PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 03-06-021.
Title of Rule: Promotions for gambling activities and transporting bingo players: Repealing WAC 230-20-052 Transportation provided to bingo players and 230-20-190 Bingo card prices; and amending WAC 230-12-050 Extension of credit, loans, or gifts prohibited -- Limited exception, 230-20-050 Use of proceeds, and 230-20-242 Activities conducted as part of bingo games -- Authorization -- Restrictions.
Purpose: To streamline promotion rules and remove restrictions on transporting bingo players.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070.
Summary: In 2000, a rules package was adopted by the commission to streamline promotions related to gambling activities. At that time, WAC 230-12-045 was adopted and outlined restrictions relating to promotions related to gambling activities. This package includes several rules [that] were not included in that rules package to further streamline the requirements related to promotions. Amendments also include removing restrictions on bingo operators transporting bingo players.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See Purpose above.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Susan Arland, Lacey, (360) 486-3466; Implementation: Rick Day, Lacey, (360) 486-3446; and Enforcement: Bob Berg, Lacey, (360) 486-3452.
Name of Proponent: Staff, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: See Purpose and Summary above.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See Purpose and Summary above.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Proposal is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(2), therefore, a small business economic impact statement is not required.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. This agency does not choose to make section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Double Tree Hotel, Spokane City Center, 322 North Spokane Falls Court, Spokane, WA 99201, (509) 744-2310, on October 10, 2003, at 9:30 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Shirley Corbett by October 1, 2003, TDD (360) 486-3637 or (360) 486-3447.
Submit Written Comments to: Susan Arland, Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42400, Olympia, WA 98504-2400, (360) 486-3466, fax (360) 486-3625, by October 1, 2003.
Date of Intended Adoption: October 10, 2003.
August 20, 2003
Susan Arland
Rules Coordinator
OTS-6431.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 413, filed 5/16/02,
effective 7/1/02)
WAC 230-12-050
Extension of credit, loans, or gifts
prohibited -- Limited exception.
No licensee, member or
employee thereof shall extend credit, make a loan, or grant a
gift to any person playing in an authorized gambling activity,
or which enables a person to play in an authorized gambling
activity.
Gifts prohibited -- Exceptions.
(1) Gifts are items licensees give away to its customers
and are not connected to gambling activities regulated by the
commission. Licensees shall not offer gifts in conjunction
with gambling activities, with the following exceptions:
(a) Promotions are allowed as authorized by WAC 230-12-045;
(b) Transportation services provided to and from gambling activities;
(c) Free or discounted food, drink or merchandise may be provided under the following conditions:
(i) The actual cost of any individual item may not exceed five hundred dollars;
(ii) The merchandise shall not be traded back to the licensee for cash or be used to further participate in an authorized gambling activity;
(((c))) (d) For each individual gift with an actual cost
over one hundred dollars, charitable and nonprofit
organizations shall prepare and maintain a written record with
the following information:
(i) How the recipients of the gifts were selected;
(ii) The number of gifts awarded; and
(iii) The total cost of each gift given.
Credit and loans prohibited -- Exceptions.
(2) The consideration required to participate in the
gambling activity shall be collected in full, by cash, check,
or electronic point-of-sale bank transfer, prior to
participation, with the following exceptions:
Punch boards/pull-tabs.
(a) The consideration paid for the opportunity to play a
punch board or pull-tab series may be collected immediately
after the play is completed only when such consideration is
ten dollars or less;
Charitable/nonprofit organization's billing system for
members.
(b) When a bona fide charitable or bona fide nonprofit
organization conducting any of the activities authorized by
chapter 9.46 RCW or commission rules has a regular billing
system for all of the activities of its members with such
organization, such billing system may be utilized in
connection with the playing of any of the activities
authorized hereunder if:
(i) The playing of such activity is limited to regular members of such organization who have become regular members prior to the commencement of such activity and whose qualifications for membership were not dependent upon, or in any way related to, the playing of such activity; and
(ii) The director has given prior written consent to the use of such billing system in connection with the conduct of activities authorized under these rules.
Raffle tickets purchased with credit cards.
