517.09 BINGO EXCEPTIONS.

   (a)   Sections 517.06 to 517.08 do not apply to bingo games that are conducted for the purpose of amusement only. A bingo game is conducted for the purpose of amusement only if it complies with all of the requirements specified in either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) hereof.

      (1)   A.    The participants do not pay any money or any other thing of value including an admission fee, or any fee for bingo cards, sheets, objects to cover the spaces, or other devices used in playing bingo, for the privilege of participating in the bingo game, or to defray any costs of the game, or pay tips or make donations during or immediately before or after the bingo game;

         B.    All prizes awarded during the course of the game are nonmonetary, and in the form of merchandise, goods or entitlements to goods or services only, and the total value of all prizes awarded during the game is less than one hundred dollars ($100.00);

         C.    No commission, wages, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity or other form of compensation, either directly or indirectly, and regardless of the source, is paid to any bingo game operator for work or labor performed at the site of the bingo game;

         D.    The bingo game is not conducted either during or within ten hours of:

            1.    A bingo session during which a charitable bingo game is conducted pursuant to Sections 517.06 to 517.08;

            2.   A scheme or game of chance other than a bingo game conducted pursuant to this section.

         E.    The number of players participating in the bingo game does not exceed fifty.

      (2)   A.    The participants do not pay money or any other thing of value as an admission fee, and no participant is charged more than twenty-five cents ($.25) to purchase a bingo card, sheet, objects to cover the spaces, or other devices used in playing bingo;

         B.    The total amount of money paid by all of the participants for bingo cards, sheets, objects to cover the spaces, or other devices used in playing bingo does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00);

         C.    All of the money paid for bingo cards, sheets, objects to cover spaces, or other devices used in playing bingo, are used only to pay winners monetary and nonmonetary prizes and to provide refreshments;

         D.    The total value of all prizes awarded during the game does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00);

         E.    No commission, wages, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity or other form of compensation, either directly or indirectly, and regardless of the source, is paid to any bingo game operator for work or labor performed at the site of the bingo game;

         F.    The bingo game is not conducted during or within ten hours of either of the following:

            1.    A bingo session during which a charitable bingo game is conducted pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.07 to 2915.11 or Sections 517.06 to 517.08 of this General Offenses Code;

            2.    A scheme of chance or game of chance, other than a bingo game conducted pursuant to this section;

         G.    All of the participants reside at the premises where the bingo game is conducted;

         H.    The bingo games are conducted on different days of the week and not more than twice in a calendar week.

   (b)   Any local law enforcement agency may investigate the conduct of amusement bingo if there is reason to believe that a purported amusement bingo game is operated in violation of this section. A local law enforcement agency may proceed by action in the proper court to enforce this section if the local law enforcement agency gives written notice to the Ohio Attorney General when commencing the action.

   (c)   No person shall conduct a bingo game that is not a charitable bingo game and that does not conform to the provisions of subsection (a) hereof.

   (d)   Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree for a first offense.

(ORC 2915.12)