<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".11" citation="COMAR 36.04.01.11" title_num="36" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="01" heading="Average Payout Percentage.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Definitions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Game cycle” means the finite set of all possible combinations of symbols on a video lottery terminal, including spinning reels or card images or other forms of video display or both.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Theoretical payout percentage” means the total value of jackpots expected to be paid by a video lottery terminal divided by the total value of video lottery terminal wagers expected to be made on that video lottery terminal during the game cycle.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>“Wager level” means all credit combinations available on a video lottery terminal from the minimum bet to the maximum bet.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A video lottery terminal shall have an average payout percentage which:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Is 85 percent or more; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Does not exceed 100 percent.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Notwithstanding the requirements of §B of this regulation, in no event may a video lottery terminal have a theoretical payout percentage of less than 85 percent.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Unless the paytables have been previously approved by the Commission, a facility may not make available for play a video lottery terminal with an average payout percentage which exceeds 95 percent without the written approval of the Commission.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>A facility’s gaming floor shall be configured to collectively achieve, at all times, an average payout percentage which:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Exceeds 85 percent; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Does not exceed 95 percent.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The Commission and the facility operator shall, in selecting video lottery terminals and configuring a facility’s gaming floor, rely on the video lottery terminal’s theoretical payout percentage.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Once a facility is operational, the Commission shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Conduct periodic reviews to ensure that average payout percentages, on an average annual basis, comply with the requirements of this regulation; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If necessary, require the modification or replacement of a video lottery terminal to ensure compliance with the average payout percentage requirements of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>A payout percentage that may be affected by reason of skill shall meet the payout percentage requirements of this regulation factoring in a method of play that provides the greatest return to a player.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>A video lottery terminal:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>May not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Offer a winning combination where the odds exceed 50,000,000 to one; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Alter any function based on an internal computation of payout percentage; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall be designed to ensure that all possible combinations in the game cycle are independent of each other.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>