Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
61D-14.036: Slot Tournament
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect of the proposed rule will be to implement and interpret Florida Statutes that relate to rules regulating the conduct of slot machine operations at pari-mutuel racing facilities.
SUMMARY: The rule establishes rules to govern the institution and management of slot machine tournaments at licensed facilities.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 551.103(1), 551.122 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 551.103(1) FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE,TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW(IF NOT REQUESTED, THIS HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD):
DATE AND TIME: June 24, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
PLACE: Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, North Broward Regional Service Center, 1400 West Commercial Blvd., Suite 195, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Mary Polombo at (850)413-0750. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mary Polombo, Clerk, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1035

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

61D-14.036 Slot Machine Tournament.

(1) A slot machine tournament is an organized event at which players have the opportunity to engage in competitive play against other players using slot machines the division has approved for that purpose.

(2) A slot machine licensee shall not operate a slot machine tournament unless it has submitted the following to the division at 1400 W. Commercial Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309, for approval in writing:

(a) Tournament rules of play consistent with Chapter 551, F.S.; and

(b) A floor plan of the location of the specific slot machines selected for tournament play within the gaming area.

(3) Any slot machine and associated slot machine component that is part of a slot machine tournament shall:

(a) Comply with the requirements of Chapter 551, F.S., and the administrative rules adopted pursuant to that chapter. However, the percentage requirements of Section 551.104(4)(j), F.S., and the percentage requirements of the rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 551, F.S., do not apply to tournament play.

(b) Be equipped with a program certified by an independent testing laboratory licensed by the state which allows for the tournament mode of play.

(c) Default to disabled for the tournament mode of play option for those machines selected for tournament play.

(d) Be enabled centrally or by a switch key (reset feature) and/or total replacement of the logic board with a certified tournament board if tournament is an option.

(4) A gaming device, while enabled for tournament play shall:

(a) Not accept credits from any source;

(b) Not pay out credits in any way;

(c) Use tournament credits only, which shall not have cash value;

(d) Not increment any mechanical or electro-mechanical meters; and

(e) Not communicate any accounting information to the facility based monitoring system.

(5) The facility based monitoring system shall:

(a) Logically remove all games enabled for tournament play from the normal recording sequence for reporting purposes; and

(b) Record each time a specific slot machine is used for tournament play.

(6) Tournament winnings shall not be deducted from net slot machine revenues or winnings of slot machine gaming.

(7) The slot machine licensee shall provide a report of electronic meter readings from its facility based monitoring system to the division for each of its slot machines designated for tournament play immediately before the tournament mode of play is:

(a) Enabled; and

(b) Disabled.

Rulemaking Authority 551.103(1), 551.122 FS. Law Implemented 551.103(1) FS. History–New_______.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: David J. Roberts, Director, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Charles W. Drago, Secretary, Department of Business and Professional Regulation
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 5, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: March 16, 2007