the Commission the training procedures for the employees performing the inspections required under this subsection in its internal controls.

(5) Evidence of tampering, marks, alterations, missing, or additional tiles or anything that might indicate unfair play discovered during the inspection, or at any other time, shall be immediately reported to a Commission compliance representative by the completion and delivery of a two-part Tile Discrepancy Report.

(a) The two-part report shall include the tiles which are the subject of the report.

(b) A Commission compliance representative shall retain the tile for further inspection.

(c) The Commission compliance representative receiving the tile shall sign the original and duplicate copy of the tile discrepancy report and retain the original.

(d) The facility operator shall retain the duplicate copy.

M. If after completing the inspection procedures required under §N of this regulation, it is determined that a complete set of 32 tiles removed from a gaming table is free from tampering, markings, or alterations, the set shall be packaged separately and sealed before being returned to the pai gow storage area for subsequent use.

N. A facility operator shall develop internal control procedures for returning the repackaged tiles to the tile inventory in accordance with §P of this regulation.

O. Individual tiles from different sets may not be used to make a complete set for subsequent gaming.

P. A facility operator may create replacement and reconstructed sets in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) If after completing the inspection procedures required under §M of this regulation, it is determined that a tile has scratches or other markings on the back, sides or edges which make the tiles unsuitable for continued use, the tile shall be removed from the set and destroyed in accordance with §R of this regulation.

(2) The remaining usable tiles from the set shall be designated as a replacement set.

(3) The employee who removes the tiles from a set shall complete a two-part form that shall:

(a) Include the date and time the tiles were removed from the set;

(b) Identify the specific tile or tiles removed from the set and sent for destruction; and

(c) Contain the name and signature of the individuals involved.

(4) The duplicate copy of the form shall be retained with the replacement set and the security department shall retain the original.

(5) The assistant table games shift manager or above shall return the replacement set, accompanied by the duplicate copy of the form, to the tile inventory under §P of this regulation where replacement sets shall be inventoried and stored separately from any stored and new, used or complete reconstructed sets.

(6) Tiles in one or more replacement sets may be used to create a complete reconstructed set of tiles in accordance with the following procedures:

(a) The assistant table games shift manager or above shall conduct an inspection of each reconstructed set in the storage area, in the presence of a security department employee, and ensure that any replacement tile possesses the same color, texture, and finish as all other tiles in the reconstructed set.

(b) The assistant table games shift manager or above shall sort the tiles by pairs and verify the needed replacement tile or tiles and visually inspect the sides, backs and edges of each tile in the reconstructed set for tampering, markings, and alterations and for comparison as to shading, texture and finish.

(c) After a complete set of tiles has been assembled from replacement sets, the assistant table games shift manager or above shall attach a label to the envelope or container for the reconstructed set, which shall:

(i) Include the date and time of reconstruction;

(ii) Contain the signature of the assistant table games shift manager or above and the security department employee who witnessed the inspection; and

(iii) Identify the inspection steps that were followed to determine that the reconstructed set of tiles is suitable for use in gaming.

(d) A facility operator shall submit to the Commission for approval internal control procedures for returning the reconstructed sets into inventory, identifying all reconstructed sets and maintaining an accurate inventory balance of remaining replacement sets.

Q. A facility operator shall submit internal control procedures for:

(1) An inventory system which includes records of at least the following:

(a) The balance of sets of tiles on hand;

(b) The sets of tiles removed from storage;

(c) The sets of tiles returned to storage or received from a manufacturer or contractor;

(d) The date of each transaction; and

(e) The signatures of the individuals involved;

(2) A daily reconciliation of the:

(a) Sets of tiles distributed;

(b) Sets of tiles destroyed or cancelled;

(c) Sets of tiles returned to the approved storage area; and

(d) Sets of tiles in the tile reserve in a pit stand; and

(3) A physical inventory of the sets of tiles at least once every 3 months.

(a) An inventory shall be performed by an individual with no incompatible functions and shall be verified to the balance of the sets of tiles on hand required in §Q(1)(a) of this regulation.

(b) Discrepancies shall immediately be reported to a Commission compliance representative.

R. Destruction or Cancellation.

(1) Destruction or cancellation of tiles other than those retained for Commission inspection shall be completed within 7 days of collection.

(2) The method of destruction or cancellation shall be included in the facility operator’s internal controls.

(3) The destruction or cancellation of tiles shall take place in a secure location in the licensed facility covered by the facility operator’s surveillance system.

S. Tile Rotation. A facility operator shall change the tiles at least every 12 hours.