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Casino Regulations

made under Section 127 of the

Gaming Control Act

S.N.S. 1994-95, c. 4

O.I.C. 95-259 (effective April 4, 1995), N.S. Reg. 40/1995

amended to O.I.C. 2024-176 (effective May 21, 2024), N.S. Reg. 100/2024



Table of Contents


Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.

 

[Citation]

Definitions

Registration of Suppliers and Gaming Assistants – Games of Chance Held in Casinos

Classes of registrants

Applications

Interim registration

Registration

Addition of class

Terms and conditions of registration

Floor plan

Prohibition on play

Behaviour indicating problem with gambling

Equipment prohibited from use

Fees

Security Clearance

Oath and affirmation

Conflict of Interest

Identification Cards

Casino employees

Gaming and non-gaming-related suppliers

Days and Hours of Operation

Goods Provided in Casinos

Special Funds

Record of Gaming Equipment Inventory

Equipment testing costs

Incompatible Functions

Educational Gaming Requirements

Approval of courses, programs of instruction and instructors

Filing requirements

Equipment

Gaming chips

Use of gaming chips and equipment

Security

Qualification and certification

Designated Goods and Services

Games of chance

Rules of Play

Chips, Tokens and Plaques

Slot Machines

Hardware Requirements

Identification plates

Power interrupt circuit

On and off switch

Electromagnetic interference

Coin, token and bill validators

Bill validators

Automatic light -- alarm

Protection of logic boards and memory components

Hardware switches

Drop bucket

Hopper

Software Requirements

Percentage payout

Control programs

Continuation of game after malfunction is cleared

Play transaction records

Slot Machine Specifications -- Error Conditions

Automatic clearing

Clearing by attendant

Automatic clearing or clearing by attendant

Computer monitoring requirements for slot machines

Standards respecting progressive slot machines

Meter required

Limits

Transfer of jackpots

Linked jackpot arrangements

Associated Equipment

Table and Wheel Games Equipment

Table game drop boxes

Blackjack table

Baccarat tables

Mini-baccarat or midi-baccarat tables

Pai gow poker table

Pai gow table

Poker table

Cards

Roulette table

Single zero roulette wheel

Double zero roulette wheel

Roulette balls

Surveillance Department, Security Department

Surveillance rooms

Required Surveillance Equipment

Closed-circuit television system

Alarms

Alterations to surveillance system

Storage of Videotape Recordings

Minimum storage period

Recordings of illegal activities

Maintenance and testing of equipment

Internal Controls System

Record Keeping

Large cash transactions

Internal controls approval

Exclusion and Removal of Individuals from Casinos

Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program

Costs of Hearings


 


[Citation]

1        These regulations may be cited as the Casino Regulations.


Definitions

2        In these regulations

 

“Act” means the Gaming Control Act;

 

“associated equipment” means any computer-based equipment or equipment that relies on mechanical or electronic devices used in the gaming areas of a casino, the cashier’s cage or the count rooms and includes links connected to progressive slot machines, computerized keno games, computerized systems for monitoring slot machines and devices for counting money;

 

“bankroll” means the reserve stock of money as well as unused gaming chips and tokens that are held in secure storage;

 

“bet” or “wager” means money or its equivalent representative of value that is risked on the outcome of a game of chance;

 

“bill validator” means a device that is attached to a slot machine to accept bills, tickets or other money equivalents and then credits the slot machine with the applicable amount;

 

“cashier’s cage” means a secure work area within the casino for cashiers and a storage area for the casino’s bankroll;

 

“casino employee” means an individual who is employed in the operation of a casino and who does not supervise other individuals employed in the casino and includes

 

                              (i)      a dealer, a security employee, a count room employee, a cashier’s cage employee, a slot machine employee, a slot booth employee, a surveillance employee, an audit and accounting employee and a data processing employee, and

 

                              (ii)     any other individual, including a maintenance employee and a food and beverage server, who has access to the casino;

 

“casino gaming-related supplier” means a person who

 

                              (i)      manufactures or provides gaming equipment that could influence the outcome of a game of chance held in a casino, including slot machines, keno games and roulette wheels,

 

                              (ii)     provides chips, tokens, plaques, cards, roulette balls, dealing shoes, automatic card shufflers or big six wheels for games of chance held in a casino,

 

                              (iii)    for games of chance in a casino, provides gaming equipment that the Executive Director has designated in writing and that, if marked or tampered with, could facilitate cheating,

 

                              (iv)    provides surveillance systems for a casino,

 

                              (v)     installs, maintains or repairs any of the gaming equipment or surveillance systems mentioned in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), or

 

                              (vi)    under contract with the Corporation or a casino operator, provides training to persons in gaming, dealing, slot machine repairs or any other gaming-related aspect of casino operations;

 

“casino key employee” means an individual who is employed in the operation of a casino and who supervises other individuals employed in the casino and includes

 

                              (i)      a manager, an assistant manager, a floor person, a pit boss, a shift boss, a credit manager and a count room manager, and

 

                              (ii)     a supervisor of security employees, surveillance employees, accounting and auditing employees, cashier’s cage employees and cashier’s or count room employees;

 

“casino non-gaming-related supplier” means a person who provides

 

                              (i)      for the playing of games of chance in a casino, gaming equipment that is not mentioned in the definition of casino gaming-related supplier in this Section, or

 

                              (ii)     goods or services that relate to the construction, furnishing, repair, maintenance or business of a casino, but that are not directly related to the playing of games of chance;

 

“casino operator” means a person who

 

                              (i)      contracts with the Corporation to operate casinos in the Province, and

 

                              (ii)     is a registered supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3;

 

“centralized accounting and alarm system” means a computer system that receives

 

                              (i)      financial information from slot machines, redemption units and table games, and

 

                              (ii)     alarm information from slot machines, redemption units and table games;

 

“chip” means a non-metal or partly metal representative of value, redeemable for cash that is issued and sold by a casino operator for use in gaming, other than for use in slot machines;

 

“coin-in” means a legal coin or bill, a token or a ticket that has been accepted by a slot machine or electronic gaming device or machine;

 

“count room” means a secure room in a casino where coins, bills, tickets and tokens are counted;

 

“course” means a unit of educational instruction or training in a specific subject area of gaming, playing and dealing techniques or casino operations including dealer training, slot machine repair training, slot department management training, cage cashiering training, security and surveillance training;

 

“dealer” means the person assigned to directly operate or conduct a game of chance;

 

“Director of Registration” means the Director of Registration appointed under clause 42(1)(a) of the Act;

 

“Director of Investigation and Enforcement” means the Director of Investigation and Enforcement appointed under clause 42(1)(b) of the Act;

 

“drop” means in table games, the total amount of money or representative of value contained in the drop box;

 

“drop” means in slot machines, the total amount of money or tokens contained in the drop bucket or the bill validator, or both;

 

“drop box” means a locked metal container affixed to a gaming table into which the drop is placed;

 

“drop bucket” means a container located in a cabinet beneath a coin-operated slot machine, for the purpose of collecting coins and tokens from the machine, that are retained by the slot machine and not used to make change or for automatic jackpot payouts;

 

“excluded person” means a person enrolled in the voluntary self-exclusion program;

 

“floor person” means the first level supervisor, responsible for directly supervising the operation and conduct of table games;

 

“Gaming Division employee” means an employee of the Gaming Division of the Department who supports the operations of the Corporation in accordance with Section 18 of the Act;

 

“gaming school” means a casino operator or any entity approved to offer courses or programs of instruction to prospective gaming assistants and gaming assistants, and any other person employed by a casino;

 

“hopper” means a container, also known as a payout reserve container, in which slot machine tokens or legal coins are retained by a slot machine to make coin pays to automatically pay jackpots;

 

“inappropriate”, when used in reference to a bill, coin, ticket or token, means a bill, coin, ticket or token that has been entered into a coin acceptor or bill validator

 

                              (i)      after the device has already accepted its maximum number of bills, coins, tickets or tokens, or

 

                              (ii)     when the device is in a state in which it normally rejects additional bills, coins, tickets or tokens;

 

“incompatible function” means a function, for accounting control purposes, that places any person or department in a casino in a position of conflict;

 

“instructor” means any person employed by a gaming school to train, teach or instruct the students enrolled in such school;

 

“jackpot” means the combination of letters, numbers, symbols or representations required to be displayed on the reels or video screen of a slot machine device so that the winnings are payable in accordance with the prize payout scale displayed on the machine;

 

“jackpot payout” means the hand-pay portion of a jackpot paid by slot personnel, which is determined as the difference between the total posted jackpot amount and the coins paid out by the machine or the total amount of the jackpot;

 

“linked jackpot” means an arrangement whereby 2 or more slot machines are linked to a device that

 

                              (i)      records, from time to time, an amount which, in the event of a jackpot or other result being obtained on one of those machines, may be payable, or part of which may be payable, as winnings,

 

                              (ii)     for the purpose of recording the amounts referred to in subclause (i), receives data from each slot machine to which the device is linked, and

 

                              (iii)    is not capable of affecting the outcome of a game on a slot machine to which the device is linked;

 

“money equivalent” includes an instrument issued by a casino that represents credit payable in currency, but does not include technology, such as credit cards or ATM cards, that allows remote access to money or money equivalents;

 

“non-sensitive area” means an area of a casino that is not a sensitive area;

 

“non-value chips” means chips without a value contained thereon;

 

“pit” means an area in a casino enclosed or encircled by gaming tables;

 

“pit boss” mean the supervisor, responsible for the overall supervision of the operation and conduct of table games within a particular pit;

 

“program of instruction” means a group of courses designed to qualify a student for employment in one or more areas of casino operations;

 

“progressive jackpot” means a value determined by a casino operator and arrived at by independent or interlinked slot machines;

 

“progressive slot machine” means a slot machine with a pay-out that increases as the slot machine is played;

 

“rake” means the amount of gaming chips representing smaller values, gaming plaques representing larger values or coins collected by a dealer as poker revenue;

 

“random access memory” means the electronic component used for computer workspace and storage of volatile information in a slot machine;

 

“random number generator” means a hardware device, software device or combination hardware and software device for generating number values that exhibit characteristics of randomness;

 

“redemption unit” is a device on a casino floor that permits a person to redeem tickets or other money equivalents for currency;

 

“sensitive area” means an area of the casino in which money or gaming assets are directly at risk;

 

“shift boss” means the casino key employee responsible for supervising all casino employees on any given shift;

 

“slot machine”, for purposes of Sections 60 to 92, includes any mechanical or electronic machine or device that is activated for playing a game of chance upon payment of consideration and that, as a result of chance or the skill of the player in playing the game, or both, may deliver to the player or entitle the player to receive cash, tokens or any other thing of value;

 

“slugging” means a method of cheating by inserting a slug through the legal coin or token acceptor of a slot machine;

 

“special funds” means funds established by Order in Council pursuant to clause 2(n) of the Provincial Finance Act to which payments are required to be made in accordance with subsection 29(1) of the Act;

 

“spooning” means a method of cheating by inserting a spoon-shaped device through the pay-out mechanism of the slot machine;

 

“stringing” means a method of cheating by tying a string to a coin or token and lowering the attached coin or token down the acceptor chute to register acceptance;

 

“ticket” means a coupon, ticket or voucher accepted for use in the casino that represents a money equivalent and that

 

                              (i)      is issued as a form of payment to a player from a slot machine, redemption unit or electronic gaming device or machine, and

 

                              (ii)     is redeemable for money or a money equivalent at the casino;

 

“tilt condition” means a programmed error state for a slot machine that occurs when the slot machine detects an internal error, malfunction or attempted cheating and the slot machine disallows further play until the error is resolved;

 

“token” means a metal representative of value, redeemable for cash only at the casino that issued the token and that is issued and sold by a casino operator for use in a slot machine in that casino;

 

“trade union” has the same meaning as a trade union under the Trade Union Act and is a trade union which is certified to represent employees of a casino; and

 

“value chips” means chips with a value contained thereon;

 

“voluntary self-exclusion program” means the program established by the Corporation and implemented by a casino operator under Section 255A.


