3772-10-19 Drop box count procedures.

ACTION:

Original                                                DATE: 10/03/2013 9:19 AM

 

 

OHIO CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION

John R. Kasich                                                                                     Jo Ann Davidson

Governor                                                                                                                                                           Chair

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing will be held by the Ohio Casino Control Commission ("Commission") on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at  10:00 a.m. on the 6th Floor  of the One Columbus Building, located at  10 West  Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215. The purpose of the hearing is to solicit public comment on the following proposed rule amendments:

·         Rule 3772-1-01, titled "Definitions." The proposed amendment clarifies that the definitions apply to Ohio Adm. Code 3772 in its entirety and adds a definition for "casino operator."  Presently, the term "casino operator" is used predominantly throughout Ohio Adm. Code 3772. However, the term "management company" is applicable in those provisions as well. The purpose of this proposed amendment is to clarify the fact that management company licensees are subject to all of Ohio Adm. Code 3772, which is particularly important because two of the four casino operator licensees in Ohio have contracted with licensed management companies to manage the daily operations at their casino facilities.

·         Rule 3772-6-04, titled "Duty to update information." The proposed amendment removes the existing 10-day reporting requirement, in light of the quarterly and annual reports required by R.C. 3772.21. Presently, the existing language requires all gaming-related vendor applicants and licensees to submit to the Commission, in writing, changes to its list of equipment, devices, and supplies offered for sale or lease in connection with casino games authorized under R.C. Chapter 3772 and Ohio Adm. Code 3772 within 10 days of a change.  This 10-day requirement is unnecessary, however, largely because

R.C. 3772.21(B) mandates that this list be updated annually.  The purpose of this proposed amendment is to remove this requirement.

·         Rule 3772-9-02, titled "Approval for use in a casino facility." The proposed amendment creates an affirmative seal requirement for slots, to reflect current practice. The Commission has required, and the casino operators have already accepted, that each slot machine and other applicable equipment are verified and sealed by a Commission agent before being placed into play.  This requirement is  implied by indirect and general language in Ohio Adm. Code 3772-9-02 and 3772-9-10.  The purpose of this proposed amendment is to formally document the verification and sealing procedure that is already in place at all Ohio casinos.

·         Rule 3772-9-13, titled "Redemption kiosks."  The proposed amendment concerns changes to minimum internal control standards specific to redemption kiosks.  The rule presently requires dual access to the keys for a redemption kiosk cash compartment, which conflicts with Ohio Adm. Code 3772-10-26(B)(14), which does not require dual access.  Further, there are other controls in place to secure these keys and the redemption kiosk cash compartments, which renders the dual access requirement unnecessary. The purpose of this proposed amendment is to remove this requirement.

·         Rule 3772-10-18, titled "Table drop boxes and slot bill validator canisters: physical requirements and transportation."  The proposed amendment describes the departments responsible for transporting slot bill validator canisters. The existing language requires a member of the casino's security department and a member of the casino's accounting department to transport bill validator canisters. In practice, however, a member of the accounting department in a casino would rarely perform this task.  The purpose of this proposed amendment is to allow for someone from either the accounting department or the cage department, in addition to the member from the security department, to perform this task.

·         Rule 3772-10-19, titled "Drop box count procedures." The proposed amendment exempts licensed security personnel from wearing the requisite full-length, one-piece, pocket-less garment in the count

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www.casinocontrol.ohio.gov

room.  Members of the security team should never be directly involved in count room activities (i.e., handling the money), and are instead present to provide security coverage. As a result, the purpose of the proposed amendment is to remove this requirement and provide a relevant exemption for such personnel.

·         Rule 3772-10-24, titled "Signature requirements." The proposed amendment clarifies existing signature card requirements and removes one redundant requirement.  The original intent of this rule was to require signature cards at Ohio casinos to include details of the access and abilities afforded to each employee. The purpose of this proposed amendment is to describe employee authorization on all cards, not just when there is a change in employment status, as the existing language requires. In addition, the proposed amendment removes the requirement that signature cards list the sensitive keys to which the employee has access because another rule, Ohio Adm. Code 3772-10-26(A)(2)(b), already requires the casinos to maintain this information.

·         Rule 3772-11-06, titled "Shipment of table games and table game mechanisms." The proposed amendment removes the seal requirement for transportation of table games or table game mechanisms.  The purpose of this rule is to reduce the cost of compliance, which in practice greatly outweighs the benefit gained from sealing these items for transport.  In addition, multiple controls are already in place and executed once the items arrive at the casino facility, in order to ensure the integrity of these items for casino gaming in Ohio.

·         Rule 3772-11-11, titled "Chip specifications."  The proposed amendment allows for the name of the casino and the value of the chip to be inlaid in the center of the chip, in addition to allowing for that information to be impressed, engraved, or imprinted in the center of the chip. The purpose of this proposed amendment is to clarify the existing practice at the Ohio casinos and within the industry and to expressly denote that chips with this information inlaid are, indeed, acceptable under Ohio law.

·         Rule 3772-11-23, titled "Table game cards; receipt, storage, inspections, and removal from use." The proposed amendment adds language to allow for the replacement of single damaged cards in games that are dealt from multiple decks.  Currently, this rule requires casinos to remove all decks in play when any cards in use show signs of tampering, flaws, scratches, marks, or other defects that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game.  The purpose of this proposed amendment is to codify waivers the Commission has already granted to some Ohio casinos.

·         Rule 3772-11-37, titled "Minimum and maximum table game wagers."  The proposed amendment reflects the original intent of the rule, which is to allow for continued play at the old table maximum when the table limits are lowered, not raised. The purpose of this proposed amendment is to correct a typographical error so that patrons may, if allowed to do so by the casino, continue playing at the previously posted table maximum before it was lowered.

All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing and present oral and/or written testimony.

Written comments may also be submitted to the attention of Michelle Siba, Assistant General Counsel, Ohio Casino Control Commission, at 10 West Broad Street, 6 t h   Floor , Columbus, Ohio  43215, or by electronic mail at [e-mail].

10 W. Broad Street - 6th Floor - Columbus, OH 43215 [phone] toll-free

www.casinocontrol.ohio.gov