WAC 230-15-040   Requirements for authorized card games.  (1) In order for a card game to be authorized, the card game must:

     (a) Be played with standard playing cards or with electronic card facsimiles approved by the director or the director's designee; and

     (b) Offer no more than four separate games with a single hand of cards. However, no more than three of the games may offer a wager that exceeds five dollars each. We consider bonus features and progressive jackpots separate games. If a player does not have to place a separate wager to participate, we do not consider it a separate game. An example of this is an "envy" or "share the wealth" pay out when another player achieves a specific hand; and

     (c) Not allow side bets between players.

     (2) Card game licensees may use more than one deck of cards for a specific game. They also may remove cards to comply with rules of a specific game, such as Pinochle or Spanish 21.

     (3) Players must:

     (a) Compete against all other players on an equal basis for nonhouse-banked games or against the house for house-banked games. All players must compete solely as a player in the card game; and

     (b) Receive their own hand of cards and be responsible for decisions regarding such hand, such as whether to fold, discard, draw additional cards, or raise the wager; and

     (c) Not place wagers on any other player's or the house's hand or make side wagers with other players, except for:

     (i) An insurance wager placed in the game of Blackjack; or

     (ii) An "envy" or "share the wealth" wager which allows a player to receive a prize if another player wins a jackpot or odds-based wager; or

     (iii) A tip wager made on behalf of a dealer.

     (4) Mini-Baccarat is authorized when operated in the manner explained for Baccarat in the most current version of The New Complete Hoyle, Revised or Hoyle's Encyclopedia of Card Games, or similar authoritative book on card games we have approved. However:

     (a) Card game licensees may make immaterial modifications to the game; and

     (b) Subsection (3) of this section does not apply; and

     (c) The number of players is limited under WAC 230-15-055.

     (5) A player's win or loss must be determined during the course of play of a single card game.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070 and 9.46.0282. 09-17-076 and 09-17-105 (Orders 656 and 656-A), § 230-15-040, filed 8/14/09 and 8/18/09, effective 9/14/09 and 9/18/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 9.46.070. 08-21-086 (Order 632), § 230-15-040, filed 10/14/08, effective 1/1/09; 07-09-033 (Order 608), § 230-15-040, filed 4/10/07, effective 1/1/08.]