SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2382

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 25, 1994

Brief Description:  Changing gambling provisions.

SPONSORS: Representatives Veloria, Lisk, Heavey, Horn, Anderson, Schmidt, King, Chandler, Conway and Springer

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Pelz, Prince, Sutherland and Vognild.

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates: February 23, 1994; February 25, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Currently, card rooms may be operated by either commercial stimulant or bona fide charitable or nonprofit operators.  The operators' gross receipts are generated through collection for time, not through the level of wagering at the tables.  Card rooms may charge up to $2 per half hour of playing time.

Under current law, an activity is operated as a commercial stimulant only when it is an incidental activity operated in connection with, and incidental to, an established business, with the primary purpose of increasing the volume of sales of food or drink for consumption on the premises.  The Gambling Commission has the authority to establish guidelines and criteria for applying this definition.

SUMMARY:

The sections of the gambling code defining "commercial stimulant" and providing the maximum fee for play at a card room are amended.

An activity is operated as a commercial stimulant only when it is an activity operated in connection with an established business, with the purpose of increasing the volume of sales of food or drink for consumption on the premises.

Card rooms may charge up to $3 per half hour of playing time.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 25, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill increases the amount a card room can charge for card playing from $2 to $3 a half hour and gives the Gambling Commission more flexibility in the enforcement of the commercial stimulant laws.  The law establishing the fee for card playing has not been changed since 1985.  This bill will allow card room operators to pass on some of the increased costs that have been experienced over the years through this minor fee increase.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Velma Veloria, prime sponsor; Frank Miller, Gambling Commission; Ron Porter, Recreational Gaming Association; Fred Steiner, Diamond Lil's Restaurant; Dave Pardey, Skyway Park Bowl; Ron Sellar, Washington State Licensed Beverage Association