1. A. In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Base plate” means an interior shelf of a dealing shoe on which a card rests.
   2. (2) “Face plate” means the front wall of the dealing shoe against which the next card to be dealt rests and which typically contains a cutout.

3. C. A manual dealing shoe must be designed and constructed to maintain the integrity of the game at which the shoe is used, and shall include these features:

   1. (1) At least the first 4 inches of the base plate shall be white;

   2. (2) The sides of the shoe below the base plate shall:

      1. (a) Be transparent, have a transparent sealed cutout, or be otherwise constructed to prevent any object from being placed into or removed from the portion of the dealing shoe below the base plate; and
      2. (b) Permit the inspection of this portion of the shoe; and
   3. (3) A stop underneath the top of the face plate that precludes the next card to be dealt from being moved upwards more than 1/8 inch.

4. D. In addition to the requirements of §C of this regulation, a manual dealing shoe used in minibaccarat, midibaccarat or baccarat must also meet these specifications:

   1. (1) Have a removable lid that is opaque from the point where it meets the face plate to a point at least 4 inches from the face plate;
   2. (2) The sides and back above the base plate must be opaque; and
   3. (3) Have a device within the shoe which, when engaged, prevents the cards from moving backward in the shoe.
5. E. An automated card shuffling device that has been submitted, and approved by the Commission may be used in addition to a manual or automated dealing shoe.
6. F. An automated shuffling device must meet a 95 percent confidence level using a standard chi-squared test for goodness of fit.

7. G. An automated card shuffling device may not provide any information that can be used to aid a player in:

   1. (1) Projecting the outcome of a game;
   2. (2) Tracking the cards played and cards remaining to be played;
   3. (3) Analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to a game; or
   4. (4) Analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in a game.

8. H. Tampering.

   1. (1) At the beginning of each gaming day and before a card is placed in them, the floorperson assigned to the table shall inspect the dealing shoes and automated card shuffling devices to be used for gaming to ensure that they have not been tampered with.

   2. (2) Evidence of tampering shall be immediately reported to a Commission compliance representative in a written report that shall include:

      1. (a) The date and time when the tampering was discovered;
      2. (b) The name and signature of the individual who discovered the tampering;
      3. (c) A description of the evidence of tampering;
      4. (d) The table number where the dealing shoe or shuffler was used; and
      5. (e) The name and signature of the person assigned to directly operate and conduct the game and the supervisor assigned the responsibility for supervising the operation and conduct of the game.

Authority: State Government Article, §§9-1A-02 and 9-1A-04, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.19 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 1, 2013 (40:6 Md. R. 471); adopted permanently effective June 24, 2013 (40:12 Md. R. 1044)

Regulation .01B amended as an emergency provision effective January 2, 2014 (41:2 Md. R. 89); emergency status expired May 12, 2014

Regulation .01B amended effective May 26, 2014 (41:10 Md. R. 566); January 7, 2016 (42:26 Md. R. 1597)

Regulation .02E, F amended effective September 26, 2016 (43:19 Md. R. 1073)

Regulation .06E amended effective January 7, 2016 (42:26 Md. R. 1597)

Regulation .13K amended effective August 18, 2014 (41:16 Md. R. 948)

Regulation .13O adopted effective October 10, 2016 (43:20 Md. R. 1111)

Regulation .15 amended effective January 7, 2016 (42:26 Md. R. 1597)

Regulation .15A, B amended effective January 14, 2019 (46:1 Md. R. 13)

Regulation .15H amended effective September 6, 2021 (48:18 Md. R. 695)

Regulation .16 amended effective February 16, 2015 (42:3 Md. R. 319); January 7, 2016 (42:26 Md. R. 1597); October 10, 2016 (43:20 Md. R. 1111)

Regulation .16B, P amended effective October 23, 2017 (44:21 Md. R. 985)

Regulation .16D, P amended effective October 22, 2018 (45:21 Md. R. 976)

Regulation .16M amended effective August 18, 2014 (41:16 Md. R. 948)

Regulation .16N amended effective September 6, 2021 (48:18 Md. R. 695)

Regulation .19 amended effective September 26, 2016 (43:19 Md. R. 1073)

Regulation .20 adopted as an emergency provision effective January 2, 2014 (41:2 Md. R. 89); emergency status expired May 12, 2014

Regulation .20 adopted effective May 26, 2014 (41:10 Md. R. 566)

Regulation .20A, F amended effective October 10, 2016 (43:20 Md. R. 1111)

Regulation .21 adopted as an emergency provision effective January 2, 2014 (41:2 Md. R. 89); emergency status expired May 12, 2014

Regulation .21 adopted effective May 26, 2014 (41:10 Md. R. 566)

Regulation .22 adopted effective October 10, 2016 (43:20 Md. R. 1111)

Regulation .23 adopted effective October 10, 2016 (43:20 Md. R. 1111)