Registration of Suppliers and Gaming Assistants – Games of Chance Held in Casinos


Classes of registrants

3        The following classes of suppliers are established for the purposes of registration as registered suppliers under the Act:

 

                   (a)      casino operators;

 

                   (b)     casino gaming-related suppliers;

 

                   (c)      casino non-gaming-related suppliers; and

 

                   (d)     trade unions, their officers, officials and agents, once certified to represent persons employed in a casino.

 

4        No person other than a supplier registered as a casino operator may operate a casino on behalf of the Corporation.

 

5        No person other than a supplier registered as a casino gaming-related supplier may carry out any of the actions described in the definition of casino gaming-related supplier in Section 2.

 

6        (1)    No person other than a supplier registered as a casino non-gaming-related supplier may carry out any of the actions described in the definition of casino non-gaming-related supplier in Section 2.

 

          (2)    Despite Sections 10 and 51, a person who provides goods or services for the operation of a casino is exempt from the requirement to register as a casino non-gaming-related supplier and from subsection (1) if the person has obtained a written certificate of exemption from the Director of Registration stating that

 

                   (a)      in the opinion of the Director of Registration, at least 1 of the following conditions is met:

 

                              (i)      the person’s business is otherwise regulated by the Government of Nova Scotia or the Government of Canada, or any agency of either of those governments,

 

                              (ii)     the goods or services are being supplied by a federal, provincial or municipal government, or any agency of any of those governments,

 

                              (iii)    the goods or services that the person provides are not integral to the operation of the casino, taking into account the nature and value of the goods or services and the industry sector they are provided for; and

 

                   (b)     the Director of Registration is satisfied that issuing the certificate of exemption is not contrary to the public interest.

 

          (3)    The certificate of exemption shall identify the business premises of the person who is exempted.

 

          (4)    A holder of a certificate of exemption shall produce it when required by any agent of the Department or registrant and, if the holder is a corporation or partnership, notify the Director of Registration in writing immediately of all changes in the officers, directors or partners.

 

          (5)    A certificate of exemption ceases to be effective if the Director of Registration determines that the holder of the certificate no longer meets the conditions in clauses 6(2)(a) and (b).

 

          (6)    [repealed]

 

          (7)    A certificate of exemption that ceases to be effective pursuant to subsection (5) shall immediately be returned by the holder of the certificate to the Director of Registration.

 

7        (1)    In this Section, “the company” means a company that may be established by a casino operator to make purchases from a non-gaming-related supplier.

 

          (2)    Subject to Section 6, the company shall not obtain goods and services in excess of $15 000 per year from any one supplier, unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director.

 

          (3)    The company shall not exceed $500 000 in total purchases per year, unless approved by the Executive Director.

 

          (4)    The company shall be registered as a non-gaming-related supplier pursuant to Section 6.

 

          (5)    The company shall retain all purchasing records for two years at a place approved by the Executive Director.

 

8        (1)    The following classes of gaming assistants are established for the purpose of registration as gaming assistants under the Act:

 

                   (a)      casino key employees;

 

                   (b)     casino employees; and

 

                   (c)      casino clerks.

 

          (2)    No individual, other than a registered gaming assistant, is authorized to be employed in managing, dealing or operating games in a casino.

 

9        No individual employed in the operation of a casino, other than a gaming assistant registered as a casino key employee, is authorized to supervise other individuals employed in a casino.


Applications

10      (1)    An application for registration, renewal of registration or exemption as a supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3 or as a gaming assistant of a class mentioned in subsection 8(1) shall be in a form provided by the Director of Registration and shall state the class or classes of registration for which the applicant is applying and an address for service in Nova Scotia.

 

          (2)    An application shall be accompanied by the fee payable in accordance with Section 22.

 

          (3)    An application for registration or renewal of registration as a casino key employee or a casino employee shall be accompanied by an offer of employment, in the case of an application for registration and, a letter of continued employment, in the case of a renewal of registration, by a casino operator that shall

 

                   (a)      be signed by an official who is authorized to sign documents on behalf of the casino operator;

 

                   (b)     be conditional on a certificate of registration or renewal being granted; and

 

                   (c)      not be withdrawn before the registration or renewal is granted.


Interim registration

11      (1)    The Director of Registration may grant to a person who submits a completed application and fee, if any, interim registration as

 

                   (a)      a supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3; or

 

                   (b)     a gaming assistant of a class mentioned in Section 8.

 

          (2)    Upon granting an interim registration to a person, the Director of Registration shall provide the person with a certificate stating that the person has been registered on an interim basis.

 

          (3)    An interim registration is valid for 90 days only but may be extended by the Executive Director prior to the expiry of the 90-day period, for an additional 90 days.

 

          (4)    An interim registration expires on the earlier of

 

                   (a)      the day on which the Director of Registration grants or refuses the application for registration; or

 

                   (b)     the expiry date to which an extension may have been granted by the Executive Director.

 

          (5)    The hearing provisions of the Act do not apply to interim registration.


Registration

12      (1)    Upon receiving a complete and accurate application for registration under Section 10, the Director of Registration shall consider the application and grant or refuse registration within 90 days of the date of receipt of the application.

 

          (2)    Despite subsection (1), an extension of an additional 90 days may be granted by the Executive Director for purposes of reviewing the application if, in the opinion of the Executive Director, extenuating circumstances exist.

 

          (3)    The Director of Registration shall not grant a certificate of registration or renewal of registration as a casino key employee or a casino employee, unless the casino operator who has offered employment to the applicant is a registered casino operator.

 

          (4)    Upon granting a certificate of registration, the Director of Registration shall issue a certificate of registration to the applicant stating the expiry date of the registration.

 

          (5)    A registration of a supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3 that is granted or renewed expires

 

                   (a)      3 years from the day on which the interim registration was granted, if the registrant holds an interim registration before the registration is granted or renewed; or

 

                   (b)     3 years from the day on which it is granted or renewed in all other cases.

 

          (5A) A registration of a gaming assistant of a class mentioned in subsection 8(1) that is granted or renewed expires

 

                   (a)      3 years from the day on which the interim registration was granted, if the registrant holds an interim registration before the registration is granted or renewed; or

 

                   (b)     3 years from the day on which it is granted or renewed in all other cases.

 

          (6)    Despite subsection (5), the registration of a casino key employee or casino employee shall terminate if

 

                   (a)      the Director of Registration revokes registration of the casino operator named in the registrant’s registration;

 

                   (b)     the registration of the casino operator named in the registrant’s registration is terminated; or

 

                   (c)      the registrant’s employment with the casino operator named in the registration is terminated.

 

          (7)    The Director of Registration shall revive the registration of a casino key employee or casino employee that has terminated under subsection (6) if, within 30 days after the termination of the registration, the registrant applies to the Director of Registration to have the name of the casino operator in the registration replaced with the name of another registered casino operator.

 

          (8)    An application for registration described in subsection 10(1) shall be accompanied by an offer of employment by a registered casino operator that shall

 

                   (a)      be signed by an official who is authorized to sign documents on behalf of the casino operator;

 

                   (b)     be conditional on the registration being granted; and

 

                   (c)      not be withdrawn before the registration is granted.


Addition of class

13      (1)    The Director of Registration may add the class of casino gaming-related supplier to the registration of a casino non-gaming-related supplier before the expiry of the registration if the registrant submits an application requesting the addition to the Director of Registration in the form prescribed by the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    A casino non-gaming-related supplier who applies to add the class of casino gaming-related supplier to a registration shall pay to the Director of Registration when making the application, the amount of the registration fee for the casino gaming-related supplier class, prorated for the number of months then remaining before the expiry of the registration.

 

          (3)    The Director of Registration may add the class of casino key employee to the registration of a casino employee before the expiry of the registration if the registrant submits an application requesting the addition to the Director of Registration in the form prescribed by the Executive Director.

 

          (4)    For the purposes of subsection (2), a part of a month shall count as a full month.

 

          (5)    The expiry date of a registration does not change if the Director of Registration grants an application under this Section.


Terms and conditions of registration

14      The requirements set out in Sections 15 to 18 constitute the terms of registration for registrants.

 

15      Every registered supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3 shall be responsible for the conduct of each person employed by the supplier in the performance of the duties of that person in relation to the registration of the supplier.

 

16      For the purposes of Section 95 of the Act, the premises at which a registered supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3 shall keep the records required under the Act shall not be a dwelling, unless the Director of Registration approves the premises in writing.

 

17      Every registered supplier of a class mentioned in Section 3 shall prominently display the supplier’s certificate of registration or a copy of the certificate at the business premises identified in the supplier’s registration.

 

18      (1)    No casino operator shall contract with or employ a person to do anything with respect to the operation of a casino that the person is not authorized to do under these regulations.

 

          (2)    A casino operator shall notify the Director of Registration in writing of the names of all persons who provide goods or services of a type mentioned in the definition of casino non-gaming-related supplier if their cumulative value exceeds $100 000 in any 12-month period.

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall promptly notify the Director of Registration in writing of the names of all gaming assistants whom the casino operator employs or ceases to employ.


Floor plan

19      (1)    No casino operator shall operate a casino unless the casino operator has submitted a floor plan of the casino to the Executive Director and the Executive Director has approved the floor plan.

 

          (2)    The floor plan shall show the location of all gaming equipment, surveillance equipment, count rooms, cages and other equipment and facilities used in the operation of the casino.

 

          (3)    A casino operator who proposes to make material changes to the floor plan shall submit to the Executive Director for approval, a current floor plan of the casino showing the proposed changes.

 

          (4)    In determining whether to approve a floor plan under subsection (1) or changes to a floor plan under subsection (3), the Executive Director shall have regard to safety, security and surveillance at the casino.


Prohibition on play

20      (1)    No casino operator shall permit the following individuals to play games of chance in a casino:

 

                   (a)      individuals under 19 years of age;

 

                   (b)     individuals who appear to be intoxicated;

 

                   (c)      [repealed]

 

                   (d)     Gaming Division employees or employees of the Department as designated by the Executive Director;

 

                   (e)      officers, directors or partners of the casino operator; or

 

                   (f)      gaming assistants, casino key employees, casino employees or casino clerks of the casino operator.

 

          (2)    No casino operator shall permit an individual under 19 years of age to enter or access a casino.


Behaviour indicating problem with gambling

20A   (1)    The Corporation shall establish written procedures for all of the following:

 

                   (a)      identifying and addressing individuals who exhibit visible behaviour reasonably indicating that they may have a problem with gambling;

 

                   (b)     documenting incidents in which individuals have been identified and addressed under the procedures referred to in clause (a);

 

          (2)    A casino operator shall implement the procedures established under subsection (1).

 

          (3)    The Corporation shall determine the positions for which training on the procedures established under subsection (1) is required.

 

          (4)    The casino operator shall ensure that each person who holds a position determined to require training under subsection (3) receives the training at least once a year, and shall have all training materials for the training approved by the Corporation.

 

          (5)    The Corporation shall maintain up-to-date and current copies of each of the following and provide a copy of each to the Executive Director:

 

                   (a)      the procedures established under subsection (1);

 

                   (b)     the training materials referred to in subsection (4);

 

                   (c)      the list of the positions determined under subsection (3) for which training is required.


