WSR 09-17-076

PERMANENT RULES

GAMBLING COMMISSION


[ Order 656 -- Filed August 14, 2009, 2:17 p.m. , effective September 14, 2009 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: The petitioner's request to increase the maximum number of games allowed within a single hand of cards from three to six was approved. Three of the six games are limited to wagers of five dollars each or less. Additionally a housekeeping change to add "card" to subsection (1) to distinguish between a card game and a game played within a hand of cards was made.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 230-15-040.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-11-090 filed on May 18, 2009, and published June 3, 2009.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 14, 2009.

Susan Arland

Rules Coordinator

OTS-2284.2


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 632, filed 10/14/08, effective 1/1/09)

WAC 230-15-040   Requirements for authorized card games.   (1) In order for a game to be authorized, the game must:

     (a) Be played with standard playing cards or with electronic card facsimiles approved by the director or the director's designee; and

     (b) Offer no more than ((three)) six separate games with a single hand of cards. However, no more than three of the games may offer a wager that exceeds five dollars each. We consider bonus features and progressive jackpots separate games. If a player does not have to place a separate wager to participate, we do not consider it a separate game. An example of this is an "envy" or "share the wealth" pay out when another player achieves a specific hand; and

     (c) Not allow side bets between players.

     (2) Card game licensees may use more than one deck of cards for a specific game. They also may remove cards to comply with rules of a specific game, such as Pinochle or Spanish 21.

     (3) Players must:

     (a) Compete against all other players on an equal basis for nonhouse-banked games or against the house for house-banked games. All players must compete solely as a player in the card game; and

     (b) Receive their own hand of cards and be responsible for decisions regarding such hand, such as whether to fold, discard, draw additional cards, or raise the wager; and

     (c) Not place wagers on any other player's or the house's hand or make side wagers with other players, except for:

     (i) An insurance wager placed in the game of Blackjack; or

     (ii) An "envy" or "share the wealth" wager which allows a player to receive a prize if another player wins a jackpot or odds-based wager; or

     (iii) A tip wager made on behalf of a dealer.

     (4) Mini-Baccarat is authorized when operated in the manner explained for Baccarat in the most current version of The New Complete Hoyle, Revised or Hoyle's Encyclopedia of Card Games, or similar authoritative book on card games we have approved. However:

     (a) Card game licensees may make immaterial modifications to the game; and

     (b) Subsection (3) of this section does not apply; and

     (c) The number of players is limited under WAC 230-15-055.

     (5) A player's win or loss must be determined during the course of play of a single card game.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 08-21-086 (Order 632), § 230-15-040, filed 10/14/08, effective 1/1/09; 07-09-033 (Order 608), § 230-15-040, filed 4/10/07, effective 1/1/08.]

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