BINGO GAMES

§ 131.30 PURPOSE.

   The purpose of this subchapter is to closely regulate and control the conduct of the game of bingo and to prohibit commercialization of bingo.

(Prior Code, § 3-8-1)

§ 131.31 DEFINITIONS.

   For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

   ACTIVE MEMBER. A member of the organization requesting a license whose dues are paid for the current membership period and who has been a member for at least six months.

   BINGO. A game where each player has a card or board for which a consideration has been paid containing five horizontal rows of spaces with each row except the central one containing five figures. The central row has four figures with the word “free” marked in the center space thereof. A player wins a game of BINGO by completing any pre-announced combination of spaces or, in the absence of a pre-announcement of a combination of spaces, any combination of five spaces in a row, either vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

   BINGO OCCASION. A single gathering or session at which a series of one or more successive bingo games is played.

   ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATION. Any fraternal, religious, veteran’s, or other nonprofit organization which has been in existence for at least three years and has at least 30 active members.

   PROFIT. The gross receipts collected from one or more bingo occasions less reasonable sums necessarily and actually expended for bingo supplies and equipment, prizes, rent, and utilities used during the bingo occasions, bingo license fees, and compensation to persons lawfully hired to conduct or assist in conducting a bingo occasion.

(Prior Code, § 3-8-2)

§ 131.32 LICENSE REQUIRED.

   (A)   No bingo occasion shall be conducted except by an eligible organization which has secured a license for that purpose as provided in this subchapter. An organization which is otherwise eligible for a license need not secure a license when bingo games are conducted fewer than five times in a year.

   (B)   (1)   A license shall be valid for 12 calendar months from the date of issuance.

      (2)   The annual license fee shall be adopted by the City Council.

      (3)   No bingo license issued may be transferred to any other person or organization. No bingo license shall be transferred to any location other than the location specified in the license without prior approval by the City Council.

(Prior Code, § 3-8-3) (Ord. 19, passed 9-13-1976; Ord. 107, passed 11-23-1981)

§ 131.33 LICENSE APPLICATIONS.

   Every application for a bingo license shall be made to the City Clerk on a form supplied by the city and containing such information as the Clerk or the City Council may require. No person shall make a false statement in an application. Copies of each application shall be referred to the city’s Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Building Inspector for their recommendations.

(Prior Code, § 3-8-4)

§ 131.34 SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.

   The City Council may suspend for a period not exceeding 60 days or revoke any bingo license for violation of any provision of M.S. Ch. 349, as it may be amended from time to time, or this subchapter. The holder of the license shall be granted a hearing upon at least ten days’ notice before revocation or suspension is ordered. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the nature of the charges against the licensee.

(Prior Code, § 3-8-5)

§ 131.35 CONDUCT OF BINGO.

   (A)   Each licensed organization shall appoint a bingo manager to supervise bingo occasions conduct by it. The bingo manager must be a member of the licensed organization with dues paid for the current membership period and must have been a member of the organization for at least two years. The bingo manager shall give a fidelity bond in the sum of $10,000 in favor of the organization conditioned on the faithful performance of his or her duties, except that the City Council may waive the bond requirement upon a showing by the proposed bingo manager and the licensed organization that bond is not required to protect the organization and upon a unanimous vote of the Council. Terms of the bond shall provide that notice shall be given in writing to the Council not less than 30 days prior to its cancellation. Each bingo occasion shall be conducted under the direct supervision of the bingo manager, who shall be responsible for the conduct of the bingo occasion in compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances. No person shall act as bingo manager for more than one organization.

   (B)   One or more checkers shall be engaged for each bingo occasion. The checkers shall be active members of the licensed organization or spouses of active members of the licensed organization. The checker or checkers shall record the number of cards purchased and played in each game prior to the completion of each game and record the prizes awarded to the recorded cards. Each checker shall certify all figures which he or she has recorded as accurate and correct to the best of his or her knowledge on forms prescribed by the City Clerk.

   (C)   Additional persons may be engaged for other duties in connection with bingo occasions as needed, but no person shall assist in the conduct of a bingo occasion who is not an active member of the licensed organization or the spouse of an active member of the licensed organization.

   (D)   No person shall receive more than $12 as compensation for any duties in connection with any one bingo occasion.

   (E)   No more than 104 bingo occasions each year or two bingo occasions each week shall be conducted by any licensed organization.

   (F)   A bingo occasion shall not continue for more than four consecutive hours.

(Prior Code, § 3-8-6)