Equipment prohibited from use

21      (1)    No casino operator shall permit gaming equipment to be used for the playing of games of chance in the casino if the equipment has, in any way, been marked or tampered with so that it could affect the outcome of the games or their pay-outs.

 

          (2)    No casino operator shall permit any electrical, mechanical, telecommunications or other device, including a calculator or a computer, to be used in the playing of games of chance in the casino if the device could assist in projecting the outcome of a game or could keep track of cards that have been dealt, changing probabilities or playing strategies being used in a game.


Fees

22      (1)    Fees are payable with the application for registration and, in each year thereafter, on the anniversary date of the application as follows:

 

                   (a)      casino operator $132 695.20 annually;

 

                   (b)     casino gaming-related supplier 3.84% of gross annual sales to each casino.

 

          (2)    Except as provided in subsection (3), a casino operator shall pay a security investigation fee for each application submitted under subsection 10(1) for a gaming assistant at their casino, in the amount of $597.15.

 

          (3)    Subsection (2) does not apply to applications for gaming assistants who are food and beverage servers and do not have access to the gaming floor.

 

23      (1)    Any applicant for registration under the Act shall pay investigation costs to the Department on recommendation of the Director of Investigation and Enforcement in the amount that the Executive Director determines, if the Director of Registration determines that an investigation under the Act is necessary with respect to the applicant.

 

          (2)    The Director of Registration shall use the amount paid by the applicant under subsection (1) to pay the reasonable costs of that investigation.


Security Clearance

 

24      (1)    Each of the following is subject to a Level III security clearance as set out in clause (2)(c):

 

                   (a)      [repealed]

 

                   (b)     each Gaming Division employee;

 

                   (c)      the Executive Director, the Director of Registration and the Director of Investigation and Enforcement;

 

                   (d)     any employee of the Department designated by the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Registered suppliers and gaming assistants shall be subject to one of the following levels of security clearance as determined by the Executive Director:

 

                   (a)      Level I - persons subject to this level of security clearance shall not have access to sensitive or strategic information and shall not hold a supervisory position;

 

                   (b)     Level II - persons subject to this level of security clearance may hold positions of trust, have access to assets, sensitive information or both and may hold a supervisory position; and

 

                   (c)      Level III - persons subject to this level of security clearance may hold senior positions of trust, have direct access to cash and assets and may have knowledge of both sensitive and strategic information and may supervise employees.

 

          (3)    A former employee of the Corporation who was deemed to be an employee of the Province effective December 1, 2022, under Section 19 of the Act is not subject to a security clearance requirement if they have previously obtained a security clearance from the Executive Director.

 

          (4)    It is the responsibility of the Executive Director to grant the security clearances required by this Section.

 

          (5)    Each person referred to in subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall supply the information necessary for the Executive Director to determine whether to grant the person a security clearance, and the person's appointment to or employment with the Corporation, Department or casino operator is conditional on the level of security clearance required by this Section being granted.

 

          (6)    The Executive Director may determine what information is necessary for granting a security clearance.

 

          (7)    In determining whether to grant a security clearance, the Executive Director may engage the services of any of the following, as the Executive Director determines necessary:

 

                   (a)      employees of the Department;

 

                   (b)     third parties, including the RCMP and municipal police forces.

 

          (8)    The Executive Director may enter into contracts with third parties engaged under clause (7)(b) as required.


Oath and affirmation

25      (1)    All employees of the Department designated by the Executive Director and all Gaming Division employees designated by the Executive Director, before entering upon their duties, shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:

 

                   (a)      Oath


I solemnly and sincerely swear that I will faithfully and honestly fulfil the duties that devolve upon me by reason of my employment, and that I will not, without due authority in that behalf, disclose or make known, either during or after such employment terminates, any confidential matter that comes to my knowledge by reason of such employment, so help me God.

Sworn and subscribed before me at _________________, N.S., this _____ day of ___________, 20___.

 

 

Signature of person administering oath

 

Employee

 

 

 

 

 

Position

 

                   (b)     Affirmation


I solemnly and sincerely affirm that I will faithfully and honestly fulfil the duties that devolve upon me by reason of my employment, and that I will not, without due authority in that behalf, disclose or make known, either during or after such employment terminates, any confidential matter that comes to my knowledge by reason of such employment.

Affirmed and subscribed before me at _________________, N.S., this _____ day of ___________, 20___.

 

 

Signature of person administering oath

 

Employee

 

 

 

 

 

Position

 

          (2)    An oath or affirmation taken and subscribed to under subsection (1) shall be taken before a justice of the peace, commissioner of oaths or barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and shall be returned to the Executive Director and recorded in any manner that the Executive Director determines.


Conflict of Interest

 

26      (1)    No person shall be appointed to or employed by the Department or employed as a Gaming Division employee if that person

 

                   (a)      holds any direct or indirect interest in or is employed by, a registered casino operator or a registered casino gaming-related supplier;

 

                   (b)     holds any direct or indirect interest in or is a registered casino operator or a registered casino gaming-related supplier;

 

                   (c)      holds any direct or indirect interest in an applicant for such registration pending before the Executive Director; or

 

                   (d)     has an application for registration pending before the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Should a person, during that person’s appointment or employment, acquire an interest described in subsection (1), this interest shall be immediately disclosed as follows:

 

                   (a)      in the case of a Gaming Division employee who is an Executive Director, to the Minister responsible for Part I of the Act;

 

                   (b)     [repealed]

 

                   (c)      in the case of the Executive Director and other Directors of the Department, to the Minister responsible for Part II of the Act;

 

                   (d)     in the case of an employee of the Department, to the Executive Director and in the case of a Gaming Division employee, to a Gaming Division employee who is an Executive Director.

 

          (3)    Where a person acquires an interest described in subsection (1), during that person’s appointment or employment, that person shall abstain from participating in any discussions with respect to that interest in matters relating to the Corporation or the Department.

 

          (4)    [repealed]


Identification Cards


Casino employees

27      (1)    All employees of a casino operator shall wear, in plain view while on the casino premises, a card identifying the employee, which is laminated in plastic, bearing

 

                   (a)      the logo of the casino;

 

                   (b)     a photograph of the employee;

 

                   (c)      the employee’s position or title; and

 

                   (d)     the certification number issued by the gaming school pursuant to subsection 49(2).

 

          (2)    Employee identification cards shall be issued by a casino operator and approved by the Executive Director.


Gaming and non-gaming-related suppliers

28      (1)    All suppliers of a casino, while conducting business on or adjacent to the casino site, shall wear in plain view an identification card that is laminated in plastic and that identifies the supplier as a visitor to the casino.

 

          (2)    Supplier identification cards shall be issued by a casino operator, shall be sequentially numbered and shall be approved by the Executive Director.

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall record, in a log book, the

 

                   (a)      visitor’s name;

 

                   (b)     name of the supplier;

 

                   (c)      purpose of the visit;

 

                   (d)     date, time in and departure,

 

of all visitors to the casino.


Days and Hours of Operation

 

29      Despite any enactment regarding opening and closing days and hours of providing goods and services,

 

                   (a)      casinos are prescribed as providing goods and services for purposes of the exemption provisions of subsection 3(2) of the Retail Business Uniform Closing Day Act; and

 

                   (b)     casinos may open for business on all days of the year with the exception of Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day, and when open for business in accordance with this clause, may operate 24 hours per day.


Goods Provided in Casinos

 

30      (1)    Subject to licensing pursuant to the Liquor Control Act, a casino operator may serve liquor in a casino on the days and during the hours a casino is open for business as prescribed in Section 29.

 

          (2)    Alcoholic beverages may be sold, delivered to or consumed at casino games or gaming tables.

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall not, directly or indirectly, grant credit to or make loans to, or facilitate the granting of credit to or the making of loans to, individuals playing games of chance in a casino.

 

          (4)    A casino operator shall provide goods in a casino at reasonable prices which are not predatory or exploitive of local suppliers of similar goods.

 

          (5)    Notwithstanding subsection (4), but subject to licensing pursuant to the Liquor Control Act, a casino operator may serve or provide complimentary liquor in an area of a casino designated and identified as a high limit room and approved as such by the Executive Director but not elsewhere in a casino.

 

30A   Notwithstanding subsection 30(3), a casino operator may, directly or indirectly, grant credit to or make loans to, or facilitate the granting of credit to or making loans to, individuals playing games of chance in a casino who are not permanent residents of the Province of Nova Scotia, in accordance with rules and procedures proposed by a casino operator and approved by the Executive Director.

 

31      [repealed]


Special Funds

 

32      (1)    The Governor in Council may by order establish special funds pursuant to clause 2(n) of the Provincial Finance Act and authorize the Corporation to pay from casino revenues, money into those funds for charitable purposes, addiction treatment and such other purposes as the Governor in Council determines.

 

          (2)    The Governor in Council may, in the order referred to in subsection (1),

 

                   (a)      establish the terms and conditions of the payments to be made out of the special funds for the purposes set out in subsection (1), including the income earned on the special funds; and

 

                   (b)     approve of the Corporation entering into agreements with persons, groups or organizations who, in the order, are determined to be eligible to receive money from the special funds.


Record of Gaming Equipment Inventory

 

33      (1)    A manufacturer of slot machines, keno games, roulette and big six wheels shall permanently affix an identification plate on each piece of gaming equipment that is clearly visible, showing an identification or serial number, the date of manufacture and the name of the manufacturer.

 

          (2)    A manufacturer of the gaming equipment referred to in subsection (1) shall maintain a record for all periods of registration as a casino gaming-related supplier of gaming equipment supplied to a casino operator.

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall maintain a record in respect to gaming equipment that includes the

 

                   (a)      name of the manufacturer of each piece of gaming equipment;

 

                   (b)     date of manufacture;

 

                   (c)      serial or identification number of all gaming equipment referred to in subsection (1);

 

                   (d)     date of delivery to the casino operator;

 

                   (e)      current post-delivery status;

 

                   (f)      disposal date and method; and

 

                   (g)     name of purchaser at disposal.


Equipment testing costs

34      (1)    All machines and equipment used in the playing of games of chance in the casino shall be subject to random testing by Executive Director or an agent of the Executive Director, at times to be determined by the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Malfunctioning gaming machines or equipment which have an impact or effect on the performance and/or payout of the game shall not be made available for play.

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall pay for investigation costs in the amount that the Executive Director determines for the testing of all machines and equipment used in the playing of games of chance in the casino.


Incompatible Functions

 

35      No casino employee or casino key employee shall have an incompatible function.


Educational Gaming Requirements


Approval of courses, programs of instruction and instructors

36      (1)    All gaming schools and instructors of gaming in the Province shall apply for approval of the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Despite registration as a supplier, no person or school shall

 

                   (a)      offer any gaming course or program of instruction; or

 

                   (b)     enrol any student in any gaming course or program of instruction,

 

unless prior written approval authorizing such course, program, instructor or person or school of instruction has been obtained from the Executive Director.

 

37      (1)    No course or program of instruction shall be approved unless the Executive Director is satisfied that the student-instructor ratio, physical facilities, equipment, classroom and laboratory space afford

 

                   (a)      each student adequate opportunity to master the subject matter; and

 

                   (b)     the gaming school adequate opportunity to determine the progress of the student by testing, observation or performance.

 

          (2)    No instructor shall be employed in a gaming course or program of instruction unless the instructor has and provides evidence of having had a minimum of 3 years of professional dealing or gaming experience, unless a lesser period has been approved by the Executive Director.

