Washington § 9.46.110 - Taxation of gambling activities — Limitations — Restrictions on punchboards and pull-tabs — Lien.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 9.46.110 — Taxation of gambling activities — Limitations — Restrictions on punchboards and pull-tabs — Lien., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 9.46.110. Taxation of gambling activities — Limitations — Restrictions on punchboards and pull-tabs — Lien.

(1) The legislative authority of any county, city-county, city, or town, by local law and ordinance, and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter, may provide for the taxing of any gambling activity authorized by this chapter within its jurisdiction, the tax receipts to go to the county, city-county, city, or town so taxing the activity. Any such tax imposed by a county alone shall not apply to any gambling activity within a city or town located in the county but the tax rate established by a county, if any, shall constitute the tax rate throughout the unincorporated areas of such county.
(2) The operation of punchboards and pull-tabs are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Chances may only be sold to adults;
(b) The price of a single chance may not exceed five dollars;
(c) No punchboard or pull-tab license may award as a prize upon a winning number or symbol being drawn the opportunity of taking a chance upon any other punchboard or pull-tab;
(d) All prizes available to be won must be described on an information flare. All merchandise prizes must be on display within the immediate area of the premises in which any such punchboard or pull-tab is located. Upon a winning number or symbol being drawn, a merchandise prize must be immediately removed from the display and awarded to the winner. All references to cash or merchandise prizes, with a value over twenty dollars, must be removed immediately from the information flare when won, or such omission shall be deemed a fraud for the purposes of this chapter; and
(e) When any person wins money or merchandise from any punchboard or pull-tab over an amount determined by the commission, every licensee shall keep a public record of the award for at least ninety days containing such information as the commission shall deem necessary.
(3)(a) Taxation of bingo and raffles shall never be in an amount greater than five percent of the gross receipts from a bingo game or raffle less the amount awarded as cash or merchandise prizes.
(b) Taxation of amusement games shall only be in an amount sufficient to pay the actual costs of enforcement of the provisions of this chapter by the county, city or town law enforcement agency and in no event shall such taxation exceed two percent of the gross receipts from the amusement game less the amount awarded as prizes.
(c) No tax shall be imposed under the authority of this chapter on bingo or amusement games when such activities or any combination thereof are conducted by any bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization as defined in this chapter, which organization has no paid operating or management personnel and has gross receipts from bingo or amusement games, or a combination thereof, not exceeding five thousand dollars per year, less the amount awarded as cash or merchandise prizes.
(d) No tax shall be imposed on the first ten thousand dollars of gross receipts less the amount awarded as cash or merchandise prizes from raffles conducted by any bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization as defined in this chapter.
(e) Taxation of punchboards and pull-tabs for bona fide charitable or nonprofit organizations is based on gross receipts from the operation of the games less the amount awarded as cash or merchandise prizes, and shall not exceed a rate of ten percent. At the option of the county, city-county, city, or town, the taxation of punchboards and pull-tabs for commercial stimulant operators may be based on gross receipts from the operation of the games, and may not exceed a rate of five percent, or may be based on gross receipts from the operation of the games less the amount awarded as cash or merchandise prizes, and may not exceed a rate of ten percent.
(f) Taxation of social card games may not exceed twenty percent of the gross revenue from such games.
(4) Taxes imposed under this chapter become a lien upon personal and real property used in the gambling activity in the same manner as provided for under RCW 84.60.010. The lien shall attach on the date the tax becomes due and shall relate back and have priority against real and personal property to the same extent as ad valorem taxes.
[ 2020 c 70 s 1; 1999 c 221 s 1; 1997 c 394 s 4; 1994 c 301 s 2; 1991 c 161 s 1; 1987 c 4 s 39. Prior: 1985 c 468 s 2; 1985 c 172 s 1; 1981 c 139 s 8; 1977 ex.s. c 198 s 1; 1974 ex.s. c 155 s 8; 1974 ex.s. c 135 s 8; 1973 1st ex.s. c 218 s 11.]

Notes

Effective date—1999 c 221: "This act takes effect January 1, 2000." [ 1999 c 221 s 2.]
Severability—1981 c 139: See note following RCW 9.46.070.
Severability—1974 ex.s. c 155: See note following RCW 9.46.010.

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 9.46.110

What does Revised Code of Washington § 9.46.110 cover?

Section 9.46.110 ("Taxation of gambling activities — Limitations — Restrictions on punchboards and pull-tabs — Lien.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Washington § 9.46.110?

A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 9.46.110" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Washington law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.

How does Washington § 9.46.110 apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

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