WSR 13-13-060 PERMANENT RULES GAMBLING COMMISSION [Order 688—Filed June 18, 2013, 9:06 a.m., effective July 19, 2013]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Galaxy Gaming, a licensed manufacturer, and Rockland Ridge Corporation, a licensed gambling service supplier, submitted a petition for rule change requesting authorization to connect "envy" and "share the wealth" "bonus features" between different card games and different tables within a house-banked card room. The commissioners filed the petition for discussion at their April 2012 meeting (WSR 12-09-045 and a continuance WSR 12-20-062 was filed in October 2012). After a year of discussion, the petitioners revised their petition to no longer connect different card game types and to connect only bonus features of the same game, over multiple tables. At their April 2013 meeting, the commissioners did not adopt the petitioners' amendments to WAC 230-15-040 which would have allowed bonus features to be connected over multiple tables for the same game. However, the commissioners did adopt a proposed amendment to WAC 230-15-685 to clarify that licensees may connect "progressive jackpots" offered on the same card game on multiple tables within the same location; this is something that is currently allowed and this rule change merely codified current practice. Unfortunately, the amendment to WAC 230-15-685 was not filed within the timeline allowed by the code reviser's office for the filing made under WSR 12-20-062. An expedited filing (WSR 13-09-068) was made to codify this amendment which was discussed for a year and previously adopted by the commissioners.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending 230-15-685.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070, 9.46.0282.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 13-09-068 filed on April 17, 2013.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: June 18, 2013.
Susan Newer
Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-09-033, filed 4/10/07, effective 1/1/08)
WAC 230-15-685 Restrictions on progressive jackpots.
House-banked card game licensees operating progressive jackpots must follow these restrictions and procedures: (1) Progressive jackpot funds must accrue according to the rules of the game; and (2) At each gambling table, licensees must prominently post the amount of the progressive jackpot that players can win; and (3) Licensees must record the beginning amount of each progressive jackpot offered, including explanations for any increases or decreases in the prize amount offered. Licensees must keep this documentation with the progressive jackpot records; and (4) Licensees may establish a maximum limit on a progressive jackpot prize. If licensees establish a limit, they must make the amount equal to, or greater than, the amount of the jackpot when they imposed the limit. They must prominently post a notice of the limit at or near the game; and (5) Licensees may connect progressive jackpots offered on the same card game on multiple tables within the same licensed location.
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