Randomness Requirements and Game Play Auditing

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
61D-14.041: Randomness Requirements and Game Play Auditing

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 35 No. 21, May 29, 2009 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

61D-14.041 Randomness Requirements and Game Play Auditing.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) For purposes of this rule “false hope” or “extra visual encouragement” or “subliminal message” is defined as:

(a) Any system representation of a letter, word, message, symbol, sign, or gaming outcome that can not be seen by the naked eye alone that may encourage continued slot machine play; or

(b) Any letter, word, message, symbol, sign, or gaming outcome that may be detected scientifically through slow motion execution of the program in a frame-by-frame analysis revealing a letter, word, message, symbol, sign, or gaming outcome that is otherwise not immediately discernable by the naked eye during credit play.

(5) No slot machine authorized for play in Florida shall (after selection of the game outcome) display:

(a) Any letter, word, message, symbol, sign, or gaming outcome, however briefly, that constitutes false hope or extra visual encouragement or subliminal message of any nature; or

(b) A variable secondary decision after the selection of the game outcome; or

(c) Any letter, word, message, symbol, or sign that indicates the patron is getting close to a win or that the chance to win is improved by another play.

(6) Prior to submitting a game to an independent test laboratory licensed by the state (laboratory) for examination, the manufacturer and/or distributor seeking certification of the machine and/or game shall provide written certification to the laboratory as part of the final game approval documentation that the manufacturer and/or distributor has:

(a) Performed a line-by-line review of all source code not previously certified for use in Florida;

(b) Ensured that the code provides the reviewer with accurate descriptive labeling, header comment blocks, and lists of subroutines sufficient to permit thorough review and analysis;

(c) Certified to the laboratory that all code modules are directly and actively related to the audio and video conduct of game play, record retention, monitoring system operation and/or troubleshooting;

(d) Certified that the game does not violate any of the language in Rule 61D-14.041, F.A.C., and that the game does not display any letter, word, message, sign, symbol, or gaming outcome, however briefly, which constitutes false hope or extra visual encouragement to continue play, or subliminal message of any nature.

(7) As part of the final certification to the division, the laboratory shall provide written certification as part of the final game testing documentation attesting to the fact that as part of its examination of the machine and/or game for compliance with Florida Statutes, the laboratory has:

(a) Performed a line-by-line review of the source code;

(b) Found that the code provides the laboratory with accurate descriptive labeling, header comment blocks, and lists of subroutines sufficient to permit thorough review and analysis;

(c) Certified that all code modules are directly and actively related to the audio and video conduct of game play, record retention, monitoring system operation and/or troubleshooting;

(d) Not found any unused or unexplained code modules present during the laboratory examination; and

(e) Certified that the machine and/or game complies with the language in Rule 61D-14.041, F.A.C., does not display any letter, word, message, symbol, sign, or gaming outcome, however briefly, which constitutes false hope, extra visual encouragement to continue play, or a subliminal message of any nature.

(4)(8) The laboratory shall include a copy of each of the certifications required under this rule as part of the formal approval documentation certifying the machine and/or game for play in Florida to the division.

(5)(9) Any misstatements, omissions or errors in the required certification provided by either the laboratory or the manufacturer and/or distributor is a violation of rules governing slot machine gaming.

Rulemaking Authority 551.103(1), 551.122 FS. Law Implemented 551.103(1)(c), (e), (g) FS. History–New 7-5-06, Amended ________.