§ 12-21-4000 — Procedures applicable to conduct of bingo.

In addition to the manner of play prescribed in Section 12-21-3990, the following procedures apply to the conduct of the game: (1) Before the beginning of the first game, all seventy-five balls must be displayed openly on the master-board for the inspection of the players. (2) Only one set of seventy-five balls and only one master-board is allowed in the room or area during the play of the game. (3) Only one bet or payment is to be paid for each card. (4) No bets or payments may be made while a game is in progress, except the sale of cards for subsequent games. (5) Reserved. (6) The house is required to identify the games for which a card may be used before the card is purchased. (7) Before the start of play, the caller shall announce to all players the winning configuration of covered squares for that particular game. (8) The prize must be awarded to the first person who successfully achieves the winning configuration of covered squares. All winning configurations must be verified using an electronic verifying system and must be displayed on the monitor for all players to see. (9) Balls must be selected randomly by an indiscriminate process. (10) Only one number may be called at a time. (11) All balls drawn remain on the master-board until the conclusion of the game. (12)(a) At least fifty percent of the gross proceeds of the sale of bingo cards taken in by the house during a single session must be returned to the players in the form of prizes. However, with respect to fair licenses, this requirement must be met during the course of the fair. (b) A bingo operation may take in only two times more in gross proceeds than the prize for that session averaged on a quarterly basis. Amounts in excess of this limit are subject to a tax, in addition to any other bingo license taxes and fees equal to the amount of the excess. Each session that the gross proceeds are greater than twice the prize amounts paid constitutes a separate offense if the tax is unpaid. This excess proceeds tax must be remitted to the department on the organization's quarterly bingo report and distributed as provided in Section 12-21-4190. Failure to remit this excess proceeds tax to the department shall result in immediate suspension of both the promoter's license and the organization's license. The department, after a conference with the promoter and organization, may permanently revoke the license of the promoter or the nonprofit organization, or both. If permanently revoked, the promoter, nonprofit organization, or any partner or member of the organization may no longer manage, conduct, or assist in any manner with a bingo operation in this State. (13) The playing of bingo is restricted to the premises designated with the department by the sponsor organization. (14) Bingo only may be played at the place designated by the bingo licensee on its original or amended application. (15) The house may hold promotions of special events during a session offering players prizes other than from the play of bingo not to exceed two hundred dollars in cash or merchandise for each session. This amount is not to be paid out of the bingo account and is not included in total payouts for a session. There is no additional charge to players to participate in a special promotion. The promotion must not require any consideration for participation.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 449, SECTION 1; 2002 Act No. 334, SECTIONS 16D, 16E, eff October 1, 2002; 2004 Act No. 172, SECTION 5, eff August 2, 2003; 2016 Act No. 254 (H.5034), SECTION 4, eff June 7, 2016. Effect of Amendment 2016 Act No. 254, SECTION 4, in (15), substituted "not to exceed two hundred dollars" for "not to exceed one hundred dollars" in the first sentence, and substituted "require any consideration for participation" for "be a form of gambling or a game of chance" in the last sentence.