Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2013.

     Purpose: The Recreational Gaming Association requested a rule change to increase Texas Hold'em wager limits from $40 to $100. This proposal came after an eighteen month pilot study by the commission which increased wager limits from $40 to $100 for Texas Hold'em poker. The pilot program began October 2010 and ended May 2012; however, the higher limits are in place until December 31, 2012, or until the commission takes action. Because the pilot study is over, the petition also includes a repealer for WAC 230-15-189. The commission filed the petition for further discussion at their August 2012, meeting, discussed it further in September and adopted the petition at their October 2012, commission meeting.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 230-15-189; and amending WAC 230-15-135.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070 and 9.46.0282.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 12-17-092 on August 16, 2012.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 1.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 1.

     Date Adopted: October 12, 2012.

Susan Newer

Rules Coordinator

OTS-4975.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 658, filed 10/9/09, effective 11/9/09)

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; however, class F and house-banked card game licensees may offer a single wager not to exceed one hundred dollars for the game of Texas Hold'em;

     (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, 9.46.0282. 09-21-013 (Order 658), § 230-15-135, filed 10/9/09, effective 11/9/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 09-09-056 (Order 642), § 230-15-135, filed 4/10/09, effective 7/1/09; 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.]

OTS-4973.1

REPEALER

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 230-15-189

House-banked and Class F card game licensee pilot program on wagering limits for Texas Hold'em poker.