PERMANENT RULES
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2009.
Purpose: At the May 2008 meeting, the commission filed a petition for rule change from the Recreational Gaming Association (RGA) to increase the maximum amount of a single wager in nonhouse-banked card games from $40 to $500. This change would only apply to house-banked card game licensees who offer poker games. Class E and Class F card game licensees will continue to be limited to the $40 wager limit. After months of discussion, at their January 2009 meeting, the commission filed Alternatives #1 and #2 for discussion. The commission decided not to continue discussion of the RGA's original request outlined above.
Alternative #1: At their November 2008 meeting, the commission asked staff to draft alternative language to WAC 230-15-135 to only allow a specific type of "all-in" wager for Texas Hold'em to be up to $500 while the rest remained at $40. In order to place the wager, the player would be required to use all his or her remaining chips. If a player had more than $500 in chips, they would not be eligible to place the wager. The house-banked card room must meet the surveillance requirements in WAC 230-15-280.
Alternative #2: This alternative was proposed by the RGA after staff asked for comments on Alternative #1. The RGA's alternative would allow single wagers up to $300 for Texas Hold'em games only, as long as the house-banked card room meets the surveillance requirements in WAC 230-15-280. This alternative is broader than Alternative #1 and would result in a player being able to wager more money than in Alternative #1, but less than in the RGA's original proposal.
At their April 2009 meeting, the commission adopted Alternative #1.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 230-15-135.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-03-093 on January 20, 2009, and published February 4, 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: April 10, 2009.
Susan Arland
Rules Coordinator
OTS-2079.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 617, filed 10/22/07,
effective 1/1/08)
WAC 230-15-135
Wagering limits for nonhouse-banked card
games.
Card room licensees must not exceed these wagering
limits:
(1) Poker -
(a) There must be no more than five betting rounds in any one game; and
(b) There must be no more than four wagers in any betting round, for example, the initial wager plus three raises; and
(c) The maximum amount of a single wager must not exceed forty dollars, except that an all-in wager in the game of Texas Hold'em may not exceed five hundred dollars for house-banked card game licensees meeting the surveillance requirements specified in WAC 230-15-280; and
(d) An all-in wager is when a player wagers with all of their remaining chips on the current hand;
(2) Games based on achieving a specific number of points - Each point must not exceed five cents in value;
(3) Ante - No more than the maximum wager allowed for the first betting round for any game, except for Panguingue (Pan). The ante may, by house rule:
(a) Be made by one or more players, but the total ante may not exceed the maximum wager allowed for the first betting round; and
(b) Be used as part of a player's wager;
(4) Panguingue (Pan) - The maximum value of a chip must not exceed ten dollars. An ante must not exceed one chip. We prohibit doubling of conditions. Players going out may collect no more than two additional chips for going out from each participating player.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 07-21-116 (Order 617), § 230-15-135, filed 10/22/07, effective 1/1/08; 07-09-033 (Order 608), § 230-15-135, filed 4/10/07, effective 1/1/08.]