PERMANENT RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The petitioner requested that the maximum prize limit for pull-tab carry-over jackpots be increased from $2,000 to $5,000, and the maximum number of tabs per series be increased from 6,000 tabs to 10,000 tabs. The petitioner's request was approved at the July 13, 2007, commission meeting.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 230-30-045.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-11-080 on May 15, 2007, with a published date of June 6, 2007.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: July 16, 2007.
Susan Arland
Rules Coordinator
OTS-9720.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 410, filed 2/22/02,
effective 7/1/02)
WAC 230-30-045
Carry-over jackpot pull-tab
series -- Definitions -- Requirements.
Operators may utilize
pull-tab series that are specifically designed to include
carry-over jackpots. The following definitions and
requirements shall apply to these series:
Definitions.
(1) The following definitions apply to pull-tab series
with carry-over jackpots:
(a) "Carry-over jackpot" means a prize pool that is composed of accumulated contribution amounts from pull-tab series which, if not won, are carried over to other pull-tab series;
(b) "Contribution amount" means the amount from each series which is added to the carry-over jackpot; and
(c) "Guaranteed prizes" means all prizes available to be won, excluding the contribution amount or carry-over jackpot;
Prize payout requirements.
(2) The following requirements apply to prizes and prize
payout calculations for carry-over jackpots:
(a) Guaranteed prizes must be 60% or more of gross receipts available from the pull-tab series;
(b) The contribution amount for each series may not be more than five hundred dollars;
(c) The contribution amount and the method of play shall be determined by the manufacturer and disclosed on the flare;
Maximum jackpot amount.
(d) At no time shall an accumulated carry-over jackpot
exceed ((two)) five thousand dollars. If the carry-over
jackpot is awarded, the sum of the advance-level prize and the
carry-over jackpot prize shall not exceed ((two)) five
thousand dollars.
Jackpot must be carried over until won.
(e) Accumulated carry-over jackpots shall be carried over
to subsequent series until won;
Jackpot must be paid out.
(f) The carry-over jackpot must be awarded. Failure to
have sufficient funds available, or any attempt by an operator
to utilize carry-over jackpots for personal or organizational
purposes, shall be prima facie evidence of defrauding the
players in violation of RCW 9.46.190;
Maximum prize amounts for series when jackpots are not
awarded.
(g) If the jackpot is not awarded and is carried over to
a new series, the sum of the advance-level prize and the
consolation prize shall not exceed five hundred dollars;
Distribution of jackpots when a licensee ceases to operate.
(3) If a licensee ceases to operate gambling activities
due to a sale, closure, or failure to maintain a valid
gambling license, the carry-over jackpot shall be:
(a) Transferred to the new licensee, which has a valid gambling license. The new licensee shall operate the carry-over jackpot game until the prize is awarded;
(b) Awarded to a player by playing out the game prior to closure;
(c) Distributed to the Washington state council on problem gambling; or
(d) Distributed to a charitable or nonprofit organization licensed by the Washington state gambling commission;
Bonus pull-tab series.
(4) The following additional requirements apply to bonus
pull-tab series with carry-over jackpots:
(a) The odds of winning the carry-over jackpot shall not exceed one winner out of ten chances, or the probability of winning the carry-over jackpot shall be .10 or higher, at the jackpot level;
(b) There may only be one advance level on the flare;
(c) There shall be at least one guaranteed chance to win the carry-over jackpot;
(d) All chances that are included on the flare shall be covered in a manner that prevents determination of the concealed numbers or symbols prior to being opened by the player. If perforated windows are used, the numbers or symbols must be covered by latex, foil, or other approved means; and
(e) Standards for bonus pull-tab flares, as set forth in WAC 230-30-106, shall apply;
Maximum number of tickets.
(5) The maximum ticket count for pull-tab series with
carry-over jackpots shall be six thousand tickets;
Secondary win codes.
(6) The secondary win codes on pull-tab series with
carry-over jackpots must not repeat within a three-year
period;
Replacing series.
(7) Once it has been determined that no chances to win
the carry-over jackpot remain in a series and the jackpot has
not been won, the series shall be removed from play and
replaced with a new series within seven operating days;
Transferring a jackpot to another game.
(8) If a carry-over jackpot is not won prior to removing
a series from play, it shall be carried over to a new series
within one operating day from when the series was removed from
play. The accrued contribution amounts from all previous
series shall be added to the contribution amount from the new
series, up to two thousand dollars;
Recording names of winners.
(9) For carry-over jackpots in the amount of six hundred
dollars and over, the winner's full name, address, and Social
Security number shall be recorded on a separate form for
income tax purposes;
Retention requirements.
(10) Each pull-tab series contributing to a specific
carry-over jackpot must be retained as one series. The
retention period for these series shall be as required by WAC 230-30-072(3): Provided, That the retention period shall
start on the last day of the month in which the carry-over
jackpot was awarded rather than when the series was removed
from play; and
Documenting the flow of jackpots.
(11) Operators are required to maintain a separate record
documenting the flow of carry-over jackpots from one game to
another in a format prescribed by the commission;
Recordkeeping on cash basis only - exception.
(12) For the purposes of monthly records set forth in WAC 230-08-010, all operators shall record carry-over jackpots on
a cash basis. This means that carry-over jackpot contribution
amounts shall not be recorded on monthly records until the
prize is awarded: Provided, That punch board/pull-tab
licensees who also hold a Class F or above bingo license may
accrue carry-over jackpot contribution amounts on their
monthly records if the following conditions are met:
(a) Prior approval is received from the director;
(b) The contribution amounts, up to the point where the jackpot reaches the maximum, shall be recorded as prizes paid on the monthly records;
(c) When the jackpot is awarded, only amounts not previously accrued, if any, shall be recorded as a prize paid;
(d) No more than five carry-over jackpot series shall be in play at once; and
(e) If the contribution amount is not deposited with the net receipts (required by WAC 230-12-020), a proper audit trail and adequate security over the funds must be maintained; and
Director approval required.
(13) The director shall approve the following aspects of
all pull-tab games with carry-over jackpots prior to sale in
Washington state:
(a) The design, payout, method of play, and flare for each pull-tab series;
(b) The manufacturing process for the pull-tab series and flares; and
(c) The secondary win code system for the pull-tab series.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 02-06-007 (Order 410), § 230-30-045, filed 2/22/02, effective 7/1/02; 98-24-089 (Order 368), § 230-30-045, filed 12/1/98, effective 1/1/99; 98-15-074 (Order 359), § 230-30-045, filed 7/15/98, effective 1/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (2), (11) and (14). 97-19-083, § 230-30-045, filed 9/16/97, effective 1/1/98.]