Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-05-054.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amendatory sections WAC 230-12-340 Sale of gambling equipment, devices, supplies, paraphernalia, and related services -- Authorized transactions and 230-20-244 Electronic bingo card daubers -- Definition -- Operating restrictions -- Standards.

     Hearing Location(s): Hilton Hotel, 301 West 6th Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, (360) 993-4500, on July 14, 2006, at 9:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: July 14, 2006.

     Submit Written Comments to: Susan Arland, Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42400, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail Susana@wsgc.wa.gov, fax (360) 486-3625, by July 1, 2006.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Shirley Corbett by July 1, 2006, TTY (360) 486-3637 or (360) 486-3447.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Currently, manufacturers and distributors must base fees on the number of times an electronic bingo dauber is used, or the number of sessions it is used at. Bingo operators are not billed if the electronic bingo dauber is not used.

     The petitioner is requesting that manufacturers and distributors be allowed to lease electronic bingo daubers based on the number of bingo cards sold to a device.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070.

     Statute Being Implemented: Not applicable.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: Policy considerations: This is a significant departure from the commission's application of RCW 9.46.120, which has not allowed billings to be based on a percentage of sales. The petitioner has not provided information necessary to determine if this change would increase the overall profitability of the gambling activity and comports with WAC 230-02-108 which states "expenses are deemed to be necessary when ... they improve the overall profitability of the activity by increasing gross gambling receipts more than the corresponding increase in expenses."

     Name of Proponent: GameTech International, Inc., licensed manufacturer, private.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Susan Arland, Rules Coordinator, Lacey, (360) 486-3466; Implementation: Rick Day, Director, Lacey, (360) 486-3446; and Enforcement: Neal Nunamaker, Deputy Director, Lacey, (360) 486-3452.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. A small business economic impact statement has not been prepared pursuant to RCW 19.85.025 and/or the proposed rule does not impose more than minor, if any, costs to businesses and no disproportionate impact to small businesses has been identified.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The Washington state gambling commission is not an agency that is statutorily required to prepare a cost-benefit analysis under RCW 34.05.328.

April 20, 2006

Susan Arland

Rules Coordinator

OTS-8792.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 451, filed 9/9/05, effective 10/10/05)

WAC 230-12-340   Sale of gambling equipment, devices, supplies, paraphernalia, and related services -- Authorized transactions.   Manufacturers and distributors must not offer credit to operators in the sale of gambling equipment, devices, related supplies or paraphernalia, and services. Manufacturers and distributors must conduct all sales of such to operators on a cash basis. "Cash basis" means full payment is received by the seller on or before actual delivery of the product or service to the purchaser.

Capital leases.

     (1) All licensed manufacturers and distributors may sell gambling equipment such as dispensers, bingo blowers, roulette wheels, etc., and gambling-related support equipment through capital lease agreements or other financing arrangements to operators subject to the following conditions and requirements:

     (a) The cost of a single item, or group of similar and related items included in the sale, exceeds one thousand dollars;

     (b) The term of the contract does not exceed forty-eight months;

     (c) All terms of the contract are in writing and copies of such agreements are provided to the commission within thirty days of execution;

     (d) The manufacturer or distributor retains only a security interest in the item sold and cannot obtain any ownership interest in the licensee, or exercise any control over the use of the item in the licensed activity;

     (e) The amount of payments is not based on the size or level of gambling activity and is determined by use of a standard amortization schedule for the term and stated interest rate;

     (f) The interest rate charged by the contract is set at the time of sale and does not vary during the term of the contract; and

     (g) The contract does not require the purchaser to directly or indirectly purchase any other products or services from the seller.

Rental or license agreements.

     (2) Except for punch boards, pull-tabs, bingo paper, bingo supplies, playing cards, and other consumable gambling-related equipment or devices, manufacturers and distributors may lease or rent gambling equipment to operators. Manufacturers may also enter into license agreements with operators for use of the manufacturer's patented, copyrighted, or trademarked games.

     (3) Manufacturers and distributors may only base fee structures for electronic bingo equipment on the number of times a device is used, the number of bingo cards sold to a device or the number of bingo sessions in which devices are used. Fees must not be determined by a percentage of sales, ((the number of bingo cards sold through the device,)) or the average amount a player spends on a device.

    
Check or credit card purchases.

     (4) Operators may purchase goods and services from manufacturers or distributors when paid for by checks, or credit card issued by a state and/or federally regulated financial institution that meet the requirements of WAC 230-12-350.

Exceptions.

     (5) All transactions between manufacturers or distributors and tribal governments or companies certified to manage class III gambling activities operated under a tribal/state compact are exempt from all provisions of this section;

     (6) Charitable or nonprofit organizations licensed to conduct bingo may purchase bingo cards and bingo supplies from distributors and/or manufacturers and receive such without making immediate payment if payment is made, by check or cash, no later than thirty days after delivery of the product.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 05-19-019 (Order 451), § 230-12-340, filed 9/9/05, effective 10/10/05; 02-10-003 (Order 411), § 230-12-340, filed 4/18/02, effective 7/1/02; 98-21-009 (Order 365), § 230-12-340, filed 10/9/98, effective 1/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (14) and (20). 97-20-026, § 230-12-340, filed 9/22/97, effective 1/1/98.]

