130th Ohio General Assembly
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S. B. No. 169  As Introduced
As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
S. B. No. 169


Senator Grendell 



A BILL
To amend sections 2915.01, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.09, 2915.095, 2915.101, and 2915.12 and to enact sections 2915.083 and 2915.096 of the Revised Code to permit veterans, fraternal, and sporting organizations to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.  That sections 2915.01, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.09, 2915.095, 2915.101, and 2915.12 be amended and sections 2915.083 and 2915.096 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 2915.01.  As used in this chapter:
(A) "Bookmaking" means the business of receiving or paying off bets.
(B) "Bet" means the hazarding of anything of value upon the result of an event, undertaking, or contingency, but does not include a bona fide business risk.
(C) "Scheme of chance" means a slot machine, lottery, numbers game, pool conducted for profit, or other scheme in which a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a prize, but does not include bingo, a skill-based amusement machine, or a pool not conducted for profit.
(D) "Game of chance" means poker, craps, roulette, or other game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of gain, the outcome of which is determined largely by chance, but does not include bingo.
(E) "Game of chance conducted for profit" means any game of chance designed to produce income for the person who conducts or operates the game of chance, but does not include bingo.
(F) "Gambling device" means any of the following:
(1) A book, totalizer, or other equipment for recording bets;
(2) A ticket, token, or other device representing a chance, share, or interest in a scheme of chance or evidencing a bet;
(3) A deck of cards, dice, gaming table, roulette wheel, slot machine, or other apparatus designed for use in connection with a game of chance;
(4) Any equipment, device, apparatus, or paraphernalia specially designed for gambling purposes;
(5) Bingo supplies sold or otherwise provided, or used, in violation of this chapter.
(G) "Gambling offense" means any of the following:
(1) A violation of section 2915.02, 2915.03, 2915.04, 2915.05, 2915.06, 2915.07, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.082, 2915.09, 2915.091, 2915.092, 2915.10, or 2915.11 of the Revised Code;
(2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States substantially equivalent to any section listed in division (G)(1) of this section or a violation of section 2915.06 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;
(3) An offense under an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, of which gambling is an element;
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing, any offense under division (G)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.
(H) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, "charitable organization" means any tax exempt religious, educational, veteran's, fraternal, sporting, service, nonprofit medical, volunteer rescue service, volunteer firefighter's, senior citizen's, historic railroad educational, youth athletic, amateur athletic, or youth athletic park organization. An organization is tax exempt if the organization is, and has received from the internal revenue service a determination letter that currently is in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, or if the organization is a sporting organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and is described in subsection 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a charitable organization, an organization, except a volunteer rescue service or volunteer firefighter's organization, shall have been in continuous existence as such in this state for a period of two years immediately preceding either the making of an application for a bingo license under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code or the conducting of any game of chance as provided in division (D) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code. A charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is created by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization does not have to have been in continuous existence as such in this state for a period of two years immediately preceding either the making of an application for a bingo license under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code or the conducting of any game of chance as provided in division (D) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code.
(I) "Religious organization" means any church, body of communicants, or group that is not organized or operated for profit and that gathers in common membership for regular worship and religious observances.
(J) "Educational organization" means any organization within this state that is not organized for profit, the primary purpose of which is to educate and develop the capabilities of individuals through instruction by means of operating or contributing to the support of a school, academy, college, or university.
(K) "Veteran's organization" means any individual post or state headquarters of a national veteran's association or an auxiliary unit of any individual post of a national veteran's association, which post, state headquarters, or auxiliary unit is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and either has received a letter from the state headquarters of the national veteran's association indicating that the individual post or auxiliary unit is in good standing with the national veteran's association or has received a letter from the national veteran's association indicating that the state headquarters is in good standing with the national veteran's association. As used in this division, "national veteran's association" means any veteran's association that has been in continuous existence as such for a period of at least five years and either is incorporated by an act of the United States congress or has a national dues-paying membership of at least five thousand persons.
(L) "Volunteer firefighter's organization" means any organization of volunteer firefighters, as defined in section 146.01 of the Revised Code, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support for a volunteer fire department or a volunteer fire company and that is recognized or ratified by a county, municipal corporation, or township.
