N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-2A.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 13:69F-2A.7 - Procedure for dealing the cards

(a) All cards used in blackjack switch shall be dealt from a dealing shoe specifically designed for such purpose and located on the table to the left of the dealer.

(b) The dealer shall remove cards from the shoe with his or her left hand, turn them face upwards, and then place them on the appropriate area of the layout with his or her right hand, except that the dealer has the option to deal hit cards to the first two betting spots with his or her left hand.

(c) After each full set of cards is placed in the shoe, the dealer shall remove the first card from the shoe face downwards and place it in the discard rack, which shall be located on the table immediately to the right of the dealer. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also burn one card as described herein before the new dealer deals any cards to the players. The burn card shall be disclosed if requested by a player. This procedure shall not be applicable to the "Bart Carter shuffle."

(d) At the commencement of each round of play, the dealer shall, starting on his or her left and continuing around the table, deal the cards in the following order:

1. One card face upwards to each box on the layout in which a wager is contained;

2. One card face upwards to the dealer; and

3. A second card face upwards to each box in which a wager is contained, which card shall be dealt so as to overlap the lower left-hand corner of the first card, as seen from the dealer's point of view.

(e) Immediately after the first four cards are dealt to each player, and before any card reader device is utilized and any additional cards are dealt to any player or the dealer, the dealer shall collect all losing match wagers and pay off all winning match wagers in accordance with 13:69F-2A.6.

(f) After all match wagers have been settled, each player may make an insurance bet pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:69F-2A 8.

(g) After all match wagers have been settled and any insurance bets have been made, the dealer shall, beginning from his or her left, announce the point total of the first hand of each player, and ask if the player wishes to switch, by saying, for example, "15 or switch?".

1. If the player decides to switch, the dealer shall exchange the second cards dealt to the two hands of that player with each other, and then announce the new point total of each hand.

2. A player who has switched cards pursuant to this subsection may revoke the decision and request the dealer to return the cards to their original positions, provided that no additional cards have yet been dealt to either of the player's hands or to the dealer.

3. Other than a return of the cards to their original positions pursuant to (g)2 above, a player shall be permitted only one switch of cards per hand in each round of play.

(h) After the player has been offered a switch and has either declined or obtained the switch, the player shall, for the first of the player's two hands, indicate whether the player wishes to stand, draw, surrender pursuant to 13:69F-2A.9, double down pursuant to 13:69F-2A.10, or split pairs pursuant to 13:69F-2A.11.

(i) As the player indicates decisions as to the first hand, the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are necessary to effectuate such decisions consistent with these rules, and shall announce the new point total of that hand after each additional card is dealt.

(j) After the player completes his or her decisions as to the first hand, the procedures in (g) through (i) above shall be repeated for the second hand of that player.

(k) After the player has completed all decisions for both hands, the procedures in (g) through (j) above shall be repeated for the player to the dealer's right of that player at the table.

(l) After the decisions of each player have been implemented and all additional player cards have been dealt, the dealer shall deal a second card face upward to himself (the "hole card"); provided, however, that such card shall not be removed from the dealing shoe until the dealer has first announced "Dealer's Card," which shall be stated by the dealer in a tone of voice calculated to be heard by each person at the table. Any additional cards authorized to be dealt to the hand of the dealer by 13:69F-2A.12 shall be dealt face upwards at this time, after which the dealer shall announce the total point count for the hand of the dealer.

1. In lieu of the foregoing, a casino licensee may permit the dealer to deal the hole card face downward after a second card but before any additional cards are dealt to the box of each player, provided that the dealer shall not look at the face of the hole card until after all other cards requested by the players pursuant to these rules have been dealt.

2. Notwithstanding (l)1 above, if a casino licensee elects to utilize a card reader device and the dealer's first card is an ace, king, queen, jack, or 10 of any suit, the dealer shall determine whether the hole card will give the dealer a blackjack prior to dealing any additional cards to the players at the table, in accordance with procedures approved by the Commission. The dealer shall insert the hole card into the card reader device by moving the card face down on the layout without exposing it to anyone, including the dealer, at the table. If the dealer has a blackjack, no additional cards shall be dealt and each player's wager shall be settled in accordance with 13:69F-2A.5.

(m) At the conclusion of a round of play, all cards still remaining on the layout shall be picked up by the dealer in order and in such a way that they can be readily arranged to indicate each hand of each player in case of a question or dispute. The dealer shall pick up the cards beginning with those of the player to his or her far right and moving counterclockwise around the table. After all the cards of the players have been collected, the dealer shall pick up his or her cards against the bottom of the players' cards and place all of them in the discard rack.

(n) Whenever the cutting card is reached in the deal of the cards, the dealer shall continue dealing the cards until that round of play is completed, after which the dealer shall:

1. Collect the cards as provided in (l) above;

2. Remove the cards remaining in the shoe and place them in the discard rack to ensure that no cards are missing; and

3. Shuffle the cards.

(o) If the "Bart Carter shuffle" is utilized and the cards in the discard rack exceed approximately one deck in number, the dealer shall continue dealing the cards until that round of play is completed after which he or she shall remove the cards from the discard rack and shuffle those cards so that they are randomly intermixed. After the cards taken from the discard rack are shuffled, they shall be split into three separate stacks and each stack shall be inserted into premarked locations within the remaining decks contained in the dealing shoe.

(p) No player or spectator shall handle, remove or alter any cards used to game at blackjack switch, and no dealer or other casino employee shall permit a player or spectator to engage in such activity.

(q) Each player at the table shall be responsible for correctly computing the point count of his or her hands, and no player shall rely on the point counts required to be announced by the dealer without checking the accuracy of such announcement himself or herself.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:69F-2A.7