Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9 · Chapter 9.46

Wash. Rev. Code § 9.46.010

Legislative declaration

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
The public policy of the state of Washington on gambling is to keep the criminal element out of gambling and to promote the social welfare of the people by limiting the nature and scope of gambling activities and by strict regulation and control.
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the legislature, recognizing the close relationship between professional gambling and organized crime, to restrain all persons from seeking profit from professional gambling activities in this state; to restrain all persons from patronizing such professional gambling activities; to safeguard the public against the evils induced by common gamblers and common gambling houses engaged in professional gambling; and at the same time, both to preserve the freedom of the press and to avoid restricting participation by individuals in activities and social pastimes, which activities and social pastimes are more for amusement rather than for profit, do not maliciously affect the public, and do not breach the peace.
The legislature further declares that the raising of funds for the promotion of bona fide charitable or nonprofit organizations is in the public interest as is participation in such activities and social pastimes as are hereinafter in this chapter authorized.
The legislature further declares that the conducting of bingo, raffles, and amusement games and the operation of punchboards, pull-tabs, card games and other social pastimes, when conducted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, are hereby authorized, as are only such lotteries for which no valuable consideration has been paid or agreed to be paid as hereinafter in this chapter provided.
The legislature further declares that fishing derbies shall not constitute any form of gambling and shall not be considered as a lottery, a raffle, or an amusement game and shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter or any rules and regulations adopted hereunder.
The legislature further declares that raffles authorized by the fish and wildlife commission involving hunting big game animals or wild turkeys shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter or any rules and regulations adopted hereunder, with the exception of this section and RCW 9.46.400.
All factors incident to the activities authorized in this chapter shall be closely controlled, and the provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve such end.
[ 1996 c 101 s 2; 1994 c 218 s 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 259 s 1; 1974 ex.s. c 155 s 1; 1974 ex.s. c 135 s 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 218 s 1.]

Notes:

Findings—1996 c 101: See note following RCW 77.32.530.
Effective date—1994 c 218: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [April 1, 1994]." [ 1994 c 218 s 20.]
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 155: "If any provision of this 1974 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1974 ex.s. c 155 s 13; 1974 ex.s. c 135 s 13.] Section 14 of the act, which provided for an effective date and that the act would be subject to referendum petition, was vetoed by the governor. The veto and the related message can be found in chapter 155, Laws of 1974 ex. sess.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: Wilson v. Playtika, Ltd.
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Wilson v. Playtika, Ltd. (2018) wawd · cites it 4× “" However, the rest of this sentence limits the types of social pastimes to those that are "more for amusement rather than for profit, do not maliciously affect the public, and do not breach the peace.”
ZDI Gaming, Inc. v. Washington State Gambling Commission (2012) wash · cites it 2× “218, § 1 (currently codified as RCW 9.46.010); AR at 410. Accordingly, the Washington State Gambling Commission (Gambling Commission) has heavily regulated pull-tabs and pull-tab machines.”
ZDI Gaming, Inc. v. Washington State Gambling Commission (2009) washctapp · cites it 4× “” RCW 9.46.010. Moreover, the gambling act directs that “[a] 11 factors incident to the activities authorized in this chapter shall be closely controlled, and the provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve such end.”
Wilson v. PTT, LLC (2018) wawd · cites it 4× “In support of this, High 5 points to RCW 9.46.010, which states that the Washington Gambling Act seeks to "avoid restricting participation by individuals in activities and social pastimes.”
Edmonds Shopping Center Associates v. City of Edmonds (2003) washctapp · cites it 2× “Furthermore, RCW 9.46.010 sets forth a legislative declaration of policy re *353 specting gambling.”
American Legion Post No. 32 v. City of Walla Walla (1991) wash “RCW 9.46.010 essentially provides that enforcement of the gambling act pertains to the regulation and enforcement of all factors incident to the activities authorized in the act.”
Confederated Tribes of Chehalis Reservation v. Johnson (1998) wash “RCW 9.46.010. “Net win” is defined in the compacts as the difference between the total amount wagered or played and the amounts repaid to winners.”
Mudarri v. State (2008) washctapp · cites it 2× “[30] See RCW 9.46.010 (authorizing private, or individual lotteries, only where "no valuable consideration has been paid or agreed to be paid" for the lottery).”
Mudarri v. State (2008) washctapp · cites it 2× “30 See RCW 9.46.010 (authorizing private, or individual, lotteries, only where “no valuable consideration has been paid or agreed to be paid” for the lottery).”
Dragonslayer, Inc. v. Washington State Gambling Commission (2007) washctapp “RCW 9.46.010. George Teeny owns two “house banked card rooms”: Dragonslayer, Inc.”
Paradise, Inc. v. Pierce County (2004) washctapp · cites it 2× “The Gambling Act of 1973 (RCW 9.46.010 et seq. ) limits the nature and scope of gambling activities and subjects such activities to strict regulation and control.”
Zdi v. State Ex Rel. State Gambling Com'n (2009) washctapp · cites it 4× “" RCW 9.46.010. Moreover, the gambling act directs that "[a]ll factors incident to the activities authorized in this chapter shall be closely controlled, and the provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve such end.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.