(M) "Fraternal organization" means any society, order, state headquarters, or association within this state, except a college or high school fraternity, that is not organized for profit, that is a branch, lodge, or chapter of a national or state organization, that exists exclusively for the common business or sodality of its members.
(N) "Volunteer rescue service organization" means any organization of volunteers organized to function as an emergency medical service organization, as defined in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.
(O) "Service organization" means either of the following:
(1) Any organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide, or to contribute to the support of organizations or institutions organized and operated exclusively to provide, medical and therapeutic services for persons who are crippled, born with birth defects, or have any other mental or physical defect or those organized and operated exclusively to protect, or to contribute to the support of organizations or institutions organized and operated exclusively to protect, animals from inhumane treatment or provide immediate shelter to victims of domestic violence;
(2) Any organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is an organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and operated primarily to provide, or to contribute to the support of organizations or institutions organized and operated primarily to provide, medical and therapeutic services for persons who are crippled, born with birth defects, or have any other mental or physical defect.
(P) "Nonprofit medical organization" means either of the following:
(1) Any organization that has been incorporated as a nonprofit corporation for at least five years and that has continuously operated and will be operated exclusively to provide, or to contribute to the support of organizations or institutions organized and operated exclusively to provide, hospital, medical, research, or therapeutic services for the public;
(2) Any organization that is described and qualified under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that has been incorporated as a nonprofit corporation for at least five years, and that has continuously operated and will be operated primarily to provide, or to contribute to the support of organizations or institutions organized and operated primarily to provide, hospital, medical, research, or therapeutic services for the public.
(Q) "Senior citizen's organization" means any private organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide recreational or social services for persons who are fifty-five years of age or older and that is described and qualified under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(R) "Charitable bingo game" means any bingo game described in division (S)(1) or (2) of this section that is conducted by a charitable organization that has obtained a license pursuant to section 2915.08 of the Revised Code and the proceeds of which are used for a charitable purpose.
(S) "Bingo" means either any of the following:
(1) A game with all of the following characteristics:
(a) The participants use bingo cards or sheets, including paper formats and electronic representation or image formats, that are divided into twenty-five spaces arranged in five horizontal and five vertical rows of spaces, with each space, except the central space, being designated by a combination of a letter and a number and with the central space being designated as a free space.
(b) The participants cover the spaces on the bingo cards or sheets that correspond to combinations of letters and numbers that are announced by a bingo game operator.
(c) A bingo game operator announces combinations of letters and numbers that appear on objects that a bingo game operator selects by chance, either manually or mechanically, from a receptacle that contains seventy-five objects at the beginning of each game, each object marked by a different combination of a letter and a number that corresponds to one of the seventy-five possible combinations of a letter and a number that can appear on the bingo cards or sheets.
(d) The winner of the bingo game includes any participant who properly announces during the interval between the announcements of letters and numbers as described in division (S)(1)(c) of this section, that a predetermined and preannounced pattern of spaces has been covered on a bingo card or sheet being used by the participant.
(2) Instant bingo, punch boards, and raffles;
(3) Charitable electronic instant bingo.
(T) "Conduct" means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of bingo or a game of chance.
(U) "Bingo game operator" means any person, except security personnel, who performs work or labor at the site of bingo, including, but not limited to, collecting money from participants, handing out bingo cards or sheets or objects to cover spaces on bingo cards or sheets, selecting from a receptacle the objects that contain the combination of letters and numbers that appear on bingo cards or sheets, calling out the combinations of letters and numbers, distributing prizes, selling or redeeming instant bingo tickets or cards, supervising the operation of a punch board, selling raffle tickets, selecting raffle tickets from a receptacle and announcing the winning numbers in a raffle, having access to or performing any function in the operation of charitable electronic instant bingo, and preparing, selling, and serving food or beverages.
(V) "Participant" means any person who plays bingo.
(W) "Bingo session" means a period that includes both of the following:
(1) Not to exceed five continuous hours for the conduct of one or more games described in division (S)(1) of this section, instant bingo, and seal cards;
(2) A period for the conduct of instant bingo and seal cards for not more than two hours before and not more than two hours after the period described in division (W)(1) of this section.
