§ 4:739 — Use of electronic bingo card dabber devices

§739. Use of electronic bingo card dabber devices
A.(1) Electronic bingo card dabber devices, hereafter referred to as electronic dabber
devices, and defined in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, for the public playing of bingo,
progressive bingo, or progressive mega jackpot bingo may be made available at any location
licensed under the provisions of this Chapter provided that all requirements of this Section
and all requirements of this Chapter not in conflict with this Section are met. Electronic
bingo dabber devices shall not be construed to be electronic video bingo machines or
electronic pull-tab devices. Electronic bingo dabber devices shall not offer for play the
games authorized by the provisions of R.S. 4:724 or 733.
(2) "Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device", or "Electronic Dabber Device", or
"EBCDD" means an electronic device used by a bingo player to monitor bingo cards
purchased and electronically mark bingo cards downloaded into the device, at the time and
place of the licensed charitable bingo session, and which:
(a) Provides a means to bingo players to electronically mark numbers announced by
the bingo caller.
(b) Compares numbers called to the numbers contained on bingo cards for that
session previously stored in the data base of the device.
(c) Identifies winning bingo patterns.
(d) Signals the bingo player when a winning bingo pattern is waiting or received.
(e) Will not accept coins, currency, or tokens to activate play. Nothing in this
Paragraph shall prohibit the Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device and related systems from
tracking a player's accounts and credits.
(f) Provide a means for all accounting functions related to bingo or progressive or
progressive mega bingo games.
(3)(a) The electronic dabber device shall be capable of use with disposable bingo
paper or other approved bingo paper which shall be downloaded into the device prior to the
start of each game. If disposable paper is used, only disposable bingo paper produced by
licensed manufacturers shall be used with electronic dabber devices. Such disposable bingo
paper shall be unique and for use exclusively with an electronic dabber device so that such
paper cannot be used in play without the device. No more than one hundred forty-four faces
shall be entered for play of any one game at a session.
(b) Each electronic dabber device shall be capable of clearing all disposable bingo
card faces downloaded into the device for a specific session upon turning the device off after
the last game of the session has been played.
(c) No electronic dabber device shall allow a player to design or redesign bingo cards
by generating, arranging, rearranging, or otherwise placing numbers on a card.
B.(1) A manufacturer shall sell, rent, lease, or otherwise supply or provide any
electronic dabber device only to a licensed distributor. Devices shall be delivered directly
to the distributor's facility. Contracts for sale, rent, lease, or other provision of electronic
dabbing device shall be negotiated by a licensed distributor.
(2) No manufacturer shall sell, rent, lease, or otherwise supply or provide any
electronic dabber device to any commercial lessor or his immediate family.
C.(1) A distributor shall sell, rent, lease, or otherwise supply or provide any
electronic dabber device only to a licensed charitable organization, qualified association of
licensed charitable organizations, or licensed distributor.
(2) No distributor shall sell, rent, lease, or otherwise supply or provide any electronic
dabber device to any commercial lessor or his immediate family.
(3) Unless otherwise provided by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this
Chapter, each distributor may have at least one employee on site during use of its devices.
The licensed distributor shall request payment from the licensed organization immediately
after each session in an amount equal to the rental price multiplied by the number of devices
used, rented, leased, or otherwise supplied or provided at the session, plus applicable taxes
and fees. Payment shall be made by check payable only from the licensed organization's
gaming account and made payable only to the licensed distributor immediately after each
session.
D.(1) No commercial lessor or his immediate family shall own or offer for sale, rent,
lease, or otherwise supply or provide to anyone any electronic dabber device.
(2) No entity, any officer, director, or owner of more than two percent of such
enterprise which serves as a commercial lessor or the immediate family of any individual
referred to in this sentence shall own, sell, rent, lease, or otherwise supply or provide to
anyone any electronic dabber device or accept remuneration for storage thereof.
E.(1), (2) Repealed by Acts 2022, No. 523, §2.
(3) Each device shall be returned at the conclusion of each session and all cards or
faces downloaded for play for the concluded session shall be cleared.
F. The office shall adopt any additional rules and regulations necessary to govern the
specifications, use, and operation of electronic dabber devices and their related systems, and
shall establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers authorized to provide
electronic dabber devices or a list of acceptable models of the devices, acceptable serial
numbers on such models, or manufacturers, distributors, or suppliers.

Legislative History

Acts 1999, No. 568, §3, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 874, §1; Acts 2015, No. 168, §1, eff. June 23, 2015; Acts 2017, No. 214, §1; Acts 2022, No. 523, §2.