 

          (3)    Prior to instructing a gaming course or program, all instructors shall obtain from the Executive Director written approval of their qualifications.


Filing requirements

38      (1)    For each gaming course or program of instruction, the gaming school shall submit a course or program outline in sufficient detail to permit proper evaluation by the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Each outline of the gaming course or program of instruction shall include

 

                   (a)      the course or program title;

 

                   (b)     the objective or goal the course or program is intended to meet;

 

                   (c)      the content of courses, in outline form showing

 

                              (i)      the major elements or items of instruction,

 

                              (ii)     the number of instructor contact hours of instruction for each element of the course,

 

                              (iii)    the number of laboratory or practice hours required, and

 

                              (iv)    the total number of hours for the course;

 

                   (d)     a description of programs in outline form showing

 

                              (i)      the courses comprising each program,

 

                              (ii)     the number of instructor contact hours of instruction for each course or element of the program,

 

                              (iii)    the number of laboratory or practice hours required, and

 

                              (iv)    the total number of hours required for completion of each program;

 

                   (e)      a description of the space, equipment and audio-visual material to be used for each course or program;

 

                   (f)      the maximum number of students that will be permitted to enrol in any one session of the course or program;

 

                   (g)     the capacity of the gaming school for any one session of the course or program, showing

 

                              (i)      the number of work stations in the laboratory,

 

                              (ii)     the number of class room spaces, and

 

                              (iii)    the number and type of gaming tables and equipment;

 

                   (h)     a description of the level of skill and knowledge students are expected to have upon completion of the course or program;

 

                   (i)      a description of how students will be evaluated;

 

                   (j)      the student-instructor, student-table and table-instructor ratios for each course or program; and

 

                   (k)     the names of the instructors and evidence of their qualifications.


Equipment

39      Unless otherwise provided in these regulations, all gaming equipment used by a gaming school shall conform to all of the requirements set forth in the regulations governing gaming equipment used by casinos.

 

40      [repealed]

 

41      Each gaming table and each slot machine shall have a serial number permanently affixed on it.


Gaming chips

42      All gaming chips and tokens used by a gaming school shall be distinctly dissimilar to any gaming chips and tokens used by a casino.

 

43      No gaming school shall issue or cause to be used any gaming chips and tokens until such chips and tokens are submitted to and approved by the Executive Director.


Use of gaming chips and equipment

44      Gaming chips, tokens and equipment used by a gaming school shall be used for training, instructional and practice purposes only.

 

45      Utilization of gaming chips, tokens and equipment used by a gaming school for gaming by any person is prohibited and shall constitute cause for the suspension or revocation of the gaming school and instructor approval made in accordance with Section 36.


Security

46      Each gaming school shall provide adequate security for the protection of gaming chips, tokens and equipment on its premises.

 

47      No gaming chips, tokens or equipment shall be removed from the premises of the gaming school or sold or transferred to any person without the prior written approval of the Executive Director.

 

48      Despite Section 47, gaming chips and tokens may be removed by students for practice purposes without the necessity of approval by the Executive Director, provided that proper security measures are taken by the gaming school and instructors.


Qualification and certification

49      (1)    An approved gaming school shall submit to the Executive Director for approval, such examination and certification procedures it proposes for its gaming school students and any other persons referred by the Executive Director to the gaming school for examination and certification.

 

          (2)    Where a gaming school student has successfully completed a gaming school program of instruction and examination, as approved by the Executive Director, the gaming school shall issue a numbered qualification certificate.

 

          (3)    Despite subsection (2), a person applying to a casino for employment as a gaming assistant who provides the Executive Director with satisfactory evidence of qualification and gaming experience in another jurisdiction may be examined and certified by an approved gaming school as a gaming assistant, without the requirement to complete a gaming school program of instruction.

 

50      No casino operator shall employ in a casino any person who does not hold a qualification certificate issued by an approved gaming school in accordance with these regulations.


Designated Goods and Services

 

51      For purposes of Part II of the Act, all goods and services supplied to a casino by any person are designated goods and services.


Games of chance

52      For purposes of Part II of the Act, the games permitted to be played in casinos which are referred to in subsection 53(1) are designated games of chance.

 

53      (1)    The games of chance permitted to be played in casinos are:

 

                   (a)      roulette and its variations;

 

                   (b)     baccarat including punto banco and chemin de fer;

 

                   (c)      minibaccarat;

 

                   (d)     blackjack and its variations;

 

                   (e)      slot machines;

 

                   (f)      keno;

 

                   (g)     video poker;

 

                   (h)     video keno;

 

                   (i)      video blackjack;

 

                   (j)      pai gow;

 

                   (k)     pai gow poker;

 

                   (l)      big six;

 

                   (m)    poker and its variations;

 

                   (n)     super pan 9;

 

                   (o)     sic bo played without the use of dice;

 

                   (p)     caribbean stud poker;

 

                   (q)     red dog;

 

                   (r)      craps played without the use of dice; and

 

                   (s)      such other games of chance as may be approved by the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    [repealed]

 

          (3)    One dealer shall be assigned to each blackjack, roulette, minibaccarat, pai gow, pai gow poker, big six and poker table.

 

          (4)    Three dealers shall be assigned to each baccarat table.

 

          (5)    One floor person shall supervise not more than

 

                   (a)      6 gaming tables for games of chance under subsection (1) other than poker; or

 

                   (b)     8 poker tables.

 

          (6)    A minimum of 2 floor persons shall supervise baccarat, punto banco or chemin de fer and at no time shall baccarat, punto banco or chemin de fer be supervised on a shared basis with any other game.

 

          (7)    One pit boss shall supervise not more than 24 gaming tables.


Rules of Play

 

54      (1)    A casino operator shall submit to the Executive Director for approval, a complete description of any game of chance designated by Sections 52 and 53, proposed for play in a casino at least 30 days before the casino operator intends to offer the game for play, or within any other period approved by the Corporation.

 

          (2)    The description referred to in subsection (1) shall include

 

                   (a)      a summary of the game, including its objectives, the method of play and the wagers that may be made;

 

                   (b)     the rules of the game, the chances of winning and the advantage of the casino in relation to each wager; and

 

                   (c)      a description of any equipment used in the playing of the game.

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall ensure that a game of chance approved by the Executive Director is offered for play in accordance with the approval required under subsection (1).

 

55      (1)    A casino operator shall, on request, provide a casino patron with the rules of play of any game of chance offered for play at the casino.

 

          (2)    A casino operator shall ensure that a sign indicating the maximum and minimum wagers permitted at a game of chance offered for play in the casino is posted at each table at which the game is played and is clearly visible to the players at that table.


Chips, Tokens and Plaques

 

56      No casino operator shall issue, sell or permit the use of any chips, tokens or plaques for playing games of chance in a casino or redeem any such chips, tokens, or plaques unless the chips, tokens and plaques have been approved by the Executive Director and are issued, sold, permitted or redeemed in accordance with the terms of that approval.

 

57      (1)    No casino gaming-related supplier registered under these regulations shall supply a casino operator with chips, tokens or plaques unless the chips, tokens or plaques have been approved by the Executive Director and are supplied in accordance with the terms of that approval.

 

          (2)    The Executive Director may approve a chip, token or plaque

 

                   (a)      that does not resemble the present or past coinage of Canada or of any other country;

 

                   (b)     that is designed and manufactured to minimize the possibility of counterfeiting;

 

                   (c)      that indicates the value of the chip, token or plaque;

 

                   (d)     that is designed and manufactured to permit the value of each chip, token or plaque in a stack of chips, tokens or plaques to be distinguished when viewed on the closed-circuit television system described in subsection 132(1);

 

                   (e)      that bears the name of the manufacturer or a distinctive logo or other mark identifying the manufacturer;

 

                   (f)      that bears the name and location of the issuing casino.

 

          (3)    Despite clause (2)(c), the Executive Director may approve a non-value chip designated exclusively for playing roulette.

 

          (4)    In addition to the specifications in subsection (2), a token must not be manufactured from

 

                   (a)      material possessing sufficient magnetic properties to allow it to be accepted by a coin mechanism other than that of a slot machine; or

 

                   (b)     a three-layered material consisting of a copper-nickel alloy clad on both sides of a pure copper core, nor from a copper-based material, unless the total of zinc, nickel, aluminum, magnesium and other alloying materials is at least 20% of the weight of the token.

 

          (5)    A casino operator or a casino gaming-related supplier seeking the approval of the Executive Director of chips, tokens or plaques shall pay any costs incurred in having them examined or tested.

 

          (6)    The cost of any inspection and evaluation of chips, tokens and plaques, including the time and material required and any special testing devices, shall be borne by the applicant seeking approval.

 

58      (1)    A casino operator shall have a primary set of value chips and secondary set of value chips consisting of values or face values of $25 and higher and a primary set of non-value chips in the casino at all times, unless there are reasons that make compliance with this requirement impractical and the Executive Director authorizes the non-compliance in writing.

 

          (2)    The chips in the secondary set of value chips shall be of a different colour than those in the primary set.

 

          (3)    A casino operator may manufacture and use non-negotiable or “dead” chips that

 

                   (a)      comply with the requirements established in Sections 56 and 57;

 

                   (b)     may not be redeemed for cash; and

 

                   (c)      are approved by the Executive Director for junket activity or marketing and promotional purposes.

 

59      (1)    A casino operator shall remove a primary set of chips from play if

 

                   (a)      the chips in the set are in some way defective; or

 

                   (b)     the casino operator believes that there are counterfeit chips in play.

 

          (2)    Where the Executive Director or a person authorized by the Executive Director has reasonable grounds for believing that

 

                   (a)      the chips in the set in play are in some way defective; or

 

                   (b)     there are counterfeit chips in play,

 

the Executive Director or a person authorized by the Executive Director shall request that the casino operator remove the chips from play.

 

          (3)    The casino operator shall inform the Executive Director immediately whenever a primary set of chips is removed from play.

 

          (4)    If the primary set of value chips is removed from play, it shall be replaced with the secondary set of value chips.

 

          (5)    If the primary set of non-value chips is removed from play, it shall be replaced with a secondary set of non-value chips.


Slot Machines

 

60      A casino operator shall not permit the use of a slot machine unless it has been approved by the Executive Director pursuant to Section 61.

 

61      (1)    No casino gaming-related supplier shall supply a casino operator with a slot machine unless it has been approved by the Executive Director and supplied in accordance with the terms of that approval.

 

          (2)    The Executive Director may approve, without testing, a slot machine that has been approved in another jurisdiction where gaming is legal.

 

          (3)    A casino operator or a casino gaming-related supplier shall not modify a slot machine so as to affect the manner in which games are played on the machine unless the Executive Director has given prior written approval.

 

          (4)    A casino operator or a casino gaming-related supplier seeking the approval of the Executive Director of a slot machine or any modification of a slot machine that affects the manner in which games are played on the machine shall pay any costs incurred in having it examined or tested.

 

          (5)    A slot machine shall only be approved for patron play if it complies with the hardware, software and other requirements set out in Sections 62 to 92.


Hardware Requirements


Identification plates

62      An unremovable identification plate containing the following information must appear on the exterior of each slot machine:

 

                   (a)      manufacturer;

 

                   (b)     serial number; and

 

                   (c)      model number.


Power interrupt circuit

63      (1)    A power interrupt circuit shall be installed in all slot machines.

 

          (2)    A battery backup device that is capable of maintaining accuracy of required information for 180 days after power is discontinued from the slot machine shall be installed in all slot machines.

 

          (3)    The backup device shall be kept within the locked or sealed logic board compartment.


