WSR 15-15-065
PERMANENT RULES
GAMBLING COMMISSION
[Order 714—Filed July 10, 2015, 1:17 p.m., effective August 9, 2015]
Effective Date of Rule: August 9, 2015.
Purpose: At their July 2015 meeting, the commissioners adopted rules to streamline regulations related to card games. The changes:
Remove the nine player limit for Mini Baccarat when the game is operated according to the nonpatented approved game rules posted on our web site and without any modifications as allowed in WAC 230-15-040.
Add a definition for gaming area and clarify the gaming area includes poker tables. The requirement for two levels of supervision was also removed.
Remove detailed key control requirements to give licensees the flexibility to set key control standards that best meet their operational needs.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 230-15-005, 230-15-460 and 230-15-630; and repealing WAC 230-15-635, 230-15-640, 230-15-645, 230-15-650, 230-15-655, 230-15-660, 230-15-665, 230-15-670, and 230-15-675.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070, 9.46.0282.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 15-09-076 on April 15 [16], 2015.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The three rules relating to promotions were removed from this rules package for further review and will be brought back at a later date.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 9, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 9, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 9, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 9, 2015.
Susan Newer
Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-23-079, filed 11/18/08, effective 1/1/09)
WAC 230-15-055 Limit on number of players at each table.
Card game licensees must only allow:
(1) Up to nine players or areas for wagering at any table in house-banked card games. This section does not apply to Mini-Baccarat when the game is operated according to the nonpatented approved game rules posted on the agency's web site and without any modifications as allowed in WAC 230-15-040.
(2) Up to ten players at any table in nonhouse-banked card games.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-11-044, filed 5/14/08, effective 7/1/08)
WAC 230-15-460 Supervision requirements for house-banked card rooms.
(1) House-banked card game licensees must have at least one floor supervisor for each gambling ((area. Each supervisor may supervise up to seven tables. We must approve the arrangement of tables in the internal controls.
(2) Licensees must have two levels of supervision present on the business premises if more than ten tables are open. Poker tables operated in a separate gambling area are not included in the calculation of levels of supervision)) area/pit.
(2) Gambling area/pit means a self-contained group of card tables, including poker tables, physically separated from other tables. The separation may be due to the layout of the tables or physical barriers, such as walls, chains, or ropes.
(3) A card room employee may act as a dealer and a supervisor during the same shift as long as he or she does not sign forms as both the dealer and the supervisor.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 07-09-033, filed 4/10/07, effective 1/1/08)
WAC 230-15-630 ((Restricting access and)) Controlling keys and restricting access.
House-banked card game licensees must:
(1) Use keys or electronic key control systems to control access to restricted areas of the business premises((.
(1) Licensees must install and keep key control boxes that, at least:
(a) Are constructed of metal with a minimum of one keylock mechanism. We permit coded key boxes or combination key boxes; and
(b) Are attached to a permanent structure without the hardware used to attach the key box being visible; and
(c) Are tamper proof; and
(d) Store keys so that they are identifiable, have identification labels, and are displayed in numeric or alphabetic order; and
(2) Licensees may decide the location of key control boxes, but the location must not allow an individual to gain access to a restricted area that he or she would not otherwise be authorized to enter.
(3) If licensees locate key boxes in restricted areas, persons who are not authorized to enter those areas must give their key to the key box to an authorized person. The authorized person must then only open the key box in the presence of the unauthorized person or while under camera coverage)); and
(2) Restrict access to keys or electronic key control systems to only those licensed card room employees whose specific job functions and duties require access to them; and
(3) Keep a key control log in the format we require.
REPEALER
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
WAC 230-15-635
Electronic key control systems.
WAC 230-15-640
Keeping individual key control boxes for departments.
WAC 230-15-645
Keeping a key control log.
WAC 230-15-650
Keys for the gambling operations department.
WAC 230-15-655
Keys for the security department.
WAC 230-15-660
Keys for the accounting department.
WAC 230-15-665
Keys for the surveillance department.
WAC 230-15-670
Keeping a master key control box.
WAC 230-15-675
Key control box for the emergency key.