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                     ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL 2918

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representative Wood

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Authorizing certain organizations to conduct bingo.

    AN ACT Relating to authorizing bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations to conduct bingo; amending RCW 9.46.0205; and adding new sections to chapter 9.46 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 9.46.0205 and 1987 c 4 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    "Bingo," as used in this chapter, means a game conducted only in the county within which the organization is principally located in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card conforming to numbers or symbols selected at random and in which no cards are sold except at the time and place of said game, when said game is conducted by a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization ((which does not conduct or allow its premises to be used for conducting bingo on more than three occasions per week and which does not conduct bingo in any location which is used for conducting bingo on more than three occasions per week)), or if an agricultural fair authorized under chapters 15.76 and 36.37 RCW, which does not conduct bingo on more than twelve consecutive days in any calendar year, and except in the case of any agricultural fair as authorized under chapters 15.76 and 36.37 RCW, no person other than a bona fide member or an employee of said organization takes any part in the management or operation of said game, and no person who takes any part in the management or operation of said game takes any part in the management or operation of any game conducted by any other organization or any other branch of the same organization, unless approved by the commission, and no part of the proceeds thereof inure to the benefit of any person other than the organization conducting said game.  For the purposes of this section, the organization shall be deemed to be principally located in the county within which it has its primary business office.  If the organization has no business office, the organization shall be deemed to be located in the county of principal residence of its chief executive officer:  PROVIDED, That any organization which is conducting any licensed and established bingo game in any locale as of January 1, 1981, shall be exempt from the requirement that such game be conducted in the county in which the organization is principally located.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 9.46 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Notwithstanding RCW 9.46.070, the commission may not issue any new licenses under RCW 9.46.070(1) until July 1, 2007.

    (2) The commission may allow existing licensees under RCW 9.46.070(1) to share facilities at one location.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9.46 RCW to read as follows:

    An entity licensed under RCW 9.46.070(1) which conducts or allows its premises to be used for conducting bingo on more than three occasions per week shall include the following statement in any advertising or promotion of gambling activity conducted by the licensee:

"CAUTION:  Participation in gambling activity may result in pathological gambling behavior causing emotional and financial harm.  For help, call 1-800-547-6133."

    For purposes of this section, "advertising" includes print media, point-of-sale advertising, electronic media, billboards, and radio advertising.

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