On and off switch

64      An on and off switch that controls the electrical current used to operate the slot machine and its associated equipment shall be located in an accessible place within the interior of the slot machine.


Electromagnetic interference

65      Each slot machine shall be designed and constructed so that its operation is not adversely affected by static discharge or other electro-magnetic interference.


Coin, token and bill validators

66      (1)    A slot machine may contain 1 or more electronic coin or token acceptors.

 

          (2)    A coin or token acceptor must be designed to

 

                   (a)      accept only designated coins or tokens and reject all others; and

 

                   (b)     prevent slugging, stringing, spooning and other cheating methods.

 

          (3)    A coin acceptor must not accept an inappropriate coin or token for play and must return it to the player.

 

          (4)    A slot machine must be capable of handling rapidly fed coins or tokens so that occurrences of inappropriate coins-in or tokens-in are either rejected or credited to the next play.

 

          (5)    Slot machines that can accept more than 20 coins or tokens for a single play shall use a coin or token acceptor that accepts or rejects a coin or token on the basis of its metal composition unless the denomination of the coin or token is 5 cents or less.

 

          (6)    The coin or token acceptor of a slot machine that can accept more than 20 coins or tokens for a single play shall have an optical or other suitable detector for determining the direction of coin or token travel in the receiver.

 

          (7)    If a coin or token travelling at improper speed or direction is detected, the slot machine must enter a tilt condition and display an error condition which requires attendant intervention to clear it.

 

          (8)    “Tokenization” means a process in which a bill, coin, ticket, token or other money equivalent accepted by a slot machine is converted into multiple credits that

 

                   (a)      each have a value that is less than that of the bill, coin, ticket, token or money equivalent accepted; and

 

                   (b)     when totalled together have the same value as the bill, coin, ticket, token or money equivalent accepted.

 

          (9)    A slot machine may use tokenization if all of the following criteria are met:

 

                   (a)      for accounting purposes, electronic meters are denominated in the smallest commonly denominated credit value;

 

                   (b)     only 1 denomination of coin or token is accepted by the slot machine;

 

                   (c)      for a slot machine that automatically pays out through a hopper and pays out by rounding down,

 

                              (i)      it rounds down residual credits to the value of coin or token that is dispensed from the hopper,

 

                              (ii)     notification of rounding down is

 

                                        (A)   displayed before a wager is placed or before the hopper pays out, or

 

                                        (B)   printed on the slot machine, and

 

                              (iii)    the accounting process accurately accounts for the rounded portion of payout that is not returned to the player as residual credit; and

 

                   (d)     for a slot machine that automatically pays out through a hopper and does not pay out by rounding down, the payout is for the full amount shown on the credit meter;

 

                   (e)      for payout by means other than a hopper, such as a ticket or other money equivalent, the payout is for the full amount shown on the credit meter.


Bill validators

66A   (1)    A slot machine may contain 1 or more bill validators.

 

          (2)    A bill validator may operate independently from a slot machine at a redemption unit, but is otherwise subject to all the technical requirements identified for bill validators in these regulations.

 

          (3)    A bill validator must be designed to

 

                   (a)      accept only valid bills and tickets and reject all others; and

 

                   (b)     prevent the use of known cheating methods.

 

          (4)    A bill validator or redemption unit must immediately void all tickets that have been redeemed and if a ticket cannot be voided immediately, the ticket

 

                   (a)      must be returned to the player; and

 

                   (b)     is not eligible for redemption until it can be voided.

 

          (5)    A bill validator must not accept void, inappropriate, or non-valid tickets.


Automatic light -- alarm

67      (1)    The internal space of a slot machine shall not be readily accessible when the front door is both closed and locked.

 

          (2)    A light clearly visible to slot personnel shall be installed on the top of the slot machine that automatically illuminates when the door to the slot machine is opened or when associated equipment that may affect the operation of the slot machine is exposed.


Protection of logic boards and memory components

68      (1)    Logic boards and memory components for gaming machines or equipment and the access to the logic boards and memory components must be sealed, secured and alarmed in a manner approved by the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Seals must be removed only in a manner approved by the Executive Director.


Hardware switches

69      No hardware switches shall be installed that alter the pay tables or payout percentages in the operation of a slot machine.


Drop bucket

70      The drop bucket of a slot machine shall be housed in a locked compartment separate from other compartments of the slot machine.


Hopper

71      (1)    A slot machine may be equipped with a hopper.

 

          (2)    A hopper mechanism must be designed to detect all of the following:

 

                   (a)      when coins or tokens are jammed;

 

                   (b)     if there are extra coins or tokens dispensed;

 

                   (c)      if there are hopper runaways;

 

                   (d)     when the hopper is empty.


Software Requirements


Percentage payout

72      Each slot machine shall pay out a mathematically demonstrable percentage of all amounts wagered that must not be less than 86% for the wagers available for play on the slot machine, unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director.


Control programs

73      (1)    Slot machine control programs shall be designed to test themselves during power-up and game reset functions for possible corruption due to failure of the program storage media.

 

          (2)    Test methodology must detect 99.99% of all possible failures.

 

74      The program residing in the slot machine shall be contained in a storage medium that cannot be altered through any use of the circuitry or programming of the slot machine unless it is altered in accordance with procedures approved by the Executive Director.

 

75      The control program must check for any corruption of random access memory locations used for crucial slot machine functions including information pertaining to the play and final outcome of the two prior games, random number generator outcome, credits available for play and any error states.

 

76      All slot machines must have the capacity to display a complete play history for the most recent game played and one game prior to the most recent game.


Continuation of game after malfunction is cleared

77      All slot machines must be capable of continuing the current game with all current game features after a malfunction is cleared.

 

78      Despite Section 77, if a slot machine is rendered totally inoperable,

 

                   (a)      the slot machine is not required to be capable of continuing the current game; and

 

                   (b)     the current wager and all credits appearing on the screen prior to the malfunction must be returned to the player.


Play transaction records

79      Each slot machine must have an electronic accounting meter at all times, regardless of whether the slot machine is being supplied with power.

 

80      (1)    The electronic meters must record the following information:

 

                   (a)      total number of coins or tokens inserted by the player;

 

                   (b)     total number of coins or tokens paid out to the player;

 

                   (c)      total number of coins or tokens dropped in to the drop bucket;

 

                   (d)     total number of credits wagered;

 

                   (e)      total number of credits won;

 

                   (f)      total credits paid out;

 

                   (g)     number of times the logic area was accessed;

 

                   (h)     number of times the cash door of the slot machine was accessed;

 

                   (i)      number of tokens or credits wagered in the current game; and

 

                   (j)      total credits for games won but not collected.

 

          (2)    [repealed]      

 

          (3)    No slot machine shall have a mechanism by which an error will cause electronic accounting meters to automatically clear.


Slot Machine Specifications -- Error Conditions


Automatic clearing

81      Slot machines shall be capable of detecting and displaying the following error conditions that must be automatically cleared by the slot machine upon initiation of a new play sequence:

 

                   (a)      power reset; and

 

                   (b)     door open.


Clearing by attendant

82      Slot machines and bill validators must be capable of detecting and displaying the following error conditions which an attendant may clear:

 

                   (a)      hopper empty or timed-out where the hopper failed to make a payment;

 

                   (b)     uncorrectable random access memory error where the random access memory is defective or corrupted;

 

                   (c)      program error where there is defective program storage media;

 

                   (d)     hopper runaway or extra coins or tokens paid out;

 

                   (e)      reverse coin-in or token-in;

 

                   (f)      bill validator jam or malfunction; or

 

                   (g)     low random access memory battery.


Automatic clearing or clearing by attendant

83      (1)    Slot machines must be capable of detecting and displaying the following error conditions that may either be cleared by an attendant or automatically upon initiation of a new play sequence:

 

                   (a)      errors from the insertion of bills, coins, tickets or tokens;

 

                   (b)     errors from the dispensing of coins, tickets or tokens or the hopper’s failure to make a payment; or

 

                   (c)      reel spin error of any type including a mid-index condition for mechanical reels.

 

          (2)    A description of device error codes and their meanings shall be affixed inside the slot machine.


Computer monitoring requirements for slot machines

84      A casino operator must have a centralized accounting and alarm system connected to all slot machines and redemption units in the casino to record and monitor the activities of the devices.

 

85      (1)    The centralized accounting and alarm system must be designed and operated to automatically perform and report functions relating to slot machine meters and other functions in casinos as follows:

 

                   (a)      record the number and total value of bills, coins, tickets, tokens or money equivalents accepted by the slot machine for the purpose of activating play;

 

                   (b)     record the number and total value of tokens or coins deposited in the drop bucket of the slot machine;

 

                   (c)      record the number and total value of tokens or coins automatically paid by the slot machine as the result of a jackpot;

 

                   (d)     record the number and total value of coins or tokens to be paid manually as the result of a jackpot;

 

                   (e)      have an on-line computer alert, alarm, monitoring capability to insure direct scrutiny of any device malfunction, any type of tampering and any open door to the slot machine or drop area;

 

                   (f)      be capable of logging in and reporting any revenue transactions not directly monitored by the token meter;

 

                   (g)     identify any slot machine taken off-line or placed on-line on the computer monitor system including date, time and slot machine identification number or record the number of credits granted as the result of a jackpot; and

 

                   (h)     record all of the following information on the centralized accounting and alarm system for each ticket dispensed by the slot machine:

 

                              (i)      date and time the ticket is generated,

 

                              (ii)     a unique identifier for the ticket,

 

                              (iii)    a unique identifier for the dispensing slot machine,

 

                              (iv)    the amount shown on the face of the ticket.

 

          (2)    Each ticket dispensed by a slot machine must clearly display

 

                   (a)      the information listed in clause (1)(h); and

 

                   (b)     the expiration date of the ticket.

 

86      (1)    A casino operator shall store, in machine readable format, all information required in Section 85 for a period of 3 years.

 

          (2)    A casino operator shall store all information in a secure area and certify that this information is complete and unaltered.

 

          (3)    This information shall be available in the format and media approved by the Executive Director.


Standards respecting progressive slot machines

87      In addition to the standards and requirements set out in Sections 62 to 86, progressive slot machines must meet the requirements set out in Sections 88 to 92.


Meter required

88      (1)    All progressive slot machines must have a progressive meter showing the payout.

 

          (2)    The progressive meter must be conspicuously displayed at or near the machines to which the jackpot applies.


Limits

89      (1)    A casino operator may impose a limit on a jackpot of a progressive slot machine, as long as the progressive jackpot payout is higher than any jackpot available on any individual slot machine, be it a stand-alone progressive slot machine or a slot machine linked to a progressive jackpot.

 

          (2)    A casino operator shall post a conspicuous notice of the limit referred to in subsection (1) at or near the machine to which the limit applies.

 

          (3)    No jackpot indicator shall be turned back to a lesser amount unless one of the following circumstances occurs:

 

                   (a)      the amount shown on the progressive meter is paid to a player as a jackpot;

 

                   (b)     it becomes necessary to adjust the progressive meter to prevent the jackpot indicator from displaying an amount greater than the limit imposed by the casino operator pursuant to these regulations;

 

                   (c)      it becomes necessary to change the jackpot indicator because of a slot machine malfunction, in which case the malfunction and adjustment must be recorded by the appropriate slot machine monitoring on-line data system; or

 

                   (d)     interference of a fraudulent nature, in which case the nature, date and time of the event must be recorded by the appropriate slot machine monitoring on-line data system.


Transfer of jackpots

90      (1)    A progressive jackpot may be transferred to another progressive slot machine within the same location in the event of slot machine malfunction or replacement.

