WSR 97-05-056
PERMANENT RULES
GAMBLING COMMISSION
[Filed February 19, 1997, 9:16 a.m., effective July 1, 1997]
Date of Adoption: February 14, 1997.
Purpose: This amendment allows a wider variation of bingo balls to be used, facilitating different types of bingo games taking place at the same time.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 230-20-240.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 9.46.070 (1), (4), (20).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 96-24-005 on November 21, 1996.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 1997.
February 18, 1997
David D. Shaw
Rules and Policy Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 218 [293], filed 11/26/90 [6/18/96],
effective 12/27/90 [7/19/96])
WAC 230-20-240 Bingo equipment to be used. The conduct of bingo must include the following required items:
(1) A mechanical device that uses air flow for mixing and randomly withdrawing balls to determine the letters and numbers or symbols to be called must be utilized by all Class D and above operators. This device shall be constructed in the following manner:
(a) It will allow participants full view of the mixing action of the balls; and
(b) The operation cannot be interrupted to change the random placement of the balls at the exit receptacle of the device, except when the device is shut off as allowed by WAC 230-20-246;
(2) A set of seventy-five balls bearing the numbers one through seventy-five and the letters B, I, N, G, or O. Provided, That the letters B, I, N, G, O need not appear if the balls are used for speed or hidden face bingo games. The following additional requirements regarding bingo balls must be met:
(a) The entire set of balls shall be available for inspection by the players before a bingo session begins to determine that all are present and in operating condition;
(b) Each numbered ball shall be the same weight as each of the other balls and free from any defects; and
(c) Each set of balls in play must be distinguishable from all other sets of balls in play;
(3) Flashboards shall be utilized to display numbers called at all Class D and above bingo games. They must be visible to all players and clearly indicate all numbers that have been called: Provided, That malfunctions occurring during a bingo occasion need not be repaired during that occasion, but must be repaired before use on any other occasion;
(4) Bingo cards must be preprinted, manufactured cards that meet the following standards:
(a) Have twenty-five spaces, one of which may be a free space, arranged in five even columns headed with the letters B, I, N, G, and O, and except for the free space, imprinted with numbers and symbols: Provided, That bingo cards used for conducting player selection games are exempt from the requirements of this subsection if the requirements of WAC 230-20-241 are followed;
(b) Be manufactured by a licensed manufacturer: Provided, That electronically generated bingo cards authorized by WAC 230-20-106 may be produced by the operator using a printer interfaced with an electronic data base system: Provided further, That cards used in player selection games may be manufactured by unlicensed manufacturers if:
(i) The primary activity of such manufacturer is producing nongambling products;
(ii) Cards must meet the requirements of WAC 230-20-192 and 230-20-241. The licensee that initially purchases such cards from the unlicensed manufacturer shall assume responsibility for compliance with all commission requirements;
(iii) In addition to the requirements set out in WAC 230-08-024 and 230-08-040, the invoice transferring these cards must include the beginning card number. If an operator purchases such cards directly from an unlicensed manufacturer, the operator shall assume responsibility for compliance with this requirement.
(c) All disposable bingo cards must meet the requirements of WAC 230-20-192; and
(d) Electronically generated cards and supporting equipment must meet the requirements of WAC 230-20-106;
(5) Effective January 1, 1997, all Class F and above bingo licensees shall conduct bingo games using disposable bingo cards or electronically generated cards. All income must be receipted for by using the audit system required by WAC 230-20-192 in conjunction with appropriate receipting system required by WAC 230-20-106, 230-20-107, or 230-20-108;
(6) Duplicate cards, as defined in WAC 230-20-192, are prohibited in the operation of bingo games conducted by Class D or above licensees. Operators are advised that conducting games using cards manufactured by different manufacturers may result in duplicate cards being placed in play and that the majority of cards in the "1 to 9000 series" are duplicate, regardless of the manufacturer. Duplicate card violations that result from use of cards from different manufacturers shall be the responsibility of the operator: Provided, That this section shall not apply to braille cards, authorized by WAC 230-20-246(4), if the operator takes steps to prevent duplicate cards and informs players regarding limitations to prizes when winners have duplicate cards because braille cards are being played;
(7) If duplicate cards are inadvertently sold at bingo games conducted by Class D or above licensees, the following procedures and restrictions apply:
(a) If all winners with duplicate cards are paid the entire prize amount that would be due if there were no duplicate cards, the licensee shall not be deemed to be in violation of this section;
(b) The amount of the prize for games with winners having duplicate cards shall be computed and paid using the following guidelines:
(i) Games that provide a bonus for a single winner - If all winners have duplicate cards then all winners shall be paid the bonus;
(ii) Games that result in multiple winners, some of which are players with duplicate cards - The split of the prize pool will be computed by counting all duplicate card winners as one. After the prize pool split is computed using this method, all winners will be paid according to the computed prize split;
(iii) If the prize pool contains noncash or merchandise prizes, the amount added to the prize pool for computing the split shall be the licensee's cost or retail value, whichever is posted in the game schedule: Provided, That manufactures shall not be responsible for increases to the prize pool required by this subsection; and
(iv) If the prize is greater than one thousand dollars, the operator shall not be required to increase the total prize pool by more than fifty percent or five thousand dollars, whichever is less: Provided, That this limitation shall only be authorized once within a twelve-month period. If this limitation has been used within the last twelve months, the full prize amount shall be paid to all holders of duplicate cards;
(c) Increases to prize pools as a result of duplicate card errors, for which the manufacturer is responsible, may be deducted from prize payouts for computing compliance with WAC 230-20-064;
(d) Details of circumstances that resulted in duplicate cards being sold shall be documented and maintained as a part of the daily bingo record for the session;
(e) The commission shall be notified within forty-eight hours after discovery of a duplicate card error if:
(i) Caused by manufacturer printing, packaging, or collation errors; or
(ii) Any player winning with a duplicate card was not paid the entire prize amount;
(f) Licensees shall pursue reimbursement of all prizes paid due to
errors from the manufacturer responsible for such errors.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (1), (8) - (11), (14), (20). 96-13-067 (Order 293), 230-20-240, filed 6/18/96, effective 7/19/96.
Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 95-19-070, 230-20-240, filed
9/18/95, effective 1/1/96; 94-01-033, 230-20-240, filed 12/6/93,
effective 1/6/94; 90-24-005 (Order 218), 230-20-240, filed 11/26/90,
effective 12/27/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (11) and (14).
88-17-050 (Order 182), 230-20-240, filed 8/16/88. Statutory Authority:
RCW 9.46.020 (1) and (10) and 9.46.070 (3), (11) and (14). 86-09-036
(Order 157), 230-20-240, filed 4/11/86. Statutory Authority: RCW
9.46.070 (5), (6), (8), (10) and (11). 84-01-026 (Order 139), 230-20-240, filed 12/12/83. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 (8), (11) and
(14). 83-13-050 (Order 134), 230-20-240, filed 6/14/83.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above
was supplied by the code reviser's office.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.