1. (a) An interactive gaming certificate holder, or interactive gaming operator licensee operating on behalf of an interactive gaming certificate holder, may offer progressive jackpots that meet all of the following requirements:

   1. (1) Increase in value based upon an approved rate of progression.
   2. (2) Are awarded for a specific outcome or event.

2. (b) An interactive gaming progressive must include the following information:

   1. (1) The rules governing the award of the progressive, which must be readily available to players.
   2. (2) A progressive meter, visible to the players, which must increase in value based upon wagers placed and advise players of the amount which can be won if the player receives the corresponding outcome.
   3. (3) A cumulative progressive payout meter that continuously and automatically records the total value of progressive jackpots paid to winning players.

3. (c) An interactive gaming progressive may not be offered for play until all of the following have been submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations for review and approval, in accordance with § 461a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval):

   1. (1) The progressive software, including a mechanism to authenticate and review the software.
   2. (2) The rules governing the progressive, including how they will be displayed to players.
   3. (3) The initial seed and reseed amounts at which the progressive meter will be set.
   4. (4) The proposed rate of progression for each progressive jackpot.
   5. (5) The proposed incrementation rate for a reserve pool, if any, to fund the next reset amount.
4. (d) A modification to an interactive gaming progressive may not be offered for play until a written explanation of the modification has been submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations for review and approval granted, in accordance with § 461a.4.

5. (e) Two or more linked games offering the same progressive jackpot may be of different denominations or have different wagers, or both, required to win the progressive jackpot, provided that the following criteria are met:

   1. (1) The probability of winning the progressive jackpot is directly proportional to the wager required to win that jackpot.
   2. (2) Notice indicating the proportional probability of hitting the interactive gaming progressive jackpot is conspicuously displayed.

6. (f) Prior to an interactive gaming progressive being offered, the operator shall be required to update its internal controls. The following requirements shall be met:

   1. (1) The internal controls shall provide the procedures by which jackpots are reconciled.
   2. (2) The internal controls shall provide for the procedures for investigating and reporting variances.

7. (g) In the event of a malfunction, the interactive gaming progressive shall be made unavailable to players. The following measures shall be taken:

   1. (1) The operator shall notify the board in writing within 24 hours of a malfunction.
   2. (2) The operator shall investigate the cause of the malfunction and provide updates to the board.
   3. (3) The operator shall not make the progressive available to players again until board approval of corrective action has been granted.

8. (h) Interactive gaming progressive jackpot meters may not be turned back to a lesser amount unless one of the following occurs:

   1. (1) The amount indicated has been actually paid to a winning patron and the interactive gaming progressive jackpot amount has been recorded in accordance with the internal controls approved by the board.
   2. (2) With written approval, the interactive gaming progressive jackpot has been transferred to another interactive gaming progressive or interactive gaming wide area progressive system.
   3. (3) The change is necessitated by a malfunction. An explanation shall be provided, and the board consulted prior to the adjustment being made.

9. (i) An interactive gaming progressive may be transferred or terminated after written notice has been provided to the board subject to the following:

   1. (1) Players shall be given at least 30 days notice, in a manner approved by the board, prior to an interactive gaming progressive being terminated or transferred.
   2. (2) The transfer is to another board-approved interactive gaming progressive, and the board has verified and approved the comparability of the two interactive gaming progressives.
   3. (3) The transfer represents the entire interactive gaming progressive pot.
   4. (4) An interactive gaming progressive may be terminated concurrent with the winning of the progressive jackpot, provided that the progressive was so configured prior to the winning of the jackpot.

Cross References

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 819a.2 (relating to interactive gaming wide area progressives).