Commission denies assisted electronic wagering petition but opens rulemaking on poker limits
August 28, 2026 | Board Council Commission Agencies , Executive, Washington
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Michelle Lucas, general manager and shareholder of Clearwater Casino in East Wenatchee, sought two rule changes during the meeting: one to allow dealer‑assisted electronic wagering in house‑bank card rooms, and a second to increase poker single‑wager limits and tournament entry/buy‑in caps.
Lucas told commissioners the petition on assisted electronic wagering aimed to modernize card rooms, improve audit trails and security and reduce chip handling. "This petition is about assisted electronic wagering, and at its core, this petition is really about whether Washington card rooms are going to be allowed to modernize," Lucas said. Commissioners and staff stressed that equipment must be available for evaluation during rulemaking; staff recommended denying the petition because no equipment was submitted for review as required under WAC 2‑30‑17‑192. The commission voted to deny that petition but encouraged continued engagement.
On a related petition, Lucas sought to raise poker single‑wager limits from $300 to $400, increase tournament entry fees from $100 to $200 and raise cumulative buy‑in caps. Lucas said poker tournaments drive customer traffic and local economic activity and asked the commission to initiate rulemaking so industry could provide data and vendor information. Commissioners agreed to initiate rulemaking and directed staff to begin the formal process.
The commission’s actions: denial of the assisted‑electronic‑wagering petition for procedural noncompliance (no equipment submitted for review) and approval to initiate rulemaking on poker wager and tournament limits.
Lucas told commissioners the petition on assisted electronic wagering aimed to modernize card rooms, improve audit trails and security and reduce chip handling. "This petition is about assisted electronic wagering, and at its core, this petition is really about whether Washington card rooms are going to be allowed to modernize," Lucas said. Commissioners and staff stressed that equipment must be available for evaluation during rulemaking; staff recommended denying the petition because no equipment was submitted for review as required under WAC 2‑30‑17‑192. The commission voted to deny that petition but encouraged continued engagement.
On a related petition, Lucas sought to raise poker single‑wager limits from $300 to $400, increase tournament entry fees from $100 to $200 and raise cumulative buy‑in caps. Lucas said poker tournaments drive customer traffic and local economic activity and asked the commission to initiate rulemaking so industry could provide data and vendor information. Commissioners agreed to initiate rulemaking and directed staff to begin the formal process.
The commission’s actions: denial of the assisted‑electronic‑wagering petition for procedural noncompliance (no equipment submitted for review) and approval to initiate rulemaking on poker wager and tournament limits.
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