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GAMBLING & CARD ROOMS
Significant Events
1971
34 Grand Jury indictments were issued against 51 law enforcement officers and public officials for payoffs related to gambling.
End of "tolerance policy."
1973
Legislature authorized social gambling activities, including bingo, punchboards/pull tabs, raffles, and amusement games. Card rooms and social card games were also approved by the Legislature, but were vetoed by Governor Evans.
Gambling Commission was created & safeguards were taken to "keep politics out of gambling."
1974
Legislature authorized social card games.
1981
Legislature authorized increase in tax rate on card rooms from 5% to 20% of gross receipts.
1985
Legislature increased card room "rental" fees from $1 to $2 per half hour.
1988
Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
1990
Commission authorized "Washington Blackjack."
1992
Tulalip Tribe opened the 1st Class III/tribal casino.
Longacres closed.
1994
Governor Lowry requested that the number of tables, wagering limits, and hours of operation in tribal casinos be increased.
Legislature increased card room "rental" fees from $2 to $3 per half hour.
1995
6 more tribal casinos opened, bringing the total number to 10. (Today there are 13 tribal casinos operating under compacts with the state).
1996
Emerald Downs opened.
Legislature authorized changes in card rooms.
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Tables increased from 5 to 15
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Alternative collection of fees authorized
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Player supported jackpots (PSJ’s) authorized
1997
Legislature authorized house banking for card rooms.
First house-banked card room opened in November.
1999
Governor requested Commission issue a moratorium on further house-banked card rooms; Commission limited house-banked approvals to one per month.
3 more card rooms closed; at the end of the year, 52 card rooms were operating.
2000
Commission adopts permanent rules for regulation of card rooms.
3 more card rooms close, bringing the total number of closures to 8. As of October, 56 house-banked card rooms are operating.
Source: Washington State Gambling Commission
649 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, WA 98503
P.O. Box 42400, Olympia, WA 98504-2400
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