FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6430

                          C 314 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing social card game provisions.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Schow and Spanel).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  Under current law, taverns, restaurants, and other businesses primarily engaged in selling food or drink may be licensed to conduct social card games.  Nonprofit and charitable organizations are also allowed to conduct social card games.

Licensees may not operate more than five separate card tables at an establishment.  House banked card games (such as blackjack) and player supported prize contests (such as jackpot poker) associated with card games are currently prohibited by state law.

Licensees are permitted to charge players an hourly sitting fee, currently set at a maximum of $6 per hour, per player or a tournament entry fee not to exceed $50. Licensees are prohibited from collecting any additional fee from the players.

Summary:  A card room licensee may be allowed by the Gambling Commission to operate up to 15 separate card tables at an establishment.  In addition, licensees are authorized to act as custodian of player supported prize contests associated with card games.

Licensees are authorized to collect a fee, including a percentage of a winner's prize, from card players.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    30 14

House     78 13 (House amended)

Senate        (Senate refused to concur)

House     83 15 (House receded)

Effective:  June 6, 1996