2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 23. Parks, Recreation, Sports, and Gambling › Chapter 5. Gambling › Part 3. Card Games Act › 23-5-317. Tournaments

23-5-317. Tournaments.
(1) (a) A licensed operator who has a permit for placing at least one live card game table on the operator's premises may apply to the department for an annual large-stakes live card game tournament permit. A large-stakes tournament permit allows the operator to conduct up to 16 large-stakes tournaments a year on the operator's premises.
(b) The department shall charge an annual fee of $120 for a large-stakes tournament permit. The permit fee may not be prorated and must be retained by the department for administrative purposes.
(c) A large-stakes tournament may not be conducted for more than 5 consecutive days.
(d) The operator shall notify the department at least 5 days before the start of a large-stakes tournament. If a tournament will be conducted on the premises of more than one licensed operator, each operator shall notify the department at least 5 days before the start of the tournament. Except as provided in subsection (1)(f), each large-stakes tournament is counted toward each operator's annual 16-tournament limit.
(e) An operator issued a large-stakes tournament permit may participate with other large-stakes tournament permitholders to conduct a progressive large-stakes tournament in which the ultimate prize is not awarded until the final round of the tournament is completed.
(f) An operator issued a large-stakes tournament permit may conduct up to three charitable large-stakes tournaments a year that are not counted toward the operator's annual 16-tournament limit. The operator shall notify the department of the charitable tournament at least 5 days before the start of the tournament.
(g) An operator may charge an entry fee for a large-stakes tournament, which may include a fee to cover expenses incurred from conducting the tournament. The total amount paid by a participant to enter a large-stakes tournament, including any additional purchase of chips or other payment during the tournament, may not exceed $1,875. A participant in a large-stakes tournament who has been eliminated from competition during the tournament may reenter the tournament by paying an additional fee if the tournament rules allow the participant to reenter the tournament.
(h) The prize for a large-stakes tournament may include the right to participate in another tournament if the value of a seat in the higher-level tournament equals the value of the expected top prize for the tournament.
(2) (a) A licensed operator who has a permit for placing at least one live card game table on the operator's premises may apply to the department for an annual small-stakes live card game tournament permit. A small-stakes tournament permit allows the operator to conduct daily small-stakes tournaments on the operator's premises.
(b) The department shall charge an annual fee of $500 for a small-stakes tournament permit. The permit fee may not be prorated and must be retained by the department for administrative purposes.
(c) An operator may charge an entry fee for a small-stakes tournament, which may include a fee to cover expenses incurred from conducting the tournament. The total amount paid by a participant to enter a small-stakes tournament may not exceed $80. A participant in a small-stakes tournament may not repurchase or add chips or reenter the tournament after elimination.
(d) A small-stakes tournament permitholder may place one additional live card table on the permitholder's premises, which may be used only for a small-stakes tournament. The tournament may be conducted on permitted card tables and the additional tournament card table.
(3) Tournament participants must be provided with a copy of the tournament rules before the start of a large-stakes or small-stakes tournament. A copy of the rules must be posted in a conspicuous location in each area where the tournament is conducted.
(4) Permits for the placement of additional live card game tables as provided in 23-5-306 are not required for:
(a) additional tables authorized under a large-stakes tournament permit; or
(b) an additional small-stakes tournament table authorized under subsection (2)(d).
(5) A person must be present on the premises during a large-stakes or small-stakes tournament to oversee the conduct of the card games and to settle disputes among players. This person may be a dealer licensed under 23-5-308.
(6) Only a dealer licensed under 23-5-308 may deal cards at a large-stakes or small-stakes poker or panguingue tournament.
(7) The face value of the chips used does not govern the value of the pot awarded at the end of the tournament.
(8) At least 50% of the total amount of the entrance fees for any large-stakes or small-stakes tournament that is represented as a charitable tournament must be paid to a charitable, educational, or recreational nonprofit organization.
(9) A rake-off may not be taken during a large-stakes or small-stakes tournament card game.
(10) The provisions of this part and the department rules governing live card games apply to live card games conducted as part of a tournament unless otherwise provided.
History: En. Sec. 37, Ch. 647, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 626, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 101, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 64, L. 2013.