SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESB 5745

                       AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 14, 1991

Brief Description:  Clarifying licensing requirements for special amusement games.

SPONSORS:Senators Moore, Matson, West, McMullen, von Reichbauer, Murray, Stratton, Anderson and Bauer.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Matson, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, McCaslin, McDonald, McMullen, Moore, Murray, and Skratek. 

Staff:  Patrick Woods (786‑7430)

Hearing Dates:February 27, 1991; March 6, 1991

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Gambling Commission currently licenses and regulates amusement games within the state.  "Amusement game" is defined as a game played for entertainment in which:  the contestant actively participates; the outcome depends in a material degree upon the skill of the contestant; only merchandise prizes are awarded; the outcome is not in the control of the operator; and the game is administered in the presence of participants.  These games include Fishpond, Hoop Toss, Football and Basketball Toss, Skeet Ball, etc.  "Amusement games" may only be conducted at locations specifically authorized by the Gambling Commission which include:  agricultural fairs; civic centers of a county, city or town; world's fairs; annual civic festivals; annual shopping center expositions (limited to 17 days); and amusement parks.

Under the Gambling Commission's existing guidelines, shopping mall amusement centers are not permitted to conduct amusement games on a continual basis throughout the year. 

SUMMARY:

The Gambling Commission's existing regulations regarding the permissible location of amusement games are codified, to include:  agricultural fairs; civic centers of a county, city or town; world's fairs; annual civic festivals; annual shopping center expositions (limited to 17 days); and amusement parks.

Regional shopping centers are added to the list of permissible locations in which amusement games may be conducted.   A "regional shopping center" is defined as a center developed and operated for retail sales consisting of more than 600,000 gross square feet.

Amusement games may only be conducted in a location upon conformance with local zoning, fire and health regulations, and provided operators have obtained the written permission of the organization owning the premises or sponsoring the event in which the games are operated.

Regional shopping centers in which "amusement games" are conducted are required to meet the following criteria including:  provide adult supervision during all hours of operation; prohibit school age minors from entry during school hours; maintain full time security and maintenance personnel; and limit hours of operation to those of the regional shopping center except on Fridays and Saturdays, when the closing time may be extended to 10:00 p.m.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Adding regional shopping centers to the list of authorized locations in which "amusement games" may be conducted will be an economic boost to the participating malls and the communities in which they are located.  In addition, malls containing "amusement centers" will provide the region with a family entertainment center.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Denny Eliason, Sabey (pro); Robert Reeder, Nickels and Dimes (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

The list of permissible locations in which amusement games may be conducted is expanded to include:

1)A location that holds a liquor license and prohibits minors on the premises;

2)Movie theaters, bowling alleys, miniature golf facilities and amusement centers;

3)An on premise food service establishment which includes at least three of the following activities:  amusement devices; theatrical productions; mechanical rides; motion pictures; and slide show presentations.  Movie theaters, bowling alleys, miniature golf facilities, and food service establishments that conduct amusement games are required to:  provide adult supervision; prohibit school age minors from entry during school hours; maintain fulltime security and maintenance personnel and prohibit minors from playing amusement games after 10:00 p.m.