§ 12-21-3990 — Manner of playing bingo.

(A) The game of bingo must be played in the following manner: (1) Bingo is played by more than one player and a caller who is associated with the house. Each player must pay face value for each card to be played during the course of a game and may purchase the card for a specified number of games. All cards sold for a game must sell for face value and cards may not be given to players as prizes or for free. After the player has purchased a card or cards for a specified number of games, the house cannot require or accept an additional payment or consideration by the player in order to complete the specified number of games. (2) Before each game begins, the caller shall announce to the players the configuration or configurations that will win the game. A configuration consists of a number of grids covered in the manner announced by the caller. Any method of playing the games is allowed if the method is announced before each game's beginning including, but not limited to, wild card games. In addition, anytime before the conclusion of the game, the prize, specifically stating the dollar amount or value of merchandise awarded to the winner or winners for the game, must be announced. (3) The prize must be awarded to the winner of that game without delay. For multiple winners, the prize must be divided equally among the winners. In the case of a merchandise prize, the cash value of the merchandise may be divided among the winners. Purchase receipts of merchandise awarded as prizes must be made available to players and the department for confirmation of value. (4) The caller shall draw and announce numbers from the cage one at a time. If a player has a card with the called number on it, he may use a marker to cover the square which contains the number. After the number is announced, it must be indicated on the master-board by the caller. (5) When a player covers sufficient squares on a card to achieve the winning configuration, he may indicate to the caller. The caller shall require that the player's card be checked against the master-board in the presence of the other players to determine if the squares were covered accurately. If it is determined by the caller that the player accurately has covered the squares and achieved the preannounced configuration, the player is declared the winner. If it is determined that the player has not covered the squares accurately and achieved the preannounced configuration, play continues in that game. (6) All devices, including the master-board, used to show what numbers have been called during a game must not be intentionally changed, obstructed, or turned off by the promoter until the winners are verified.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 449, SECTION 1; 2002 Act No. 334, SECTION 16C, eff October 1, 2002; 2004 Act No. 172, SECTION 4, eff August 2, 2003; 2016 Act No. 254 (H.5034), SECTION 3, eff June 7, 2016. Effect of Amendment 2016 Act No. 254, SECTION 3, in (A)(6), substituted "intentionally changed, obstructed, or turned off by the promoter" for "changed or turned off".