(X) "Gross receipts" means all money or assets, including admission fees, that a person receives from bingo without the deduction of any amounts for prizes paid out or for the expenses of conducting bingo. "Gross receipts" does not include any money directly taken in from the sale of food or beverages by a charitable organization conducting bingo, or by a bona fide auxiliary unit or society of a charitable organization conducting bingo, provided all of the following apply:
(1) The auxiliary unit or society has been in existence as a bona fide auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization for at least two years prior to conducting bingo.
(2) The person who purchases the food or beverage receives nothing of value except the food or beverage and items customarily received with the purchase of that food or beverage.
(3) The food and beverages are sold at customary and reasonable prices.
(Y) "Security personnel" includes any person who either is a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, township constable, or member of an organized police department of a municipal corporation or has successfully completed a peace officer's training course pursuant to sections 109.71 to 109.79 of the Revised Code and who is hired to provide security for the premises on which bingo is conducted.
(Z) "Charitable purpose" means that the net profit of bingo, other than instant bingo, is used by, or is given, donated, or otherwise transferred to, any of the following:
(1) Any organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(2) A veteran's organization that is a post, chapter, or organization of veterans, or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a trust or foundation for, any such post, chapter, or organization organized in the United States or any of its possessions, at least seventy-five per cent of the members of which are veterans and substantially all of the other members of which are individuals who are spouses, widows, or widowers of veterans, or such individuals, provided that no part of the net earnings of such post, chapter, or organization inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, and further provided that the net profit is used by the post, chapter, or organization for the charitable purposes set forth in division (B)(12) of section 5739.02 of the Revised Code, is used for awarding scholarships to or for attendance at an institution mentioned in division (B)(12) of section 5739.02 of the Revised Code, is donated to a governmental agency, or is used for nonprofit youth activities, the purchase of United States or Ohio flags that are donated to schools, youth groups, or other bona fide nonprofit organizations, promotion of patriotism, or disaster relief;
(3) A fraternal organization that has been in continuous existence in this state for fifteen years and that uses the net profit exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, if contributions for such use would qualify as a deductible charitable contribution under subsection 170 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(4) A volunteer firefighter's organization that uses the net profit for the purposes set forth in division (L) of this section.
(AA) "Internal Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as now or hereafter amended.
(BB) "Youth athletic organization" means any organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, athletic activities for persons who are twenty-one years of age or younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating, or contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league, or association.
(CC) "Youth athletic park organization" means any organization, not organized for profit, that satisfies both of the following:
(1) It owns, operates, and maintains playing fields that satisfy both of the following:
(a) The playing fields are used at least one hundred days per year for athletic activities by one or more organizations, not organized for profit, each of which is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, athletic activities for persons who are eighteen years of age or younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating, or contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league, or association.
(b) The playing fields are not used for any profit-making activity at any time during the year.
(2) It uses the proceeds of bingo it conducts exclusively for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of its playing fields of the type described in division (CC)(1) of this section.
(DD) "Amateur athletic organization" means any organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, athletic activities for persons who are training for amateur athletic competition that is sanctioned by a national governing body as defined in the "Amateur Sports Act of 1978," 90 Stat. 3045, 36 U.S.C.A. 373.
(EE) "Bingo supplies" means bingo cards or sheets; instant bingo tickets or cards; electronic bingo aids; raffle tickets; punch boards; seal cards; instant bingo ticket dispensers; charitable electronic instant bingo; and devices for selecting or displaying the combination of bingo letters and numbers or raffle tickets. Items that are "bingo supplies" are not gambling devices if sold or otherwise provided, and used, in accordance with this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, "bingo supplies" are not to be considered equipment used to conduct a bingo game.
(FF) "Instant bingo" means a form of bingo that uses folded or banded tickets or paper cards with perforated break-open tabs, a face of which is covered or otherwise hidden from view to conceal a number, letter, or symbol, or set of numbers, letters, or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize winners. "Instant bingo" includes seal cards and charitable electronic instant bingo. "Instant bingo" does not include any device that is activated by the insertion of a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent, and that contains as one of its components a video display monitor that is capable of displaying numbers, letters, symbols, or characters in winning or losing combinations.
