Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1971 NO. 21 >

Applicability of chapter 280, Laws of 1971, 1st Ex. Sess., to bingo, raffles, amusement games, to other gambling games, and to games of skill, when conducted as part of an agricultural fair.

AGLO 1976 NO. 21 >

Under RCW 9.46.113 law enforcement activities related to the enforcement of state gambling laws must be regarded as having the "first call" on municipal gambling tax revenues authorized by RCW 9.46.110.

AGO 1972 NO. 30 >

(1) A member operating a bingo game under the provisions of RCW 9.47.390 may be compensated for doing so at a fixed hourly or other periodic rate so long as his compensation is not based upon a percentage of the receipts or net profits derived from the operation of such game. (2) Such compensation as is paid to a member operating a bingo game under the provisions of RCW 9.47.390 may not be paid out of the proceeds derived from the game by the bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization which is operating said bingo game.

AGLO 1977 NO. 35 >

On and after the effective date of chapter 76, Laws of 1977, 1st Ex.Sess., it will be legally permissible for a limited fee to be charged for playing licensed social card games in accordance with the provisions of §§ 1(18) and 2(11) of that act.

AGLO 1974 NO. 49 >

While the ultimate approval of sixty percent of the voters will be required to pass a referendum bill authorizing lotteries under Article II, § 24 of the state Constitution, the legislature may pass and order a referendum on such a bill by a simple majority vote of the members of both houses.

AGLO 1973 NO. 74 >

A bona fide charitable or non profit organization which has been conducting raffles over the past several months in accordance with chapter 280, Laws of 1971, Ex. Sess., as amended by chapter 141, Laws of 1972, Ex. Sess. (RCW 9.47.300, et seq.) and/or a county ordinance to the same effect may not continue to do so without obtaining a license from the state gambling commission after chapter 218, Laws of 1973, Ex. Sess., becomes effective on July 16, 1973.

AGLO 1974 NO. 95 >

Scatterboards, as described in this opinion, constitute an illegal lottery and the conduct of gambling under chapter 9.46 RCW.

AGO 1953 NO. 138 >

A city of the first class has no power granted to it to tax or license an illegal activity such as gambling.