WSR 16-23-153
PERMANENT RULES
GAMBLING COMMISSION
[Filed November 22, 2016, 2:43 p.m., effective December 23, 2016]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The petitioner requested increased wagering limits for nonhouse-banked card games, such as poker. Specifically, the proposed change would:
•
Allow Class F and house-banked cardrooms to assess players of nonhouse-banked cared [card] games a rake fee of up to ten percent of the pot with no limit. Currently, the rake cannot be more than $5 per hand or ten percent of the total wagers for a hand, whichever is less; and
•
Increase the maximum amount of a single wager for nonhouse-banked card games, not just Texas Hold 'Em, from $100 to $300 at Class F card rooms.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 230-15-080 and 230-15-135.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070, 9.46.0201.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 16-20-099 on October 4, 2016.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: November 10, 2016.
Michelle Rancour
Acting Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-09-033, filed 4/10/07, effective 1/1/08)
WAC 230-15-080 Authorized fees and authorized methods of collection.
Card game licensees must collect only one type of card game fee at a table at any given time. The following are authorized types of fees, the card game licensees who may use those fee types, and the methods of collection:
Authorized types of fees
Licensees authorized to use the fee types
Authorized methods of collection
Maximum amount to collect
(1)
Period of time - 
Class A, B, C, E, F
Direct collection;
or
Chip rack - Only allowed if licensed for three or fewer tables;
or
Drop box.
Not more than ten dollars per hour, per player.
 
(a)
Licensees must collect the fee at least once per hour at times the licensee chooses, for example, at thirty minute increments; and
 
(b)
Licensees must record all fees immediately after collection; or
 
(2)
Per hand played - 
Class F and house-banked
Drop box;
or
Chip rack - Only allowed if licensed for three or fewer tables.
Not more than one dollar per hand, per player.
(a)
Players must place fees charged on a per-hand basis in a designated area of the table and dealers must collect them before dealing the first round of cards; and
 
(b)
After collecting the fees, dealers must deposit all chips or coins in either the drop box or chip rack; or
 
(3)
Rake - 
Class F and house-banked
Drop box;
or
Chip rack - Only allowed if licensed for three or fewer tables.
Not more than ((five dollars per hand or)) ten percent of the total wagers for a hand((, whichever is less)).
(a)
Dealers must collect fees charged on the amounts wagered during the play of the hand and place the fees in a designated area of the table; and
 
(b)
Once dealers accumulate the maximum fee for a hand, they must spread the chips or coins to allow players and the surveillance system to view the amount collected. After spreading the chips or coins, the dealer deposits them in either the drop box or chip rack.
 
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 16-18-024, filed 8/26/16, effective 9/26/16)
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 ((may offer a maximum single wager not to exceed one hundred dollars)) and house-banked card game licensees may offer a single wager not to exceed three hundred dollars;
(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.