OTS-8793.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 409, filed 2/22/02, effective 7/1/02)

WAC 230-20-244   Electronic bingo card daubers -- Definition -- Operating restrictions -- Standards.   The commission deems that any device, apparatus, or scheme that allows a player in any gambling activity a material advantage over other players is against public policy and restriction of such is in the public's interest. Electronic bingo card marking devices or daubers are deemed to provide a player a material advantage unless operated in accordance with subsection (2) of this section. For purposes of this title, the following definitions, restrictions, and standards apply to such devices:

Definition.

     (1) Electronic bingo card daubers are defined as electronic appliances used by players to identify bingo cards that contain numbers or symbols input by a player. These devices electronically store preprinted bingo cards purchased by a player, provide a means for players to input numbers or symbols called by the operator, compare the numbers or symbols input by the player to bingo cards previously stored in an electronic data base, and identify to the player those stored bingo cards that contain the numbers or symbols input by the player: Provided, That player-owned devices, which are not directly interfaced with or connected to equipment used to conduct bingo games or the electronic data base in which electronically generated bingo cards are stored in any manner, are not "electronic bingo card daubers" for purposes of this title;

Operating restrictions.

     (2) Electronic bingo card daubers will not be deemed to provide players a material advantage and may be used by players in bingo games when operated in the following manner:

Player responsibilities.

     (a) The player must perform at least the following functions:

     (i) Input each number or symbol called by the operator into the memory of the dauber unit by use of a separate input function for each number symbol. Automatic or global marking of numbers or symbols is prohibited;

     (ii) Notify the operator when a winning pattern or "bingo" occurs by means that do not utilize the dauber unit or the associated system; and

     (iii) Identify the winning card and display the card to the operator;

Maximum number of cards to be played during each game.

     (b) Each electronic dauber unit shall not allow a player to play more than sixty-six cards at one time.

     (c) Each player shall not use more than one electronic dauber at any point in time. Provided, That a player can play an unlimited amount of disposable or hard bingo cards in addition to using one electronic dauber unit.

Reserving electronic bingo card daubers.

     (d) Operators shall not reserve electronic daubers for any player. An operator must devise and disclose to players a scheme for assignment of dauber units to players during each session. Such schemes shall allow all players an equal opportunity to utilize the available dauber units. If a drawing is used to assign dauber units to players, the operator shall ensure that each player participating in the drawing has an equal chance to win: Provided, That operators that offer electronic dauber units shall reserve at least one device for players with disabilities that would restrict their ability to mark cards and such disabilities are consistent with definitions set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If there are no requests for use of this unit prior to fifteen minutes before the scheduled start of the session, it may be made available for use by any players;

Fees.

     (e) If operators charge players a fee for use of the electronic daubers, such fees must be a flat fee and shall not be based on the number or dollar value of cards purchased. Rental fees shall be considered bingo receipts for purposes of WAC 230-12-020: Provided, That players with disabilities that would restrict their ability to mark cards and such disabilities are consistent with the ADA shall not be required to pay a rental fee or to comply with minimum purchase requirements imposed on all players utilizing electronic daubers. Such players are required to comply with any minimum purchase requirement imposed on all players by an operator;

Card requirements.

     (f) Each player utilizing an electronic dauber must have in their possession cards that meet all requirements of WAC 230-20-240 and 230-20-106. Electronic images of cards or faces stored in such devices are for player convenience only and are not bingo cards for purposes of this title;

Leasing by an operator.

     (g) If the electronic daubers are leased to an operator, the lease cannot be based in whole or part on the amount of ((bingo card sales or)) rental income derived from such devices; and

Discounts and marketing schemes.

     (h) The use of electronic daubers is prohibited when a licensee utilizes any marketing scheme for cards that results in a decrease in the per unit price of each card as the number of cards purchased increases: Provided, That a single discount level is authorized for each type of card sold if:

     (i) The licensee has a minimum purchase requirement;

     (ii) The discount applies to all additional cards purchased; and

     (iii) "All you can play" schemes are prohibited;

Standards.

     (3) Electronic bingo card daubers must meet the following standards:

     (a) Be manufactured by licensed manufacturers;

     (b) Be sold, leased, and serviced by licensed distributors or manufacturers: Provided, That operators may perform routine maintenance on devices under their control;

     (c) Not be capable of accessing the electronic computer system in any manner that would allow modification of the program which operates and controls the dauber units or the cards stored in the electronic data base; and

     (d) Be capable of complying with applicable requirements of WAC 230-20-106.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 02-06-006 (Order 409), § 230-20-244, filed 2/22/02, effective 7/1/02; 00-07-140 (Order 381), § 230-20-244, filed 3/22/00, effective 7/1/00; 94-17-090 (Order 255), § 230-20-244, filed 8/16/94, effective 9/16/94.]

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