1. A. A manufacturer may not perform from a remote location analysis of, or technical support with regard to, an instant bingo machine or instant bingo validation and accounting system without:

   1. (1) Submission of a written request to the Commission; and
   2. (2) The written approval of the Commission.

2. B. A facility operator intending to authorize remote access to an instant bingo validation and accounting system under this regulation shall include in its internal controls submitted for Commission approval under a written system of access protocols which require:

   1. (1) A unique system account for each employee of a manufacturer identified by the manufacturer as potentially required to perform technical support from a remote location;
   2. (2) Use of a dedicated and secure communication facility;

   3. (3) Prior notice by the manufacturer of intent to remotely access a system to the:

      1. (a) Facility operator; and
      2. (b) Commission;
   4. (4) The facility operator to take affirmative steps, on a per access basis, to activate a manufacturer’s access privileges;

   5. (5) Imposition of limits on the ability of any individual authorized under this regulation to deliberately or inadvertently interfere with:

      1. (a) The normal operation of the system; and
      2. (b) Its data;

   6. (6) An access log:

      1. (a) Maintained by both the:

         1. (i) Manufacturer; and
         2. (ii) Facility operator’s information technology department;

      2. (b) Maintained in:

         1. (i) A book with bound numbered pages that cannot be readily removed; or
         2. (ii) An electronic format equipped with software that prevents modification of an entry after it has been initially entered into the system; and

      3. (c) Documenting the:

         1. (i) Manufacturer version number of the system accessed;
         2. (ii) Type of connection as leased line, dial in modem, or private WAN;
         3. (iii) Name of the manufacturer employee remotely accessing the system;
         4. (iv) Name of the information technology department employee activating the manufacturer's access to the system;
         5. (v) Date and time of the connection;
         6. (vi) Duration of the connection;
         7. (vii) Reason for the remote access including a description of the symptoms or malfunction prompting the need for remote access to the system; and
         8. (viii) Any action taken or further action required.
3. C. A facility operator may not authorize a manufacturer to remotely access an instant bingo validation and accounting system until its system access protocols are approved in writing by the Commission.

4. D. Any modification to a system required to be tested, certified and approved by the Commission shall be processed as:

   1. (1) An emergency modification under Regulation .05 of this chapter; or
   2. (2) A standard modification under Regulations .02(B) and .03(B) of this chapter.

5. E. If an employee of a manufacturer is no longer employed or authorized by a manufacturer to remotely access a system pursuant to this regulation, the manufacturer shall:

   1. (1) Immediately notify in writing:

      1. (a) Any facility operator that has established a unique system account for that employee of the change in authorization; and
      2. (b) The Commission; and
   2. (2) Verify with each facility operator notified of the change in authorization that the access privileges of the individual have been revoked.

Authority: State Government Article, §9-110; Criminal Law Article, §§ 12-301. 1 and 12-308; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01— .10 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 26, 2013 (40:20 Md. R. 1650); adopted permanently effective December 12, 2013 (40:24 Md. R. 2019)

Regulation .08A amended effective May 25, 2026 (53:10 Md. R. 459)