(GG) "Seal card" means a form of instant bingo that uses instant bingo tickets in conjunction with a board or placard that contains one or more seals that, when removed or opened, reveal predesignated winning numbers, letters, or symbols.
(HH) "Raffle" means a form of bingo in which the one or more prizes are won by one or more persons who have purchased a raffle ticket. The one or more winners of the raffle are determined by drawing a ticket stub or other detachable section from a receptacle containing ticket stubs or detachable sections corresponding to all tickets sold for the raffle. "Raffle" does not include the drawing of a ticket stub or other detachable section of a ticket purchased to attend a professional sporting event if both of the following apply:
(1) The ticket stub or other detachable section is used to select the winner of a free prize given away at the professional sporting event; and
(2) The cost of the ticket is the same as the cost of a ticket to the professional sporting event on days when no free prize is given away.
(II) "Punch board" means a board containing a number of holes or receptacles of uniform size in which are placed, mechanically and randomly, serially numbered slips of paper that may be punched or drawn from the hole or receptacle when used in conjunction with instant bingo. A player may punch or draw the numbered slips of paper from the holes or receptacles and obtain the prize established for the game if the number drawn corresponds to a winning number or, if the punch board includes the use of a seal card, a potential winning number.
(JJ) "Gross profit" means gross receipts minus the amount actually expended for the payment of prize awards.
(KK) "Net profit" means gross profit minus expenses.
(LL) "Expenses" means the reasonable amount of gross profit actually expended for all of the following:
(1) The purchase or lease of bingo supplies;
(2) The annual license fee required under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code;
(3) Bank fees and service charges for a bingo session or game account described in section 2915.10 of the Revised Code;
(4) Audits and accounting services;
(5) Safes;
(6) Cash registers;
(7) Hiring security personnel;
(8) Advertising bingo;
(9) Renting premises in which to conduct a bingo session;
(10) Tables and chairs;
(11) Expenses for maintaining and operating a charitable organization's facilities, including, but not limited to, a post home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen and any grounds attached to the post home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen;
(12) Payment of real property taxes and assessments that are levied on a premises on which bingo is conducted;
(13) Any other product or service directly related to the conduct of bingo that is authorized in rules adopted by the attorney general under division (B)(1) of section 2915.08 of the Revised Code.
(MM) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and includes any firm or any other legal entity, however organized.
(NN) "Revoke" means to void permanently all rights and privileges of the holder of a license issued under section 2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code or a charitable gaming license issued by another jurisdiction.
(OO) "Suspend" means to interrupt temporarily all rights and privileges of the holder of a license issued under section 2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code or a charitable gaming license issued by another jurisdiction.
(PP) "Distributor" means any person who purchases or obtains bingo supplies and who does either of the following:
(1) Sells, offers for sale, or otherwise provides or offers to provide the bingo supplies to another person for use in this state;
(2) Modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from the bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale for use in this state.
(QQ) "Manufacturer" means any person who assembles completed bingo supplies from raw materials, other items, or subparts or who modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale.
(RR) "Gross annual revenues" means the annual gross receipts derived from the conduct of bingo described in division (S)(1) of this section plus the annual net profit derived from the conduct of bingo described in division (S)(2) of this section.
(SS) "Instant bingo ticket dispenser" means a mechanical device that dispenses an instant bingo ticket or card as the sole item of value dispensed and that has the following characteristics:
(1) It is activated upon the insertion of United States currency.
(2) It performs no gaming functions.
(3) It does not contain a video display monitor or generate noise.
(4) It is not capable of displaying any numbers, letters, symbols, or characters in winning or losing combinations.
(5) It does not simulate or display rolling or spinning reels.
(6) It is incapable of determining whether a dispensed bingo ticket or card is a winning or nonwinning ticket or card and requires a winning ticket or card to be paid by a bingo game operator.
(7) It may provide accounting and security features to aid in accounting for the instant bingo tickets or cards it dispenses.
(8) It is not part of an electronic network and is not interactive.
(TT)(1) "Electronic bingo aid" means an electronic device used by a participant to monitor bingo cards or sheets purchased at the time and place of a bingo session and that does all of the following:
(a) It provides a means for a participant to input numbers and letters announced by a bingo caller.
