Chapter 9.33
SOCIAL GAMES
Sections:
9.33.010 Social games--Purpose.
9.33.030 Social games--Authorization and conditions.
9.33.010 Social games--Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the playing and conducting of social games in private businesses, private clubs, and/or places of public accommodation within the city, and impose reasonable regulations for playing and conducting such social games. This chapter will be referred to as the “social gaming ordinance.” (Ord. 2104 §2, 2023).
9.33.020 Definitions.
“Facility” means a private business, private club, and/or place of public accommodation, including a recreation room, conference room, or clubhouse, in the city.
“House bank” refers to the operation of a social game where the organization employs a person to supervise a single social game for the purpose of securing a portion of any monetary gain contributed directly by the individual players to that single game.
“House income” means any monetary net gain or advantage received by the house directly from the actual play of a social game.
“House odds” means the operation of a social game where the probabilities of success of the single social game exist in favor of the operation.
“House player” means a principal or employee who participates on behalf of an organization for purposes of altering the normal probability associated with social gaming.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, or any agent or representative thereof.
“Private residence” means a separate dwelling designed for members of a single-family unit such as single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, apartments, mobile homes and duplexes.
“Social game” means: (1) a game, other than a lottery, between players in a private business, private club, or place of public accommodation where no house player, house bank or house odds exist and there is no house income from the operation of the social game; or (2) a game, other than a lottery, between players in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist, and there is no house income from the operation of the social game. (Ord. 2104 §2, 2023).
9.33.030 Social games--Authorization and conditions.
A. A social game between players in a facility is authorized only when each of the following conditions is met:
1. No house player, house bank, or house odds exist;
2. There is no house income from the operation of a social game;
3. The game cannot be observed from a public right-of-way;
4. Persons under eighteen years of age are not permitted in the room or enclosure where the social game takes place;
5. The room or enclosure where the social game takes place is open to free and immediate access by any police officer. Doors leading into the social game room must remain unlocked during all hours of operation;
6. There are no signs or advertising of gambling, card playing, or social games enticing participants or procuring players. Signs visible from inside the building informing the public in which areas cards may be played will be allowed;
7. Except for moneys used for playing in a game, no charge shall be collected from any player for the privilege of participating in a game including, but not limited to: (a) an entry fee or access fee of any kind, including a cover charge or door fee on days when social games are being played in the premises; and/or (b) a membership fee or cover fee to participate in a social game;
8. No social game is conducted between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.;
9. The person responsible for the premises where social gaming occurs shall not permit any individual who is visibly intoxicated to participate in social gaming;
10. No owner, principal managing employee, or person responsible for the premises may accept any payment, fee, service or gratuity from a social game participant as consideration for participation in the social game on the premises;
11. No owner, principal managing employee, or person responsible for the premises may charge a rental or lease fee for the operation of a social game;
12. No participant in a social game shall be charged a price for any consumer goods that is higher or lower than the business’s normal price;
13. The dealing of cards shall be offered to be rotated to all players in the game;
14. For any period beginning 10:00 a.m. one day to 2:00 a.m. the following day, the total buy-in fee, including additional buy-in fees for all social games, shall not exceed a total of one hundred dollars per player. For purposes of this section, the “total buy-in fee” means the maximum amount of chips, tokens, or similar items a player may purchase in a “day” (as defined in this subsection (A)(14)). Except for the maximum buy-in fee, there is no limit on the amount a player can bet at any time. Each owner, principal managing employee, or person responsible for the premises of the social game is responsible to ensure that the buy-in fee limit is complied with.
B. A social game between players in a private residence is authorized only when each of the following conditions is met:
1. No house player, house bank, or house odds exist; and
2. There is no house income from the operation of a social game. (Ord. 2104 §2, 2023).