517.14 INSTANT BINGO CONDUCT BY A VETERAN’S OR FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION.
(a) Subject to the requirements of Ohio R.C. 2915.14 and 2915.15 concerning electronic instant bingo, a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization authorized to conduct a bingo session pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915 may conduct instant bingo, electronic instant bingo, or both other than at a bingo session under a Type III license issued under Ohio R.C. 2915.08 if all of the following apply:
(1) The veteran's organization, fraternal organization or sporting organization limits the sale of instant bingo or electronic instant bingo to twelve (12) hours during any day, provided that the sale does not begin earlier than 10:00 a.m. and ends not later than 2:00 a.m.
(2) The veteran's organization, fraternal organization or a sporting organization limits the sale of instant bingo or electronic instant bingo to its own premises and to its own members and invited guests.
(3) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization is raising money for an organization that is described in IRC 509(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under IRC 501(a) and described in IRC 501(c)(3), and that is in good standing in this state and executes a written contract with that organization as required in subsection (b) hereof.
(b) If a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization authorized to conduct instant bingo or electronic instant bingo pursuant to subsection (a) hereof is raising money for another organization that is described in IRC 509(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under IRC 501(a) and described in IRC 501(c)(3), and that is in good standing in this state, the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization shall execute a written contract with the organization that is described in IRC 509(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under IRC 501(a) and described in IRC 501(c)(3), and that is in good standing in this state in order to conduct instant bingo or electronic instant bingo. That contract shall include a statement of the percentage of the net proceeds that the veteran’s, fraternal or sporting organization will be distributing to the organization that is described in IRC 509(a)(1), (a)(2) or (a)(3) and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under IRC 501(a) and described in IRC 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this state.
(c) (1) If a veteran's organization, fraternal organization or a sporting organization authorized to conduct instant bingo or electronic instant bingo pursuant to subsection (b) hereof has been issued a liquor permit under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4303, that permit may be subject to suspension, revocation, or cancellation if the veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization violates a provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915.
(2) No veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization that enters into a written contract pursuant to subsection (b) hereof shall violate any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915, or permit, aid, or abet any other person in violating any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915.
(d) A veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization shall give all required proceeds earned from the conduct of instant bingo or electronic instant bingo to the organization with which the veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization has entered into a written contract.
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of illegal instant bingo or electronic instant bingo conduct. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal instant bingo or electronic instant bingo conduct is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, illegal instant bingo or electronic instant bingo conduct is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(ORC 2915.13; Ord. 102-23. Passed 6-29-23.)