Washington Administrative Code
Title 458 - Revenue, Department of
Chapter 458-20 - Excise tax rules
Section 458-20-131 - Gambling activities
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Introduction. This section explains the business and occupation (B&O), retail sales, and use tax reporting requirements of persons operating contests of chance such as pull-tab and punch board games, card games, bingo games, raffles, and persons operating amusement games such as dart-toss games, ball-throw or ball-roll games, and crane games. It also explains the B&O tax reporting requirements of persons engaged in the business of conducting parimutuel wagering, which became effective July 1, 2005. Nonprofit organizations conducting activities for fund-raising purposes should also refer to RCW 82.04.3651, 82.08.02573, and WAC 458-20-169 (Religious, charitable, benevolent, nonprofit service organizations, and sheltered workshops) to determine if a B&O, retail sales, or use tax exemption is available for their activities.
Persons conducting the types of activities described above should also be aware that the Washington state gambling commission regulates these activities. These persons should refer to chapter 9.46 RCW (Gambling -- 1973 Act), Title 230 WAC (Gambling commission), and/or contact the Washington state gambling commission with any questions regarding their licensing and reporting responsibilities with the commission. Persons engaging in the business of parimutuel wagering should refer to chapter 67.16 RCW (Horse racing) and/or contact the Washington horse racing commission for additional reporting responsibilities.
(2) Parimutuel wagering. Effective July 1, 2005, persons engaging within this state in the business of conducting race meets for which a license must be obtained from the Washington horse racing commission are taxable under the parimutuel wagering B&O tax classification. Chapter 369, Laws of 2005. This tax is in addition to any tax imposed under chapter 67.16 RCW. Unlike the parimutuel tax, the B&O tax applies to both in-state and out-of-state parimutuel wagering. The measure of tax is the gross income of the business derived from parimutuel wagering. For purposes of this classification, "gross income" does not include amounts paid to players for winning wagers, or taxes imposed or other distributions required under chapter 67.16 RCW (i.e., RCW 67.16.102 owners bonus, RCW 67.16.105 fair fund, RCW 67.16.175 breeders award).
(3) Contests of chance. Contests of chance means any contests, games, gaming schemes, or gaming devices, other than the state lottery as defined in RCW 67.70.010, in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor in the outcome. The term includes social card games, bingo, raffle, and punch board games, and pull-tabs as those terms are defined in chapter 9.46 RCW. Contests of chance does not include race meets for the conduct of which a license must be secured from the Washington horse racing commission, or "amusement game" as defined in RCW 9.46.0201.
Persons whose gross income from contests of chance is fifty thousand dollars or more in a calendar year will report all such income under the "gambling contests of chance ($50,000 a year or greater)" tax classification.
(4) Amusement games.Chapter 369, Laws of 2005, made no change to the taxability of income derived from amusement games as defined in RCW 9.46.0201. The gross receipts derived from the operation of these games are subject to the service and other activities B&O tax. The cost of any prizes awarded may not be deducted from the measure of tax.
For example. The Flying High Club provides amusement games for customers to play. Prizes, such as free or discounted meal vouchers or home appliances, are awarded to the winners. The cost of these prizes is not allowed as an adjustment to computing the Flying High Club's gross income.
(5) Sales of foods and beverages. Sales of foods, beverages, and other tangible personal property by persons operating or conducting any of the activities described above are retail sales and subject to the retailing B&O and retail sales taxes, unless a specific exemption applies (e.g., see WAC 458-20-124 regarding sales of food and beverages by restaurants, taverns, and similar businesses and WAC 458-20-244 for exemptions available for certain food products). Persons conducting dice games to determine the amount that the customer will pay for food or beverages are subject to tax upon the amount the customer actually pays for the food or drink.
(6) Merchandise prizes. Persons operating or conducting any of the activities described above are the consumers of any merchandise delivered to the players in the form of prizes or awards. Purchases of this merchandise are purchases at retail and subject to the retail sales tax, unless a specific exemption applies (e.g., see WAC 458-20-244 for exemptions available for certain food products). Purchases of supplies, devices, and other equipment used in the conduct of these activities are also subject to the retail sales tax.
If retail sales tax is not collected by the seller, the person conducting these activities must remit the retail sales tax (often referred to as deferred retail sales tax) or use tax directly to the department of revenue. See also WAC 458-20-178 (Use tax).
Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.01.060(2). 07-02-072, § 458-20-131, filed 12/29/06, effective 1/29/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300. 99-08-090, § 458-20-131, filed 4/6/99, effective 5/7/99; 83-07-034 (Order ET 83-17), § 458-20-131, filed 3/15/83; Order ET 70-3, § 458-20-131 (Rule 131), filed 5/29/70, effective 7/1/70.