(b) It compares the numbers and letters entered by the participant to the bingo faces previously stored in the memory of the device.
(c) It identifies a winning bingo pattern.
(2) "Electronic bingo aid" does not include any device into which a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent is inserted to activate play.
(UU) "Deal of instant bingo tickets" means a single game of instant bingo tickets all with the same serial number.
(VV)(1) "Slot machine" means either of the following:
(a) Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, from or on behalf of a player who gives the thing of value in the hope of gain;
(b) Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, from or on behalf of a player to conduct bingo or a scheme or game of chance.
(2) "Slot machine" does not include a skill-based amusement machine or, an instant bingo ticket dispenser, or charitable electronic instant bingo.
(WW) "Net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo" means gross profit minus the ordinary, necessary, and reasonable expense expended for the purchase of instant bingo or the purchase or lease of charitable electronic instant bingo supplies.
(XX) "Charitable instant bingo organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a charitable organization as defined in this section. A "charitable instant bingo organization" does not include a charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is created by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization in regards to bingo conducted or assisted by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization pursuant to section 2915.13 of the Revised Code.
(YY) "Game flare" means the board or placard that accompanies each deal of instant bingo tickets and that has printed on or affixed to it the following information for the game:
(1) The name of the game;
(2) The manufacturer's name or distinctive logo;
(3) The form number;
(4) The ticket count;
(5) The prize structure, including the number of winning instant bingo tickets by denomination and the respective winning symbol or number combinations for the winning instant bingo tickets;
(6) The cost per play;
(7) The serial number of the game.
(ZZ) "Historic railroad educational organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that owns in fee simple the tracks and the right-of-way of a historic railroad that the organization restores or maintains and on which the organization provides excursions as part of a program to promote tourism and educate visitors regarding the role of railroad transportation in Ohio history, and that received as donations from a charitable organization that holds a license to conduct bingo under this chapter an amount equal to at least fifty per cent of that licensed charitable organization's net proceeds from the conduct of bingo during each of the five years preceding June 30, 2003. "Historic railroad" means all or a portion of the tracks and right-of-way of a railroad that was owned and operated by a for-profit common carrier in this state at any time prior to January 1, 1950.
(AAA)(1) "Skill-based amusement machine" means a mechanical, video, digital, or electronic device that rewards the player or players, if at all, only with merchandise prizes or with redeemable vouchers redeemable only for merchandise prizes, provided that with respect to rewards for playing the game all of the following apply:
(a) The wholesale value of a merchandise prize awarded as a result of the single play of a machine does not exceed ten dollars;
(b) Redeemable vouchers awarded for any single play of a machine are not redeemable for a merchandise prize with a wholesale value of more than ten dollars;
(c) Redeemable vouchers are not redeemable for a merchandise prize that has a wholesale value of more than ten dollars times the fewest number of single plays necessary to accrue the redeemable vouchers required to obtain that prize; and
(d) Any redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes are distributed at the site of the skill-based amusement machine at the time of play.
(2) A device shall not be considered a skill-based amusement machine and shall be considered a slot machine if it pays cash or one or more of the following apply:
(a) The ability of a player to succeed at the game is impacted by the number or ratio of prior wins to prior losses of players playing the game.
(b) Any reward of redeemable vouchers is not based solely on the player achieving the object of the game or the player's score;
(c) The outcome of the game, or the value of the redeemable voucher or merchandise prize awarded for winning the game, can be controlled by a source other than any player playing the game.
(d) The success of any player is or may be determined by a chance event that cannot be altered by player actions.
(e) The ability of any player to succeed at the game is determined by game features not visible or known to the player.
(f) The ability of the player to succeed at the game is impacted by the exercise of a skill that no reasonable player could exercise.
(3) All of the following apply to any machine that is operated as described in division (AAA)(1) of this section:
(a) As used in this section, "game" and "play" mean one event from the initial activation of the machine until the results of play are determined without payment of additional consideration. An individual utilizing a machine that involves a single game, play, contest, competition, or tournament may be awarded redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes based on the results of play.