 

          (2)    When a maximum jackpot is reached, it shall remain until the jackpot is won by a player.


Linked jackpot arrangements

91      Each machine on a linked jackpot must have the same probability of hitting the combination that will award the progressive jackpot.

 

92      The costs of testing the items referred to in Sections 60 to 91 shall be borne by the applicant seeking approval.


Associated Equipment

 

93      No casino operator shall permit the installation or use of associated equipment unless the equipment has been approved by the Executive Director and is installed or used in accordance with the terms of that approval.

 

94      (1)    No casino gaming-related supplier shall supply associated equipment to a casino operator unless the equipment has been approved by the Executive Director and supplied in accordance with the terms of that approval.

 

          (2)    In determining whether to approve associated equipment, the Executive Director shall have regard to the suitability for its use in relation to design and integrity.

 

          (3)    The Executive Director may approve, without testing, associated equipment that has been approved in another jurisdiction where gaming is legal.

 

          (4)    A casino operator or a casino gaming-related supplier shall not modify associated equipment unless the Executive Director has given prior written approval.

 

          (5)    A casino operator or a casino gaming-related supplier seeking the approval of the Executive Director for associated equipment or any modification to associated equipment shall pay the costs incurred in having it examined or tested.


Table and Wheel Games Equipment


Table game drop boxes

95      (1)    Each gaming table shall have a drop box attached to it with

 

                   (a)      a lock to secure the contents of the drop box;

 

                   (b)     a separate lock to secure the drop box to the gaming table;

 

                   (c)      a slot opening through which currency, forms, records, and documents can be inserted into the drop box; and

 

                   (d)     a mechanical device that will close and lock the slot opening upon removal of the drop box from the gaming table.

 

          (2)    In a location opposite the location of the drop box, a transparent tip box may be attached to gaming tables and the tip box shall have the same characteristics that apply to drop boxes under subsection (1).

 

96      The drop box shall be marked with a permanent number corresponding to a permanent number affixed on the table.


Blackjack table

97      Blackjack shall be played at a table having on one side, places for the players and on the opposite side, a place for the dealer.

 

98      The cloth covering a blackjack table shall have imprinted thereon

 

                   (a)      the name or logo of the casino;

 

                   (b)     rectangular, circular or oval areas that do not exceed 7 in number for wagers; and

 

                   (c)      the following inscriptions:

 

                              (i)      “Blackjack pays 3 to 2”,

 

                              (ii)     “Dealer must stand on 17 and draw to 16 and soft 17”, and

 

                              (iii)    “Insurance pays 2 to 1”.

 

99      Despite clause 98(c), if a casino offers blackjack rule variations that have been approved by the Executive Director, corresponding variations on the cloth covering the blackjack table may be approved by the Executive Director.


Baccarat tables

100    Baccarat and punto banco shall be played on a table having numbered places for 10 to 14 seated players.

 

101    Chemin de fer shall be played on a table having numbered places for 9 to 14 seated players.

 

102    The cloth covering the table shall have the name of the casino or logo imprinted thereon.


Mini-baccarat or midi-baccarat tables

103    Mini-baccarat or midi-baccarat shall be played at a table having on one side, places for players, and on the opposite side, a place for the dealer.

 

104    Each table may have a maximum of 9 areas for the players at the table with each area being numbered.

 

105    The cloth covering a mini-baccarat or midi-baccarat table shall have imprinted thereon

 

                   (a)      the name of the casino or logo;

 

                   (b)     specific areas designated for the placement of wagers on the “Banker’s Hand”, “Player’s Hand” and “Tie Hand”;

 

                   (c)      the inscription “tie bets pay 8 to 1”;

 

                   (d)     numbered boxes that correspond to the seat numbers for the purpose of marking vigorish, only if take and pay or pick and pay training is not conducted; and

 

                   (e)      areas designated for the placement of cards for the players’ and banker’s hands.


Pai gow poker table

106    Pai gow poker shall be played at a table having on one side, places for the players and on the opposite side, a place for the dealer.

 

107    The cloth covering a pai gow poker table shall have imprinted thereon

 

                   (a)      the name or logo of the casino; and

 

                   (b)     as a minimum, the following:

 

                              (i)      6 separate designated betting areas for the players at the table, numbered 1 to 6,

 

                              (ii)     2 separate areas located below each betting area that shall be designated for the placement of the high and 2nd highest or low hands of that player, and

 

                              (iii)    2 separate areas designated for the placement of the high and 2nd highest or low hands of the dealer.


Pai gow table

108    (1)    Pai gow shall be played at a table having on one side, places for the players and on the opposite side, a place for the dealer.

 

          (2)    Pai gow shall be played with a set of 32 rectangular, opaque, black, flat blocks called tiles, bearing the name or logo of the casino.

 

          (3)    The casino operator shall submit to the Executive Director for approval, the features of the tiles and procedures for and the movement, storage, inspection and removal from use of pai gow tiles.

 

109    The cloth covering a pai gow table shall have imprinted thereon

 

                   (a)      the name or logo of the casino; and

 

                   (b)     as a minimum, the following:

 

                              (i)      6 separate designated betting areas for the players at the table, numbered 1 to 6, and

 

                              (ii)     a separate area, located to the left of the dealer, for the placement of 4 tiles which shall be referred to as the “dead hand”.


Poker table

110    (1)    Poker shall be played on a table which is oval in shape and which has on one side, places for up to 11 players and on the opposite side, a place for the dealer.

 

          (2)    The cloth covering a poker table shall have imprinted thereon, the name or logo of the casino.

 

          (3)    Each poker table layout shall have as a minimum, a designated holding area located to the right of the dealer for the collection of the rake, prior to the final placement of the rake in the table inventory container.

 

          (4)    Each poker table shall have a designated area for the placement of at least one deck of cards which may be part of the table inventory container.


Cards

111    The backs of all cards in each deck shall be identical and no card shall contain any marking, symbol or design that will enable a person to know the identity of any element printed on the face of the card or that will in any way differentiate the back of that card from any other card in the deck.

 

112    The backs of all cards in each deck shall be designed so as to diminish as far as possible the ability of any person to place concealed markings thereon.

 

113    Each deck of cards shall be packaged separately and shall have one seal affixed to each opening of that package.


Roulette table

114    Roulette shall be played on a table having a roulette wheel of not less than .75 m in diameter at one end of the table.

 

115    Each roulette wheel shall be of a single zero variety or a double zero variety.

 

116    The cloth covering a roulette table shall have the name or logo of the casino imprinted thereon.


Single zero roulette wheel

117    Each single zero roulette wheel shall have 37 equally spaced pockets around the wheel where the roulette ball may come to rest.

 

118    A single zero roulette wheel shall have a ring of 37 equally spaced areas to correspond to the position of the pockets with one marked “0” and coloured green and the others marked “1” to “36” and coloured alternately red and black, which numbers shall be arranged around the wheel.

 

119    The colour of each pocket shall either be a corresponding colour to those depicted on the ring or a neutral colour.


Double zero roulette wheel

120    Each double zero roulette wheel shall have 38 equally spaced pockets around the wheel where the roulette ball shall come to rest.

 

121    A double zero roulette wheel shall have a ring of 38 equally spaced areas to correspond to the position of the pockets with one marked “0” and coloured green, one marked “00” and coloured green and others marked “1” to “36” and coloured alternately red and black, which numbers shall be arranged around the wheel.

 

122    The colour of each pocket shall either be a corresponding colour to those depicted on the ring or a neutral colour.


Roulette balls

123    Balls used in gaming at roulette shall be made completely of a non-metallic substance.

 

124    [repealed]


Surveillance Department, Security Department

 

125    Every casino shall have a Surveillance Department and a Security Department whose responsibilities shall include

 

                   (a)      the clandestine surveillance of

 

                              (i)      all activities on the casino floor,

 

                              (ii)     all activities in the cashier’s cage,

 

                              (iii)    the count process conducted in the soft and hard count rooms,

 

                              (iv)    the movement of cash, chips, drop boxes, drop buckets and tip boxes, and

 

                              (v)     the entrance and exit of the count rooms, cashier’s cage and casino;

 

                   (b)     the audio-video recording of all activities in the count rooms;

 

                   (c)      the video recording and monitoring of illegal or unusual activities;

 

                   (d)     the detection of cheating, theft, fraud and other illegal activities in the casino, count rooms, slot change booths and cashier’s cage;

 

                   (e)      the notification of appropriate casino key employees upon the detection and recording of cheating, theft, fraud or other illegal activities;

 

                   (f)      the notification of the Executive Director upon the detection of offences set out in clause (a) that are of a serious nature; and

 

                   (g)     any other activity of which the Executive Director advises the casino operator in writing.

 

126    All equipment that is used to monitor and record activities within the casino must remain accessible solely to surveillance personnel except when such equipment is being repaired or replaced or unless otherwise authorized by the Executive Director.

 

127    Unless otherwise authorized by the Executive Director, a casino’s Surveillance Department personnel shall have no other gaming-related duties at the casino.


Surveillance rooms

128    Each casino shall have at least 1 surveillance room, the interior of which shall not be visible to the public, to be used exclusively to monitor the activities within the casino.

 

129    All surveillance equipment that is used for monitoring or recording purposes in the surveillance rooms must remain located in that surveillance room, except when such equipment is being repaired or replaced.

 

130    A casino operator shall maintain a log in the surveillance rooms of all surveillance activities that shall include

 

                   (a)      all persons entering and exiting the surveillance rooms; and

 

                   (b)     a summary of any illegal or unusual activities monitored, including the date and time of the surveillance.

 

131    (1)    Department surveillance and security personnel shall be permitted immediate access to all surveillance rooms.

 

          (2)    In addition to the surveillance room referred to in Section 128, each casino shall have a surveillance room for the independent and exclusive use of security and surveillance personnel appointed by the Executive Director to monitor the activities of the casino.

 

          (3)    The interior of the surveillance room described in subsection (2) shall not be visible to the public and shall contain equipment as required in writing by the Executive Director.

 

          (4)    The Department’s surveillance personnel shall have access to all cameras in the casino and, upon the request of the Department’s surveillance supervisor, may direct the positioning of cameras in use by a casino operator.


Required Surveillance Equipment


Closed-circuit television system

132    (1)    A casino operator shall, with the approval of the Executive Director, install on the casino premises a closed-circuit television system that shall include

 

                   (a)      light sensitive, colour or black and white cameras with pan, zoom, tilt capabilities and fixed cameras that can be placed behind domes or one-way mirrors that conceal the cameras from view and permit clear, unobstructed views from various vantage points of

 

                              (i)      the gaming conducted at each table and the activities in the casino pits, including

 

                                        (A)   all gaming and card table surfaces in a manner permitting clear observation of

 

                                                 (I)     the wagers,

 

                                                 (II)   chip, cash and card values, and

 

                                                 (III)  the outcome of each game, and

 

                                        (B)   roulette tables and wheels in such a way that a split screen may be used to permit views of both the table and wheel on one monitor screen,

 

                              (ii)     all drop boxes, tip boxes and the numbers affixed to each table game,

 

                              (iii)    patrons, spectators, dealers, pit personnel and other persons on the casino floor with sufficient clarity to permit identification thereof,

 

                              (iv)    the movement of cash, gaming chips, tokens, drop boxes, drop buckets, tip boxes and other gaming equipment within the casino,

 

                              (v)     all entrance and exit doors to the casino,

 

                              (vi)    all areas and activities occurring within the hard and soft count rooms,

 

                              (vii)   all areas and transactions occurring within or at the cashier’s cage with sufficient clarity to permit identification of currency, chips, tokens, slips and paperwork,

 

                              (viii)  all slot change booths, with sufficient clarity to permit identification of all transactions, cash and paperwork conducted therein, and

 

                              (ix)    all slot machines and the numbers affixed to each machine;

 

                   (b)     video monitors;

 

                   (c)      video recorders with time and date insertion capabilities for recording what is being viewed by any camera in the system;

 

                   (d)     video-printers that possess the capability to generate instantaneously upon command, a clear still copy of the image depicted on the video recording;

 

                   (e)      a duplication system to allow for the play-back of suspected illegal activity while the master recording continues to record activities on the gaming floor;

 

                   (f)      audio-capability in the count rooms; and

 

                   (g)     domes for cameras made of sufficient quality and size to accommodate pan, zoom and tilt cameras which permit clear, unobstructed views.

