HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

383

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to a state poker commission.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to establish a poker commission to oversee the licensing and operation of live poker rooms and other specified gaming activities in the State.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

POKER COMMISSION

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context dictates otherwise:

     "Commission" means the poker commission established under this chapter.

     "Licensee" means a person or entity that has been granted a gaming license by the poker commission to operate a live poker room or other specified gaming activity.

     "Live poker room" means a facility in which poker games are played against other players at the facility and not against the dealer or house.

     §   -2  Poker commission; establishment; powers and duties.  (a)  There is established a poker commission, which shall be attached to the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes.  The commission shall comprise three commissioners, as follows:

     (1)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chair of the commission;

     (2)  The director of commerce and consumer affairs, or the director's designee; and

     (3)  The director of taxation, or the director's designee.

     (b)  The commission shall oversee the licensing and operation of specified gaming activities in the State.  The commission may hire staff such as an executive director, investigators, and clerical staff as necessary to carry out its duties.

     (c)  The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows:

     (1)  Review applications and award gaming licenses for the operation of live poker rooms; provided that not more than one live poker room per county shall be authorized to operate at any given time;

     (2)  Review applications and award gaming licenses for the operation of other gaming activities specifically approved by the commission;

     (3)  Establish, and ensure compliance with, terms and conditions for maintaining a valid gaming license, including safety and consumer protection requirements and timely payment of applicable fees and taxes; and

     (4)  Adopt rules as necessary, pursuant to chapter 91, to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

     §   -3  Authorized gaming activities.  The commission shall authorize and regulate the following types of gaming activities:

     (1)  Poker, which shall be played only in live poker rooms overseen by the commission; and

     (2)  Any other gaming activities specifically approved by the commission.

     §   -4  Qualifications for licensure.  (a)  Each applicant for a gaming license shall include both an individual applicant and an applying entity.

     (b)  The application submitted shall be on a form approved by the commission and shall include supporting documentation to establish the following:

     (1)  That the individual applicant:

          (A)  Has been a legal resident of the State for not less than five years preceding the date of application;

          (B)  Is not less than twenty-one years of age; and

          (C)  Has had no felony convictions; and

     (2)  That the applying entity:

          (A)  Has been organized under the laws of the State;

          (B)  Has a Hawaii tax identification number;

          (C)  Has a department of commerce and consumer affairs business registration division number and suffix;

          (D)  Has a federal employer identification number;

          (E)  Is wholly held by Hawaii legal residents or entities wholly controlled by Hawaii legal residents who have been Hawaii legal residents for not less than five years immediately preceding the date the application was submitted;

          (F)  Has financial resources under its control of not less than $1,000,000 for each gaming license applied for, in the form of bank statements or escrow accounts, and that the financial resources have been under the control of the applying entity for not less than ninety days immediately preceding the date the application was submitted; and

          (G)  Is composed of principals or members, each of whom has been a legal resident of the State for not less than five years preceding the date of application and has no felony convictions.

     (c)  A gaming license shall not be sold or otherwise transferred from one person to another person; provided that an individual or entity that holds a gaming license may take on partners or additional owners, subject to the commission's approval.

     §   -5  Fees.  (a)  Each application for a gaming license shall be accompanied by payment of an application fee, as set by the commission; provided that eighty per cent of the fee shall be refunded by the commission if the application is denied.

     (b)  Upon approval of an application, each approved licensee shall pay a one-time licensing fee, as set by the commission.

     (c)  All fees collected by the commission under this chapter shall be deposited into the gaming regulation special fund established pursuant to section    -8.

