§733.  Electronic pull-tab devices

A.(1)  Electronic or video machines, hereafter termed "electronic pull-tab devices", and defined in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, for public playing of pull-tabs may be made available at any locations licensed under this Chapter for charitable gaming, provided that all requirements of this Chapter not in conflict with the provisions of this Section are met.

(2)  "Electronic pull-tab device" means any unit, mechanism, or device authorized pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, that, upon insertion of cash, produces electronic facsimiles of pull-tab tickets or cards and is available to play or simulate the play of the game of pull-tabs as described in R.S. 4:703(3), utilizing a cathode ray tube or video display screen and microprocessors in which the player may win games or credits that can be redeemed for cash only.  The term does not include a device that directly dispenses coins, cash, tokens, or anything else of value, except the ticket voucher required in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

B.  Each device shall:

(1)  Be inspected by the office or its designee for certification and compliance.

(2)  Be connected with a system consisting of player operated terminals and a self-contained control computer.

(3)  Not have any device or program that will alter the reading of the values or amounts of play to reflect values or amounts other than actually played or any switches, jumpers, wire posts, or any other means of manipulation that could affect the operation or outcome of a game.

(4)  Not have any device, switch, program, or function that can alter the readings of the actual amounts or values relating to any function or occurrence of the device.

(5)  Have separate secure areas with locking doors for the game logic board and software, the cash compartment, and the mechanical meters as required by the rules and regulations of the office.  These areas must be locking and separated.  Access to one from the other must not be allowed at any time.

(a)  The device must be capable of printing a ticket voucher for the player at the completion of each game.  If credits are owed the player, the ticket must contain each of the following:

(i)  The name of the location licensed to conduct charitable gaming.

(ii)  The name of the municipality or parish in which the location licensed to conduct charitable gaming is located.

(iii)  The value of the prize in numbers.

(iv)  The value of the prize in words.

(v)  The time of day, in hours and minutes in a twenty-four-hour format.

(vi)  The date.

(vii)  The device license number or serial number up to eight digits.

(viii)  The sequential number of the ticket voucher.

(ix)  An encrypted validation number from which the validity of the prize can be determined.

(b)  The device may have a mechanism that accepts cash in the form of bills with a denomination not to exceed ten dollars.

(c)  An exact copy of each printed ticket voucher must be printed and retained within the device.

(d)  The device must have nonresettable mechanical meters housed in a secure compartment that keep a permanent record of all of the following:

(i)  Total coins accepted.

(ii)  Total credits generated by the bill acceptor if the device has a bill acceptor.

(iii)  Total credits played by players.

(iv)  Total credits won by players.

(v)  Total credits printed out by the ticket voucher printer.

(e)  The device must contain electronic metering using meters that record all of the following:

(i)  Total coins in the coin acceptor or acceptors and, if the device has a bill acceptor, the total credits generated by the bill acceptor.

(ii)  Total credits in, total credits played, total credits won, and total credits paid.

(iii)  Total errors from the logic board random access memory.

(iv)  Total examination of electronic meters.

(f)  The device may not have any functions or parameters adjustable by or through any separate video display or input codes, except for the adjustment of features that are wholly cosmetic.

(g)  The device must issue, by activation of an external switch, an accounting ticket containing a performance synopsis of the device.  The ticket must contain:

(i)  The name of the location licensed to conduct charitable gaming.

(ii)  The name of the city, town, or parish in which the location licensed to conduct charitable gaming is located.

(iii)  The license number of the device.

(iv)  The time of day, in hours and minutes in a twenty-four-hour format.

(v)  The date.

(vi)  A circuit-interrupting device, method, or capability which will disable the machine if the office-approved program is accessed or altered.

(h)  The device must be linked by telecommunication to a central computer for purposes of polling or reading device activities and for central computer remote shutdown of device operations.

(6)  Each electronic pull-tab device shall have a serial number or other identification number permanently affixed to the device by the manufacturer.

C.  The office may provide for additional specifications for devices to be approved and authorized pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter as it deems necessary to maintain the integrity of electronic pull-tab devices and operations.  The office shall not provide for any additional specifications which would have the effect of reducing to fewer than four the number of manufacturers who make devices that meet the specifications of this Chapter.

D.  A device may not allow more than two dollars to be placed on a game or award won games or credits in excess of the value of five hundred dollars.

E.  The office shall prescribe the expected payback value of one credit played to be at least eighty percent of the value of a credit.  Each electronic pull-tab device must have an electronic accounting device that the office may use to verify the winning percentage.  The office may not publish or otherwise disseminate income figures and other statistics obtained in the payback verification process or contained in payback verification reports in a manner that allows or helps a person to identify a particular device or to match a particular device with a particular income or statistic except as is required for enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter.

F.  An electronic pull-tab device may be leased by any charitable organization licensed by the office.

G.  At least sixty percent of the net win from the device must be paid to the charitable organization leasing it.  No more than ten percent of the net win from the device may be paid to the commercial lessor leasing the premises at which the devices are located.

H.  The office shall adopt  any additional rules and regulations necessary to govern the specification, use, and operation of electronic pull-tab devices and shall establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and lessors authorized to provide electronic pull-tab devices or a list of acceptable models of the devices, acceptable serial numbers on such models or manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, or lessors.  All rules shall be adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act except that all rules shall also require the affirmative approval of the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Section B.

I.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a facility licensed to conduct charitable gaming may not place more than thirty-five electronic machines or devices licensed to conduct charitable gaming at the facility.

J.  Any licensed charitable organization operating more than fifteen electronic pull-tab devices as provided by this Section shall not offer for play pull-tabs as provided in R.S. 4:725.

Acts 1999, No. 568, §3, eff. June 30, 1999.