 

          (2)    Adequate lighting shall be present in all areas of a casino and count rooms to enable video recordings.

 

          (3)    Every casino shall have a contingency power source in the event of a power outage.


Alarms

133    (1)    Each count room must be equipped with an alarm system that triggers a silent alarm that registers with the surveillance department and activates the appropriate monitor whenever a door to the room is opened.

 

          (2)    A door to a count room must not release when there is a fire alarm, but the room must be provided with the capability to provide an exit when a fire alarm is activated.


Alterations to surveillance system

134    (1)    No part of any casino surveillance or security system may be altered without prior written approval of the Executive Director.

 

          (2)    Surveillance and security systems must be certified annually, at the expense of the casino operator, by an independent registered supplier approved by the Executive Director.


Storage of Videotape Recordings


Minimum storage period

135    Subject to Section 136, the master recording of all video recordings covering all sensitive areas shall be retained for a minimum of 10 days and all the master recordings of all video recordings covering all non-sensitive areas shall be retained for a minimum of 7 days.


Recordings of illegal activities

136    Video recordings of illegal or suspected illegal activities shall not be destroyed without the written authorization of the Executive Director.


Maintenance and testing of equipment

137    All surveillance equipment shall be subject to random testing by the Executive Director or an agent of the Executive Director.

 

138    Any malfunctioning surveillance equipment shall be immediately replaced.

 

139    Despite Section 138, when immediate replacement of faulty equipment is not possible, alternative live monitoring which meets the approval of the Executive Director shall be provided by surveillance personnel in order for gaming and count room activities to continue in the affected surveillance areas.

 

140    A casino shall maintain a written log of all surveillance equipment malfunctions and the log shall be kept for 3 years after the last entry.


Internal Controls System

 

141    A casino operator shall implement an internal control system that complies with the requirements set out in Sections 142, 248, 249 and 251 of these regulations.

 

142    (1)    A casino operator shall implement an internal control system which provides reasonable assurance that the system

 

                   (a)      complies with the minimum internal control standards determined by the Executive Director;

 

                   (b)     provides that

 

                              (i)      financial records and reporting are accurate, reliable and prepared on a timely basis,

 

                              (ii)     the potential for error and fraud is minimized,

 

                              (iii)    functions, duties and responsibilities are appropriately segregated to minimize opportunities for collusion between employees,

 

                              (iv)    money and money equivalents are safeguarded, and

 

                              (v)     efficient operations are promoted.

 

          (2)    On a yearly basis, at the written direction of the Executive Director, a casino operator shall have its internal control system reviewed by an independent licensed public accountant at the expense of the casino operator to ensure that its internal controls comply with the requirements outlined in subsection (1).

 

          (3)    A casino operator shall submit the report of the accountant to the Executive Director within 90 days of being directed to have its internal control system reviewed.

 

          (4)    The Executive Director shall notify a casino operator in writing of any insufficiencies and required changes in the casino internal control system and on receiving notification of any insufficiencies and required changes, the casino operator shall make the required changes to meet minimal standards in the time period specified by the Executive Director.

 

          (5)    A casino operator shall not alter its internal control system without prior written approval of the Executive Director.

 

143-247      [repealed]


Record Keeping


Large cash transactions

248    (1)    A casino operator shall not redeem $10 000 or more worth of chips from a patron for cash in any transaction, accept $10 000 or more in cash as a wager at any gaming activity at which chips are not customarily used for wagering or sell in any transaction $10 000 or more worth of chips to a patron, unless the casino operator makes a record of

 

                   (a)      the name and permanent address of the patron after verifying them by examining a valid driver’s license, passport or similar piece of identification bearing the photograph of the patron;

 

                   (b)     the document used to verify the name and permanent address of the patron and the number of the document;

 

                   (c)      the date and amount of the transaction; and

 

                   (d)     the name, position title and signature of the person completing the transaction and recording the information on behalf of the casino operator.

 

          (2)    The information recorded shall be forwarded daily to the accounting department and kept for 3 years from the date of recording.

 

249    (1)    A casino operator shall log and aggregate all cash transactions of an amount of $3000 or more occurring within a 24-hour period between the casino operator and the patron or a person who the casino operator knows or has reason to believe is the patron’s agent, at the cage, gaming table, pit or foreign exchange booth located in the casino.

 

          (2)    When transactions logged and aggregated pursuant to subsection (1) amount to $10 000 or more, the identification and record keeping requirements set out in Section 248 apply.

 

250    [repealed]


Internal controls approval

251    A casino operator shall submit to the Executive Director for approval, the procedures adopted to ensure compliance with Sections 248 and 249 and the internal control system referred to in Sections 142.


Exclusion and Removal of Individuals from Casinos

 

252    (1)    The following are prescribed as criteria for refusing an individual access to a casino or to have an individual removed from a casino:

 

                   (a)      the individual has been refused access to a casino in any other jurisdiction where gaming is legal;

 

                   (b)     the individual has cheated at a game of chance played in a casino or at any other place where games of chance are played;

 

                   (c)      the individual has been registered or licensed as a gaming assistant at, or as a gaming supplier for, a casino and the registration or licence has been suspended or revoked or the individual has been denied such a registration or licence;

 

                   (d)     the individual, as determined by the Executive Director, has acted in a way that would adversely affect public confidence that games of chance and casino operations in general are free from criminal or corrupting elements and are conducted in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity;

 

                   (e)      the individual requests in writing to the Corporation, Executive Director or casino operator that that individual be refused access to the casino;

 

                   (ea)    the individual is an excluded person; or

 

                   (f)      the individual is under 19 years of age.

 

          (2)    Individuals who conduct themselves in a disruptive manner shall be removed from the casino for a period of not less than 24 consecutive hours.

 

253    (1)    With the exception of circumstances described in clauses 252(1)(e) and (f) and subsection 252(2) where no hearing is required, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board may hold a hearing for the purpose of deciding whether an individual should be refused access to a casino, in which case the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board shall serve a notice of proposed exclusion on the individual by personal service or if personal service cannot be effected, by registered mail addressed to the last known address of the individual.

 

          (2)    The notice of proposed exclusion referred to in subsection (1) shall

 

                   (a)      identify the individual to be excluded;

 

                   (b)     state the criteria on which the proposed exclusion is based; and

 

                   (c)      give the date, time and place of the hearing.

 

254    (1)    If the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board concludes after a hearing in the case of clauses 252(a), (b), (c) or (d) that the individual shall be refused access to casinos in Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board shall issue a direction to the Corporation and all casino operators requiring them to refuse access to the individual and serve the direction on the excluded individual by personal service or if personal service cannot be effected, by registered mail at the last known address of the individual.

 

          (2)    The direction referred to in subsection (1) shall include

 

                   (a)      the full legal name of the individual and any known aliases;

 

                   (b)     the date of birth of the individual;

 

                   (c)      a physical description and recent photograph, if available, of the individual; and

 

                   (d)     the last known home and business address of the individual.

 

255    (1)    After 5 years have elapsed since the issuing of a direction against an individual under Section 254, the individual may make a written request to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board asking that it revoke the direction.

 

          (2)    The individual shall state the grounds for the request and furnish all necessary detail in support of it.

 

          (3)    The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board shall revoke the direction if it is satisfied that the individual has shown cause why the direction should be revoked.

 

          (4)    The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board may hold a hearing for the purpose of deciding whether to revoke a direction under this Section but it is not obliged to do so.

 

          (5)    If the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board is satisfied that the individual has shown cause why the direction should be revoked, it shall issue a direction to that effect to the Corporation and all casino operators, and on receiving it, the Corporation and all casino operators shall no longer refuse the individual access to casinos in Nova Scotia.

 

          (6)    A direction issued to the Corporation under subsection (5) shall be served on the individual by personal service or if personal service cannot be effected, by registered mail to the last known address of the individual.


Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program

 

255A (1)    The Corporation must establish, and file with the Executive Director, a voluntary self-exclusion program to allow individuals to exclude themselves from casinos in the Province.

 

          (2)    A casino operator must implement the voluntary self-exclusion program established under subsection (1).

 

          (3)    A voluntary self-exclusion program established under subsection (1) must include policies and procedures including all of the following:

 

                   (a)      an enrolment and enrolment termination process;

 

                   (b)     the following enrolment terms and when enrolment may be terminated:


Term of Enrolment

When Enrolment may be Terminated

6 months

after term is completed

1 year

after term is completed

3 years

after term is completed

indefinite

after 3 years

 

                   (c)      that an excluded person must be notified of all of the following information:

 

                              (i)      that the excluded person is not entitled to, and forfeits to the casino operator, all prizes, winnings and wagers from games of chance conducted by the casino operator, and

 

                              (ii)     that the casino operator will retain all wagers and any prizes and winnings from games of chance conducted by the casino operator that would otherwise be awarded to the person;

 

                   (d)     a procedure for the casino operator to retain wagers and any prizes and winnings that would otherwise be awarded to the person by the casino operator.

 

          (4)    Any change to the policies and procedures required by subsection (1) to be included in a voluntary self-exclusion program must be filed with the Executive Director.

 

255B  An excluded person is not entitled to, and forfeits to the casino operator, all wagers and any prizes and winnings that would otherwise be awarded to the person.

 

255C A casino operator must retain all wagers and prizes and winnings that would otherwise be awarded to an excluded person as follows:

 

                   (a)      if the game has a prize pool to which the prizes and winnings can be returned, by returning the prizes and winnings to the prize pool and awarding them to the next eligible person; and

 

                   (b)     for any winnings not returned to a prize pool, by tracking the winnings and paying them into to the General Revenue Fund of the Province.

 

255D An individual enrolled in a voluntary self-exclusion program on the date that Sections 255A to 255E come into force

 

                   (a)      remains an excluded person and is deemed to be enrolled for an indefinite term under clause 255A(3)(b); and

 

                   (b)     despite clause 255A(3)(b), is permitted to terminate enrolment 6 months from the original date of enrolment.

 

255E  An individual whose access to casinos has been reinstated by an order of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board before the date that Sections 255A to 255E come into force is not subject to the conditions imposed as part of the order.


Costs of Hearings

 

256    The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board may award costs in respect to hearings held pursuant to the Act or these regulations.