     §   -6  Conditions for maintaining a gaming license.  A licensee shall comply with the following conditions or requirements during the period of licensure:

     (1)  Rules established by the commission, including safety and consumer protection requirements;

     (2)  Timely payment of applicable taxes;

     (3)  Compliance with all applicable zoning laws;

     (4)  Each live poker room establishment shall:

          (A)  Have working security cameras;

          (B)  Implement a commonly accepted, industry standard system to keep accurate records of players' activity;

          (C)  Use a playing chip that is uniquely identifiable with a microchip in each playing chip;

          (D)  Require that all dealers have a degree or certificate from a professional dealer school approved by the commission;

          (E)  Require that all private security guards be licensed under section 463-7;

          (F)  Maintain a valid liquor license for the establishment;

          (G)  Maintain a valid food and beverage license for the establishment; and

          (H)  Establish and enforce written, industry standard policies that address cheating and collusion and the prevention of cheating and collusion; and

     (5)  Any other conditions or requirements specified by the commission.

     §   -7  Revocation and suspension of license; hearing.  (a)  In addition to any other actions authorized by law, the commission may deny, revoke, or suspend any license applied for or issued by the commission, in accordance with this chapter, and to fine or otherwise discipline a licensee for any cause authorized by law, including the following:

     (1)  Procuring a license through fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;

     (2)  Professional misconduct, gross carelessness, or manifest incapacity;

     (3)  Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted thereto;

     (4)  False, fraudulent, or deceptive advertising;

     (5)  Any other conduct constituting fraudulent or dishonest dealings;

     (6)  Failure to comply with an order of the commission; and

     (7)  Making a false statement on any document submitted or required to be filed by this chapter, including furnishing false or fraudulent material information in any application.

     (b)  Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted pursuant thereto shall be penalized as follows:

     (1)  A mandatory fine of not less than $2,000 for a first offense;

     (2)  A mandatory fine of not less than $4,000 for a second offense within five years of a prior fine imposed under this section; and

     (3)  A mandatory fine of not less than $4,000 plus suspension of the gaming license for not less than seven days for a third or subsequent offense within five years of two prior fines imposed under this section;

provided that the commission shall consider the nature and severity of the offense in deciding whether to impose a penalty that exceeds the minimum fine specified above.

     (c)  A revocation order may include language that upon the revocation order becoming final, all gaming equipment and related supplies shall be forfeited to the State.

     (d)  All proceedings for denial, suspension, fine, or revocation of a license on any ground specified in this section shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 91, including the right to judicial review.

     §   -8  Gaming regulation special fund.  (a)  There is established in the state treasury the gaming regulation special fund, into which shall be deposited:

     (1)  All revenues from the operations of the poker commission, including fees and fines collected; and

     (2)  Appropriations made by the legislature to the fund.

     (b)  Moneys in the gaming regulation special fund shall be used for the following purposes:

     (1)  Enforcement operations of the poker commission; and

     (2)  Public outreach and education efforts of the commission."

     SECTION 3.  Section 712-1220, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definitions of "contest of chance" and "gambling" to read as follows:

     ""Contest of chance" means any contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device 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 therein[.], but does not include poker played at a live poker room licensed pursuant to chapter     or a gaming activity specifically approved and licensed by the poker commission pursuant to chapter    .

     "Gambling"[.  A] occurs when a person engages in gambling if [he] the person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under [his] the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that [he] the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.  Gambling does not include [bona]:

     (1)  Poker, when played at a live poker room licensed pursuant to chapter     or a gaming activity specifically approved and licensed by the poker commission pursuant to chapter    ; or

     (2)  Bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health, or accident insurance."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $            or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 for the establishment and operating expenses of the poker commission, including the acquisition of office space, furniture and equipment, and office supplies, and the training of commissioners.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $            or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 for the establishment of        full-time equivalent ( .0 FTE) staff positions for the poker commission.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Gaming; State Poker Commission; DBEDT; DCCA; DOTAX; Poker; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes a state poker commission to oversee the licensing and operation of specified gaming activities in the State, including live poker rooms.  Designates as commissioners the respective directors of business, economic development, and tourism; commerce and consumer affairs; and taxation; or their designees.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.