Updates To Bingo And Raffles Law

Section 1 of the bill makes legislative findings defines a "bingo strip card game" as a type of bingo that is played with a strip of up to 5 connected paper bingo cards, with each card containing a concealed grid of preprinted numbers ranging from one to 75. The winner is the first player to match the numbers drawn on one or more bingo balls to the prearranged pattern of numbers on a card. The maximum prize for an individual card may not exceed $1,000.Sections 3, 4, and 5 authorize the licensing authority to approve additional types of equipment that players may use, including certain electronic devices that reveal the winning or nonwinning status of tickets in pull tab games, and clarify that these devices are not defined as slot machines or other prohibited devices. Section 2 amends existing definitions accordingly, and section 3 removes a prohibition on the charging of license fees by the licensing authority for the licensing of certain devices.Section 2 updates certain language concerning bingo and pull tab games and prohibits a licensee from possessing, using, selling, offering for sale, or putting into play any equipment unless it conforms to law and was purchased or leased by the licensee from a licensed bingo-raffle manufacturer or supplier or from a licensed agent of a bingo-raffle manufacturer or supplier.Current law states that the licensing authority may establish by rule the maximum number of bingo cards that a bingo player who plays using the aid of an electronic device is permitted to use with the aid of such a device per game; except that the maximum number must be at least 54. Section 3 changes this threshold to 100.Current law requires all money collected or received from the sale of admission, extra regular cards, special game cards, sale of supplies, and all other receipts from the games of bingo, raffles, and pull tab games to be deposited in a special checking or savings account, or both, of the licensee, which must contain only this money. Section 4 updates this language to include money collected or received from the sale of bingo strip cards. Section 5 appropriates, for the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $52,671 to the department of state (department) from the department of state cash fund and authorizes the department to use this appropriation as follows:

• $21,796 for use by the business and licensing division for personal services, which amount is based on an assumption that the department will require an additional 0.5 FTE;
• $6,875 for use by the business and licensing division for operating expenses; and
• $24,000 for use by the information technology division for personal services.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)