Spanish 21, a Blackjack Variant to be Offered in Commercial Casinos

NY-ADR

2/19/20 N.Y. St. Reg. SGC-07-20-00003-P
NEW YORK STATE REGISTER
VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 7
February 19, 2020
RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES
NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION
PROPOSED RULE MAKING
NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED
 
I.D No. SGC-07-20-00003-P
Spanish 21, a Blackjack Variant to be Offered in Commercial Casinos
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:
Proposed Action:
Amendment of section 5324.12(d); and addition of section 5324.12(e) to Title 9 NYCRR.
Statutory authority:
Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, sections 104(19), 1307(1), (2)(g), 1335(5), (6) and (11)
Subject:
Spanish 21, a blackjack variant to be offered in commercial casinos.
Purpose:
To set forth the practices and procedures for the operation of Spanish 21 as a casino table game.
Text of proposed rule:
Paragraph (d) would be amended and paragraph (e) would be added to section 5324.12 of title 9 of NYCRR to read as follows:
§ 5324.12. Spanish 21
* * *
(d) Optional wagers. The gaming facility may choose to offer the optional wagers set forth in subdivisions (d) through (h) and (j) through (p) of section 5324.11.
(e) Spanish 21 match the dealer wager. A gaming facility may provide a match the dealer wager as an additional wager.
(1) A player’s match the dealer wager shall not affect the player’s wager on the underlying hand. A dealer’s blackjack shall have no effect on a player’s match the dealer wager. The match the dealer wager shall be available only on tables using a six- or eight-deck multi-shuffle device.
(2) Prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play, each player who has placed a Spanish 21 wager may make a match the dealer wager by placing chips or plaques on the designated area of the Spanish 21 layout. The minimum and maximum wagers permitted by the gaming facility shall be inscribed on the table layout or posted on a sign at each table offering the match the dealer wager.
(3) The dealer shall then announce, “no more bets” and deal the initial two cards to all players and the dealer. Prior to any additional cards being dealt to any player at the table and before any card reader device is used, the dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer’s right and continuing counter-clockwise around the table, settle in succession all match the dealer wagers by collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers.
(4) A match the dealer wager shall be paid when either of the player’s initial two cards match the dealer’s initial card. Any card with a point value of 10 (jack, queen, king) shall be deemed a match only if the cards are of identical description (e.g., jack-jack, queen-queen, or king-king, but not jack-queen, etc.). If both of the initial cards dealt to a player match the dealer’s initial card, the player shall be paid for each card.
(5) A gaming facility shall post its match the dealer wager pay table at each Spanish 21 table offering the match the dealer wager. A gaming facility may change pay tables at such facility’s discretion at any time after the conclusion of a round of play, upon prior notice to the commission. A gaming facility may choose from one of the following pay tables for the match the dealer wager:
Hand:Pay table A (six decks)Pay table B (eight decks)
Each matching card of a different suit4:13:1
Each matching card of the same suit9:112:1
Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from:
Kristen M. Buckley, New York State Gaming Commission, One Broadway Center, P.O. Box 7500, Schenectady, New York 12301-7500, (518) 388-3332, email: [email protected]
Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:
Same as above.
Public comment will be received until:
60 days after publication of this notice.
Regulatory Impact Statement
1. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law (“Racing Law”) section 104(19) grants authority to the Gaming Commission (“Commission”) to promulgate rules and regulations that it deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Racing Law section 1307(1) authorizes the Commission to adopt regulations that it deems necessary to protect the public interest in carrying out the provisions of Racing Law Article 13.
Racing Law section 1307(2)(g) authorizes the Commission to regulate the devices permitted for use at a table game.
Racing Law section 1335(5) authorizes the Commission to regulate the wagers and pay-offs of winning wagers as may be necessary to assure the vitality of casino operations and fair odds to patrons.
Racing Law section 1335(6) authorizes the Commission to regulate the posting of gaming rules, pay-offs of winning wagers and the odds of winning for each wager.
Racing Law section 1335(11) authorizes the Commission to regulate a dealer’s ability to deal cards by hands or by use of a machine.
2. LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES: The above referenced statutory provisions carry out the legislature’s stated goal “to tightly and strictly” regulate casinos “to guarantee public confidence and trust in the credibility and integrity of all casino gambling in the state,” as set forth in Racing Law section 1300(10).
3. NEEDS AND BENEFITS: The proposed rule implements the above-listed statutory directives regarding table game rules and equipment. Best practices addressed in the proposed rule include detailing the rules of play for the Spanish 21 table game, as well as relevant pay tables.
4. COSTS:
(a) Costs to the regulated parties for the implementation of and/or continuing compliance with this rule: The anticipated cost of implementing and complying with the proposed regulation will be approximately $10,000 per year for each gaming facility, based on the estimated license fee charged by Galaxy Gaming, Inc. for the game.
(b) Costs to the regulating agency, the State, and local governments for the implementation of and continued administration of the rule: The costs to the Commission for the implementation of and continued administration of the rule will be negligible given that all such costs are the responsibility of the gaming facility. These rules will not impose any additional costs on local governments.
(c) The information, including the source or sources of such information, and methodology upon which the cost analysis is based: The cost estimates are based on the Commission’s experience regulating racing and gaming activities within the State.
5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANDATES: There are no local government mandates associated with these rules.
6. PAPERWORK: The rule is not expected to impose any significant paperwork or reporting requirements on the regulated entities.
7. DUPLICATION: The rule does not duplicate, overlap or conflict with any existing State or federal requirements.
8. ALTERNATIVES: The Commission consulted stakeholders and reviewed other gambling jurisdiction best practices and regulation. These included the rules for similar table games and the appropriate pay tables. The Commission is also required to promulgate these rules pursuant to Racing Law sections 1307(2)(g), and 1335(5), (6) and (11).
9. FEDERAL STANDARDS: There are no federal standards applicable to the licensing of gaming facilities in New York; it is purely a matter of New York State law.
10. COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE: The Commission anticipates that the affected parties will be able to achieve compliance with these rules upon adoption.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis and Job Impact Statement
The proposed rule will not have any adverse impact on small businesses, local governments, jobs or rural areas. This rule is intended to promote public confidence and trust in the credibility and integrity of casino gambling in New York State. The rule will ensure that licensed gaming facilities follow game rules that are authorized and trustworthy.
The proposed rule does not impact local governments or small businesses as it is not expected that any local government or small business will hold a gaming facility license.
The proposed rule imposes no adverse impact on rural areas. The rule applies uniformly throughout the state and solely applies to licensed gaming facilities.
The proposed rule will have no adverse impact on job opportunities.
This rule will not adversely impact small businesses, local governments, jobs, or rural areas. Accordingly, a full Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis, and Job Impact Statement are not required and have not been prepared.
End of Document