(c) Charitable or nonprofit organizations utilizing
credit cards, issued by a state and/or federally regulated
financial institution, for payment to participate in raffles.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 02-11-084 (Order 413), § 230-12-050, filed 5/16/02, effective 7/1/02; 00-09-052 (Order 383), § 230-12-050, filed 4/14/00, effective 5/15/00; 00-07-140 (Order 381), § 230-12-050, filed 3/22/00, effective 7/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070, 9.46.0209, 9.46.0237, 9.46.0205 and 9.46.075. 96-24-008 (Order 303), § 230-12-050, filed 11/21/96, effective 12/22/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 94-13-099 (Order 253), § 230-12-050, filed 6/15/94, effective 7/16/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (11), (14) and 9.46.0218 [9.46.0281]. 89-05-024 (Order 186), § 230-12-050, filed 2/13/89; Order 51, § 230-12-050, filed 4/30/76; Order 15, § 230-12-050, filed 4/17/74; Order 5, § 230-12-050, filed 12/19/73.]
OTS-6432.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 96-07-078, filed 3/19/96,
effective 7/1/96)
WAC 230-20-050
Use of proceeds.
No part of the proceeds
of any ((bingo game, raffle, or amusement game)) gambling
activity conducted by a bona fide charitable or bona fide
nonprofit organization, except qualified agricultural fairs,
shall be used for the benefit of any specific person ((other
than the organization conducting the activity; except that if
the activity is conducted by a licensee for the charitable
benefit of a specific person or persons who have been listed
as recipients of the proceeds, or a specified portion thereof,
on the application for a license to conduct the activity, then
the proceeds or specified portion thereof, may be used for the
benefit of such specific person or persons so designated if
commission approval has been obtained prior to the
organization conducting the activity for that purpose:
Provided, That for the purposes of this section, a licensee
providing transportation to bingo players under the guidelines
of WAC 230-20-052 shall not be deemed in violation of this
rule)) without the organization obtaining prior approval from
the commission.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (1), (8) - (11), (14), (16), (20). 96-07-078, § 230-20-050, filed 3/19/96, effective 7/1/96; Order 53, § 230-20-050, filed 5/25/76; Order 42, § 230-20-050, filed 9/18/75; Order 23, § 230-20-050, filed 9/23/74; Order 5, § 230-20-050, filed 12/19/73, 1:25 p.m.]
OTS-6433.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 371, filed 5/18/99,
effective 7/1/99)
WAC 230-20-242
Activities conducted as a part of bingo
games -- Authorization -- Restrictions.
Bingo licensees may award
prizes to winners of activities authorized by this section
when such activities are conducted as a part of bingo games. Such activities shall be deemed to be bingo games if all
players paying to participate are allowed to compete equally
and all prizes awarded are treated as bingo game prizes for
purposes of compliance with WAC 230-20-059.
(1) Drawings. Each licensee shall be allowed to award prizes that are determined by a random drawing of tickets or by other random selection methods involving the numbering system on such tickets if the requirements of WAC 230-20-105 are followed: Provided, That upon approval by commission staff, a licensee may use bingo cards in place of tickets if the requirements of WAC 230-20-107 are followed, and:
(a) All rules regarding these drawings, including requirements to qualify for participation, time and date of the drawing, and whether a player must be present to win, are clearly posted and distinctly explained to the players;
(b) Tickets or other facsimiles used to enter such drawings are awarded only to players purchasing cards to play in bingo games;
(c) Tickets, from which the winners of any such drawing are selected, shall not be accumulated for a period that is longer than thirty days. Drawings may be conducted using tickets that accumulate during any bingo occasion, week, or any other period that does not exceed thirty consecutive days;
(d) Players may only be awarded or otherwise receive tickets to participate in drawings at bingo games by meeting the following criteria:
(i) Pay an amount not to exceed one dollar per ticket. If a licensee elects to charge for entry into drawings, such drawings shall not be combined with other means of entry allowed by this subsection, and the gross gambling receipts, prizes, and expenses shall be recorded and reported as bingo activities: Provided, that if players are required to purchase tickets to enter the drawing, they shall not be required to be present to win if the drawing is not held at the same session as tickets are purchased;
(ii) Be a winner of a bingo game during the session;
(iii) Be a "good neighbor" winner, as defined by
subsection (((3))) (2) of this section; or
(iv) Meet other specific and predetermined criterion that has been approved by the director;
(e) The criterion for granting tickets, and the number of tickets awarded during each session, shall be recorded in the daily bingo record for each session. All winning tickets and other records shall be maintained as a part of the daily bingo records.
