[Filed January 13, 2025, 4:34 p.m., effective February 13, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: The proposed rules require card game licensees to exchange chips for cash unless the player requests payment by check; changes the formula for determining the minimum amount of cash required to be in the cage, safe, and/or vault for house-banked card rooms; allows for specific prizes to be paid by check; and requires house-banked card room licensees to have sufficient funds to pay fixed-based prizes offered.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 230-15-186 and 230-15-187; and amending WAC 230-15-050.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-23-057 on November 15, 2024.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: January 9, 2025.

Legal and Records Manager

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-01-182, filed 12/20/21, effective 1/20/22)

WAC 230-15-050Minimum cash on hand requirements.

(1) Card game licensees must have sufficient cash on hand to redeem all chips issued for play ((and pay out all prizes)). Licensees must exchange chips brought to the cashier's cage by players for cash. However, in the event a player requests a check instead of cash for player gambling winnings over $5,000, licensees must issue the player a check within 24 hours.

(2) Within three hours of opening for the business day, at a time included in the internal controls, house-banked card game licensees must have at least the following minimum amount of cash on premises in their cage, safe, and/or vault combined:

(a) ((One))Two thousand dollars for each house-banked table on the gambling floor; plus

(b) ((The amount of the largest single prize available excluding progressive jackpot, player-supported jackpot, and house jackpot prizes.))One percent times card room gross gambling receipts from the previous calendar year according to quarterly license reports submitted to the commission; however, a new house-banked card room who has not yet submitted a full calendar year of quarterly license reports must have at least $30,000 for the purpose of this subsection.

For example: If a house-banked card room has 15 house-banked tables and ((a largest single prize of $23,000, before opening, the cage))their gross receipts were $4,000,000 in their previous calendar year, they must have at least (($38,000))$70,000 cash on hand: 15 tables × (($1,000))$2,000 = (($15,000))$30,000 + ((largest single prize of $23,000 = $38,000))1% × $4,000,000 = $40,000.

(3) ((Except for the restrictions on player-supported jackpot pay outs in WAC 230-15-405 and progressive jackpot pay outs in WAC 230-15-690,))Licensees may pay specific prizes by check if sufficient funds are available on deposit and they meet the restrictions in the rules below:

(a) WAC 230-15-405 - Player-supported jackpot prizes.

(b) WAC 230-15-690 - Progressive jackpot prizes.

(d) WAC 230-15-190 - Odds-based and fixed-based prizes.

(4) Failure to keep funds to cash in chips, pay prizes, or redeem gambling related checks is prima facie evidence of fraud. Meeting the minimum cage cash amount does not relieve the licensee from the requirement to have sufficient funds available to redeem all chips and pay out all prizes.

WAC 230-15-186Paying out odds-based and fixed-based prizes.

(1) House-banked card room licensees must immediately pay out all individual odds-based and fixed-based prizes of $5,000 or less.

(2) For individual odds-based and fixed-based prizes over $5,000, licensees must immediately pay out a minimum of $5,000 and pay the remaining balance within 24 hours by check. The player may request that the licensee pay up to the entire prize balance by check. Licensees must then issue a check for the entire prize balance within 24 hours.

WAC 230-15-187Keeping funds to pay fixed-based prizes.

House-banked card room licensees must maintain at least the amount of the single largest fixed-based prize offered in a bank, mutual savings bank, or credit union location in Washington. Alternatively, licensees may maintain the amount of the single largest fixed-based prize in cash on the licensed premises.