(1) A person is engaged in “professional gambling” for the purposes of this chapter when:

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Terms Used In Washington Code 9.46.0269

  • Bookmaking: as used in this chapter , means accepting bets, upon the outcome of future contingent events, as a business or in which the bettor is charged a fee or "vigorish" for the opportunity to place a bet. See Washington Code 9.46.0213
  • Contest of chance: as used in this chapter , means any contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein. See Washington Code 9.46.0225
  • Gambling: as used in this chapter , means staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. See Washington Code 9.46.0237
  • Lottery: as used in this chapter , means a scheme for the distribution of money or property by chance, among persons who have paid or agreed to pay a valuable consideration for the chance. See Washington Code 9.46.0257
  • person: as used in this chapter , include natural persons, corporations and partnerships and associations of persons; and when any corporate officer, director or stockholder or any partner authorizes, participates in, or knowingly accepts benefits from any violation of this chapter committed by his or her corporation or partnership, he or she shall be punishable for such violation as if it had been directly committed by him or her. See Washington Code 9.46.0289
  • Player: as used in this chapter , means a natural person who engages, on equal terms with the other participants, and solely as a contestant or bettor, in any form of gambling in which no person may receive or become entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of a particular gambling activity. See Washington Code 9.46.0265
(a) Acting other than as a player or in the manner authorized by this chapter, the person knowingly engages in conduct which materially aids any form of gambling activity; or
(b) Acting other than in a manner authorized by this chapter, the person pays a fee to participate in a card game, contest of chance, lottery, or other gambling activity; or
(c) Acting other than as a player or in the manner authorized by this chapter, the person knowingly accepts or receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any other person whereby he or she participates or is to participate in the proceeds of gambling activity; or
(d) The person engages in bookmaking; or
(e) The person conducts a lottery; or
(f) The person violates RCW 9.46.039.
(2) Conduct under subsection (1)(a) of this section, except as exempted under this chapter, includes but is not limited to conduct directed toward the creation or establishment of the particular game, contest, scheme, device or activity involved, toward the acquisition or maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus therefor, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to participate therein, toward the actual conduct of the playing phases thereof, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or recording phases, or toward any other phase of its operation. If a person having substantial proprietary or other authoritative control over any premises shall permit the premises to be used with the person’s knowledge for the purpose of conducting gambling activity other than gambling activities authorized by this chapter, and acting other than as a player, and the person permits such to occur or continue or makes no effort to prevent its occurrence or continuation, the person shall be considered as being engaged in professional gambling: PROVIDED, That the proprietor of a bowling establishment who awards prizes obtained from player contributions, to players successfully knocking down pins upon the contingency of identifiable pins being placed in a specified position or combination of positions, as designated by the posted rules of the bowling establishment, where the proprietor does not participate in the proceeds of the “prize fund” shall not be construed to be engaging in “professional gambling” within the meaning of this chapter: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the books and records of the games shall be open to public inspection.
[ 1997 c 78 § 1; 1996 c 252 § 2; 1987 c 4 § 18. Formerly RCW 9.46.020(17).]