S-1921.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5560
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Schow, Prentice, Snyder, Anderson and Horn)
Read first time 02/27/97.
AN ACT Relating to social card games; amending RCW 9.46.0265; adding a new section to chapter 9.46 RCW; and repealing RCW 9.46.0281.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9.46 RCW to read as follows:
"Social card game" as used in this chapter means a card game that constitutes gambling and is authorized by the commission under RCW 9.46.070. Authorized card games may include a house-banked or a player-funded banked card game. No one may participate in the card game or have an interest in the proceeds of the card game who is not a player or a person licensed by the commission to participate in social card games. There shall be two or more participants in the card game who are players or persons licensed by the commission. The card game must be played in accordance with the rules adopted by the commission under RCW 9.46.070, which shall include but not be limited to rules for the collection of fees, limitation of wagers, and management of player funds. The number of tables authorized shall be set by the commission but shall not exceed a total of fifteen separate tables per establishment.
Sec. 2. RCW 9.46.0265 and 1991 c 261 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
"Player," as used in this chapter, means a natural person who engages, on equal terms with the other participants, and solely as a contestant or bettor, in any form of gambling in which no person may receive or become entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of a particular gambling activity. A natural person who gambles at a social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants shall not be considered as rendering material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the social game merely by performing, without fee or remuneration, acts directed toward the arrangement or facilitation of the game, such as inviting persons to play, permitting the use of premises for the game, or supplying cards or other equipment to be used in the games. A person who engages in "bookmaking" as defined in this chapter is not a "player." A person who pays a fee or "vigorish" enabling him or her to place a wager with a bookmaker, or pays a fee other than as authorized by this chapter to participate in a card game, contest of chance, lottery, or gambling activity, is not a player.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. RCW 9.46.0281 and 1996 c 314 s 1, 1994 c 120 s 2, & 1987 c 4 s 21 are each repealed.
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