 

 


 

Legislative History
Reference Tables

Casino Regulations

N.S. Reg. 40/1995

Gaming Control Act

Note:  The information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

Source Law

The current consolidation of the Casino Regulations made under the Gaming Control Act includes all of the following regulations:

N.S.
Regulation

In force
date*

How in force

Royal Gazette
Part II Issue

40/1995

Apr 4, 1995

date made

Apr 28, 1995

139/1995

Aug 22, 1995

date specified

Sep 15, 1995

182/1996

Dec 19, 1996

date made

Jan 3, 1997

168/1997

Dec 18, 1997

date made

Jan 2, 1998

76/1998

Oct 6, 1998

date made

Oct 23, 1998

9/2002

Jan 11, 2002

date made

Jan 25, 2002

143/2002

Jan 1, 2003

date specified

Dec 13, 2002

76/2004

Apr 1, 2004

date specified

Apr 6, 2004

226/2005

Dec 15, 2005

date made

Jan 6, 2006

112/2007

Apr 1, 2007

date specified

Mar 30, 2007

171/2008

Apr 1, 2008

date specified

Apr 18, 2008

113/2009

Apr 1, 2009

date specified

Apr 14, 2009

86/2011

Apr 1, 2011

date specified

Apr 15, 2011

213/2011

Jun 21, 2011

date specified

Jul 1, 2011

214/2011

Jun 21, 2011

date specified

Jul 1, 2011

112/2013

Apr 1, 2013

date specified

Apr 12, 2013

109/2015

Apr 1, 2015

date specified

Apr 8, 2015

104/2016

May 24, 2016

date specified

Jun 10, 2016

15/2018

Jan 23, 2018

date specified

Feb 2, 2018

7/2020

Jan 21, 2020

date specified

Jan 31, 2020

212/2023

Nov 28, 2023

date specified

Dec 15, 2023

100/2024

May 21, 2024

date specified

May 31, 2024

The following regulations are not yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

N.S.
Regulation

In force
date*

How in force

Royal Gazette
Part II Issue

 

 

 

 

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for rules about in force dates of regulations.

Amendments by Provision

ad. = added
am. = amended

fc. = fee change
ra. = reassigned

rep. = repealed
rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

2 ........................................................

am. 104/2016 (clause lettering removed)

2, defn. of “bill validator”...........

rs. 226/2005

2, defn. of “casino clerk”............

rep. 226/2005

2, defn. of “centralized accounting and alarm system”....................

ad. 226/2005

2, defn. of “closer”......................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “coin-in”....................

rs. 226/2005

2, defn. of “credit”......................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “credit slip”................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “Director of Investigation and Enforcement”....................

am. 104/2016

2, defn. of “Director of Registration”..................................................

am. 104/2016

2, defn. of “drop box contents key”..................................................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “drop box release key”

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “eproms”....................

rep. 226/2005

2, defn. of “excluded person”.....

ad. 7/2020

2, defn. of “Executive Director”.

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “fill”...........................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “fill slip”....................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “Gaming Division employee”................................

ad. 212/2023

2, defn. of “gaming school”........

rs. 104/2016

2, defn. of “hard count room”.....

rs. 226/2005 (replaced with “count room”)

2, defn. of “inappropriate”..........

rs. 226/2005

2, defn. of “money equivalent”...

ad. 226/2005

2, defn. of “multidenominational slot machine”..................................

ad. 226/2005; rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “non-sensitive area”...

ad. 226/2005

2, defn. of “opener”.....................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of ““pit manager” and “pit boss””.......................................

am. 104/2016

2, defn. of “redemption unit”......

ad. 226/2005

2, defn. of “request for credit”....

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “request for fill”.........

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “sensitive area”..........

ad. 226/2005

2, defn. of “slot booth”................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “soft count room”......

rep. 226/2005

2, defn. of “suit”..........................

rep. 104/2016

2, defn. of “ticket”.......................

ad. 226/2005

2, defn. of “voluntary self-exclusion program”..................................

ad. 7/2020

2, defn. of “win tax”....................

rep. 104/2016

5 ........................................................

am. 104/2016

6(1)...................................................

am. 104/2016

6(2)(a)...............................................

rs. 104/2016

6(4) ..................................................

am. 15/2018

6(5)...................................................

rs. 104/2016

6(6)...................................................

rep. 104/2016

7(2)...................................................

am. 104/2016

7(5) ..................................................

am. 15/2018

12(5).................................................

am. 9/2002

12(5)(a)-(b).......................................

am. 104/2016

12(5A)..............................................

ad. 9/2002

13......................................................

am. 15/2018

19(1).................................................

am. 104/2016

19(3)-(4)...........................................

am. 104/2016

20......................................................

ra. as 20(1) 143/2002

20(1)............................................

ra. from 20 143/2002

20(1)(c)........................................

rep. 214/2011

20(1)(d) ......................................

am. 15/2018; rs. 212/2023

20(2)............................................

ad. 143/2002

20A...................................................

ad. 214/2011

20A(5).........................................

am. 104/2016

21(3).................................................

rep. 104/2016

22(1)(a).............................................

fc. 76/2004, 112/2007, 171/2008, 113/2009, 86/2011, 112/2013, 109/2015

22(1)(b).............................................

fc. 76/2004, 112/2007, 171/2008, 113/2009, 86/2011, 112/2013

22(2).................................................

rs. 9/2002, 104/2016

22(2)(a)-(b).......................................

fc. 76/2004, 112/2007, 171/2008, 113/2009, 86/2011, 112/2013, 109/2015

22(3).................................................

ad. 104/2016

23(1) ................................................

rs. 15/2018

24(1) ................................................

rs. 15/2018

. 24(1)(a)...........................................

rep. 212/2023

. 24(1)(b)..........................................

rs. 212/2023

24(2).................................................

am. 15/2018

24(3) ................................................

rs. 15/2018, 212/2023

24(4).................................................

rs. 213/2011, am. 15/2018

24(5).................................................

rs. 213/2011, 15/2018

24(6).................................................

rs. 213/2011, am. 15/2018

24(7).................................................

ad. 213/2011; rs. 15/2018

24(8).................................................

ad. 213/2011; am. 15/2018

25 .....................................................

rs. 15/2018

. 25(1)...............................................

am. 212/2023

. 25(2)...............................................

rs. 212/2023

26(1) ................................................

am. 15/2018, 212/2023

26(1)(c)-(d) ......................................

am. 15/2018

26(2)(a) ............................................

rs. 15/2018; am. 212/2023

26(2)(b).............................................

rep. 212/2023

26(2)(c) ............................................

rs. 15/2018

26(2)(d) ............................................

am. 15/2018, 212/2023

26(3) ................................................

am. 15/2018, 212/2023

26(4) ................................................

am. 15/2018; rep. 212/2023

27(2) ................................................

am. 15/2018

28(2) ................................................

am. 15/2018

29(b).................................................

rs. 76/1998

29(b)(ii)............................................

rs. 182/1996; am. 168/1997

30(1).................................................

rs. 76/1998

30(2).................................................

rs. 139/1995

30(5).................................................

rs. 76/1998, 15/2018

30A...................................................

ad. 76/1998; am. 15/2018

31......................................................

rep. 100/2024

. 31(2)...............................................

am. 104/2016

34(1).................................................

am. 15/2018

36......................................................

am. 15/2018

37......................................................

am. 15/2018

37(4)-(5)......................................

rep. 104/2016

38......................................................

am. 15/2018

40......................................................

rep. 104/2016

43......................................................

am. 15/2018

46......................................................

am. 104/2016

47......................................................

am. 15/2018

48......................................................

am. 104/2016, 15/2018

49......................................................

am. 15/2018

53(1).................................................

rs. 76/1998

53(1)(s).............................................

am. 104/2016

53(2).................................................

rep. 226/2005

53(5).................................................

rs. 104/2016

53(5)(b).............................................

rs. 226/2005

53(5)(c).............................................

ad. 226/2005

53(7).................................................

am. 104/2016

54......................................................

am. 15/2018

55(3).................................................

rep. 104/2016

66(1)-(3)...........................................

rs. 226/2005

66(8).................................................

rs. 226/2005

66(9).................................................

ad. 226/2005

66(10)...............................................

ad. 226/2005; rep. 104/2016

66A...................................................

ad. 226/2005

68......................................................

rs. 226/2005

69......................................................

ra. from 69(1) 226/2005

69(1)............................................

ra. as 69 226/2005

69(2)............................................

rep. 226/2005

71......................................................

rs. 226/2005

72......................................................

am. 15/2018

74......................................................

am. 226/2005

80(2).................................................

rep. 226/2005

83(1)(a)-(b).......................................

rs. 226/2005

84......................................................

rs. 226/2005

85......................................................

ra. as 85(1) 226/2005

85(1)............................................

ra. from 85 226/2005; am. 226/2005

85(1)(a)........................................

rs. 226/2005

85(1)(h).......................................

ad. 226/2005

85(2)............................................

ad. 226/2005

99......................................................

am. 15/2018

108(3)...............................................

am. 15/2018

124....................................................

rep. 104/2016

125(b)-(c).........................................

am. 226/2005

125(e)...............................................

am. 226/2005

125(f)-(g)..........................................

am. 15/2018

126....................................................

am. 15/2018

127....................................................

rs. 104/2016

131(1)-(4).........................................

am. 15/2018

132(1)...............................................

am. 226/2005

132(1)(c)-(f).....................................

am. 226/2005

133....................................................

rs. 226/2005

134....................................................

ra. as 134(1) 226/2005

134(1)..........................................

ra. from 134 226/2005; am. 226/2005

134(2)..........................................

ad. 226/2005

135-136.............................................

am. 226/2005

137....................................................

am. 15/2018

139....................................................

am. 15/2018

141....................................................

am. 104/2016

142(1)(a)...........................................

am. 104/2016

142(2)-(5).........................................

am. 104/2016

143....................................................

am. 226/2005; rep. 104/2016

144-238.............................................

rep. 104/2016

239....................................................

am. 226/2005; rep. 104/2016

240-243.............................................

rep. 104/2016

244....................................................

am. 226/2005; rep. 104/2016

245-247.............................................

rep. 104/2016

249(1)...............................................

am. 212/2023

250....................................................

rep. 104/2016

251....................................................

am. 104/2016

252(1)(d)-(e).....................................

am. 15/2018, 7/2020

252(1)(ea).........................................

ad. 7/2020

252(3)...............................................

am. 15/2018; rep. 7/2020

253-255.............................................

am. 15/2018

255A-255E.......................................

ad. 7/2020

256....................................................

am. 15/2018

Note that changes to headings are not included in the above table.

Editorial Notes and Corrections:

 

Note

Effective
date

1

The Nova Scotia Gaming Control Commission referred to in these regulations and the Liquor License Board are amalgamated as the Alcohol and Gaming Authority by O.I.C. 97-470 under the Gaming Control Act, S.N.S. 1984-95, c. 4, the Liquor Control Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 260, the Theatres and Amusements Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 466 and the Interpretation Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 235.

(Corrected by N.S. Reg. 11/2018, which reflects similar amendments to the Act made by S.N.S. 2011, c. 63, which was proclaimed in force by O.I.C. 2018-16.)

Jul 15, 1997

2

The Provincial Finance Act referred to in ss. 2(aag) and 32(1) is repealed by the Finance Act, S.N.S. 2010, c. 2. Special funds already established continue under s. 83 of the Finance Act.

Aug 1, 2010

3

Section 49 of the Act referred to in ss. 2(t) and 2(u) is repealed by S.N.S. 2011, c. 63, s. 5. Appointment of the Director of Registration is now under s. 42 of the Act.

Dec 15, 2011

4

Section 48 of the Act referred to in s. 2(ac) is repealed by S.N.S. 2011, c. 63, s. 5. Appointment of the Executive Director is now under s. 41 of the Act.

Dec 15, 2011

 

 

 

Repealed and Superseded:

N.S.
Regulation

Title

In force
date

Repealed
date

 

 

 

 

Note:  Only regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this table.  It may not reflect the entire history of regulations on this subject matter.

 

 


Webpage last updated: 13-06-2024