(2) ((Creativity and originality contests. A bingo
licensee may conduct contests in which players may demonstrate
their creativity and originality skills on up to eight
occasions annually. The following rules must be observed in
conducting these contests:
(a) The total value of prizes shall not exceed five hundred dollars during any occasion;
(b) Only players who have paid to participate in bingo games during the current session may participate in the contest; and
(c) A record shall be completed for each contest setting out the criterion for selecting the winners, the number of participants in the contest, and all details required by WAC 230-08-080 and 230-20-102. Such records shall be maintained as a part of the daily bingo records.
(3))) "Good neighbor" prize schemes. A licensee may award prizes based upon the seating location of a player or players in regards to a winner of a bingo game or other approved criteria. The following requirements must be observed prior to awarding "good neighbor" prizes:
(a) All rules regarding these prizes, including the amount to be awarded to each "good neighbor" or group of "good neighbors" and all requirements to qualify for a prize, must be clearly posted and distinctly explained to the players; and
(b) A record shall be completed setting out the criterion for awarding such prizes, the number of such prizes awarded during each session, and all details required by WAC 230-08-080 and 230-20-102. Such record shall be maintained as a part of the daily bingo records.
(((4))) (3) Second element of chance schemes. Licensees
may use these schemes to increase the minimum prize for a
bingo game after the winner(s) of the game has been determined
by calling numbers and symbols if:
(a) The schemes do not involve the use of gambling devices specifically prohibited by public policy or commission rules;
(b) A player's minimum odds of winning the highest prize is equal to or greater than one winner out of one hundred twenty-five chances or the probability of winning the highest prize is.008 or greater;
(c) The scheme does not require the player to risk any portion of a prize already won;
(d) Every possible outcome of the scheme provides the player with an additional prize;
(e) All rules regarding play of the game are clearly posted and distinctly explained to the players. At least the following information shall be disclosed:
(i) The players minimum odds of winning the highest prize;
(ii) How a winner is determined;
(iii) Any contingencies or special requirements that may affect the outcome;
(iv) The cash value of the highest prize available; and
(v) Any financial burden that must be borne by the winner, such as taxes or registration fees.
(f) All requirements of WAC 230-20-010 are met before cards are purchased; and
(g) The scheme and supporting records contain control factors necessary for commission audit.
(((5) Birthday bonus prizes. Licensees may offer
birthday bonus prizes to players who win a bingo game subject
to the following restrictions:
(a) The maximum bonus prize is fifty dollars;
(b) The player's birthday must be within the calendar week that the winning combination occurred and the bonus is paid;
(c) A licensee may award only one birthday bonus to any player during any calendar year;
(d) In addition to all requirements of WAC 230-20-102, the prize receipt for such prizes must include:
(i) The address of the winner;
(ii) The player's date of birth; and
(iii) The type of identification provided by the player to verify the winner's date of birth.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 99-11-078 (Order 371), § 230-20-242, filed 5/18/99, effective 7/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (1), (2). 97-14-013, § 230-20-242, filed 6/20/97, effective 7/21/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070, 9.46.0209, 9.46.0237, 9.46.0205 and 9.46.075. 96-24-008 (Order 303), § 230-20-242, filed 11/21/96, effective 12/22/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (1), (8) - (11), (14), (20). 96-13-067 (Order 293), § 230-20-242, filed 6/18/96, effective 7/19/96. Statutory Authority: Chapter 9.46 RCW. 94-24-055 (Order 263), § 230-20-242, filed 12/5/94, effective 1/5/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 93-13-062 (Order 240), § 230-20-242, filed 6/17/93, effective 7/18/93.]
OTS-6396.1
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 230-20-052 | Transportation provided to bingo players. |
OTS-6435.1
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 230-20-190 | Bingo card prices. |