Video line-game rules submitted for review
By Rick Ask, Administrator,
Gambling Control Division
After working with the Gaming Advisory Council and industry association leaders since the 2011 legislative session adjourned, the Gambling Control Division submitted draft administrative rules for review by the Attorney General's office, for publication by the Secretary of State's office.
A number of these proposed rule changes are designed to implement Senate Bill 361, the newly authorized video line games bill sponsored by Sen. Rick Ripley.
The new law requires that any video line game must be contained in a multi-game video gambling cabinet with at least one other type of game, such as video poker and/or video keno (hence the term “multi-game”).
To uphold this legislative intent, the rules will prohibit anyone from disabling alternate game types that would have the effect of creating a stand-alone, or single-game type, video gambling machine.
Additionally, the new law prohibits the advertisement of video line games as any kind of illegal gambling device, such as slot machines. The proposed rules will prohibit any explicit or implicit reference to illegal gambling devices. So, for example, an operator may not mount signs that depict an armed slot machine, nor may the operator advertise using words like “slots,” or “slot-mania,” or anything that would otherwise suggest the offering of slot machines, or other illegal gambling device.
Another significant change to be aware of is the new stale-date rule for video gambling machine ticket vouchers (win tickets). Presently, an operator must pay valid VGM win tickets upon demand, even weeks or months after the player prints the ticket from the gambling machine.
After adoption of the new rules, an operator may decline to pay a VGM win ticket that was printed more than 48 hours before it is presented for payment.
In order to decline payment of a stale ticket, the notice “ticket void after 48 hours” must be written on the face of the win ticket, and the operator must have a sign prominently displayed to the player that reads, “Promptly Redeem Your Win Tickets – Tickets Void After 48 hours.” Even when these conditions are met, an operator is not prohibited from paying a stale ticket. It will simply be within the operator's discretion whether or not to pay a stale ticket.
These proposed new rules and amendments to existing rules are on track to be filed by July 5, 2011, with the Montana Secretary of State and published July 14. A public hearing will be held on Aug. 9, 2011, at 9 a.m. in the conference room of the Gambling Control Division, 2550 Prospect Avenue, in Helena to formally consider the proposed adoption and amendment of the above-stated rules.
The public is welcome to attend the hearing, or provide comments in writing to the Gambling Control Division, 2550 Prospect Avenue, P.O. Box 201424, Helena, MT 59620-1424; fax (406) 444-9157; or e-mail rask@mt.gov.
Comments must be received no later than Aug. 11, 2011.