Requirements for amateur events

Event requirements

If you plan to charge admission for an amateur boxing or martial arts event, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • All the participants or contestants must be amateurs.
  • The event must be promoted on a nonprofit or charitable basis (effective through June 6, 2012).
  • The event must be registered and sanctioned by an approved amateur sanctioning organization (see Sanctioning organizations for a list of approved organizations)

How to request permission to hold an amateur event

The approved sanctioning organization must request permission to hold or sanction an event at least 30 days before the event. To request permission to hold an event:

  1. Send us a written request that includes all of the following:
    • Type of event (mixed martial arts, kickboxing, Muay Thai, etc.)
    • Date and time of the event
    • Location of the event
    • How all excess proceeds will be distributed, including the name of each entity and their proof of nonprofit status (effective through June 6, 2012)
  2. Mail your request to us at:
    Professional Athletics Program
    Department of Licensing
    PO Box 9026
    Olympia, WA 98507

To find out how to become an approved sanctioning organization, see Sanctioning organizations.

Definitions

  • Amateur means a person who has never received, nor competed for, a purse or other article of value over $50 (either for training expenses or participating in an event).
  • Event includes boxing, wrestling, or martial arts contests, sparring, fisticuffs, matches, shows, or exhibitions.
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