(b) Advance play for a single game, play, contest, competition, or tournament participation may be purchased. The cost of the contest, competition, or tournament participation may be greater than a single noncontest, competition, or tournament play.
(c) To the extent that the machine is used in a contest, competition, or tournament, that contest, competition, or tournament has a defined starting and ending date and is open to participants in competition for scoring and ranking results toward the awarding of redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes that are stated prior to the start of the contest, competition, or tournament.
(4) For purposes of division (AAA)(1) of this section, the mere presence of a device, such as a pin-setting, ball-releasing, or scoring mechanism, that does not contribute to or affect the outcome of the play of the game does not make the device a skill-based amusement machine.
(BBB) "Merchandise prize" means any item of value, but shall not include any of the following:
(1) Cash, gift cards, or any equivalent thereof;
(2) Plays on games of chance, state lottery tickets, bingo, or instant bingo;
(3) Firearms, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages; or
(4) A redeemable voucher that is redeemable for any of the items listed in division (BBB)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.
(CCC) "Redeemable voucher" means any ticket, token, coupon, receipt, or other noncash representation of value.
(DDD) "Pool not conducted for profit" means a scheme in which a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a prize and the total amount of consideration wagered is distributed to a participant or participants.
(EEE) "Sporting organization" means a hunting, fishing, or trapping organization, other than a college or high school fraternity or sorority, that is not organized for profit, that is affiliated with a state or national sporting organization, including but not limited to, the Ohio league of sportsmen, and that has been in continuous existence in this state for a period of three years.
(FFF) "Community action agency" has the same meaning as in section 122.66 of the Revised Code.
(GGG) "Charitable electronic instant bingo" means any electronic gaming device determined to be a class II or class III device under the "Indian Gaming Regulatory Act," 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., for which a valid charitable bingo license has been issued to a veterans, fraternal, or sporting organization, and from which a percentage of the net profits is transferred to a charitable purpose established in section 2915.101 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2915.08.  (A)(1) Annually before the first day of January, a charitable organization that desires to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo shall make out, upon a form to be furnished by the attorney general for that purpose, an application for a license to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo and deliver that application to the attorney general together with a license fee as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, for a license for the conduct of bingo, two hundred dollars;
(b) For a license for the conduct of instant bingo at a bingo session or, instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo for a charitable organization that previously has not been licensed under this chapter to conduct instant bingo at a bingo session or, instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo, a license fee of five hundred dollars, and for any other charitable organization, a license fee that is based upon the gross profits received by the charitable organization from the operation of instant bingo at a bingo session or, instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo, during the one-year period ending on the thirty-first day of October of the year immediately preceding the year for which the license is sought, and that is one of the following:
(i) Five hundred dollars, if the total is fifty thousand dollars or less;
(ii) One thousand two hundred fifty dollars plus one-fourth per cent of the gross profit, if the total is more than fifty thousand dollars but less than two hundred fifty thousand one dollars;
(iii) Two thousand two hundred fifty dollars plus one-half per cent of the gross profit, if the total is more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars but less than five hundred thousand one dollars;
(iv) Three thousand five hundred dollars plus one per cent of the gross profit, if the total is more than five hundred thousand dollars but less than one million one dollars;
(v) Five thousand dollars plus one per cent of the gross profit, if the total is one million one dollars or more;
(c) A reduced license fee established by the attorney general pursuant to division (G) of this section.
(d) For a license to conduct bingo for a charitable organization that prior to the effective date of this amendment July 1, 2003, has not been licensed under this chapter to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, a license fee established by rule by the attorney general in accordance with division (H) of this section.
(2) The application shall be in the form prescribed by the attorney general, shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant, and shall contain all of the following:
(a) The name and post-office address of the applicant;
(b) A statement that the applicant is a charitable organization and that it has been in continuous existence as a charitable organization in this state for two years immediately preceding the making of the application or for five years in the case of a fraternal organization or a nonprofit medical organization;
(c) The location at which the organization will conduct bingo, which location shall be within the county in which the principal place of business of the applicant is located, the days of the week and the times on each of those days when bingo will be conducted, whether the organization owns, leases, or subleases the premises, and a copy of the rental agreement if it leases or subleases the premises;
(d) A statement of the applicant's previous history, record, and association that is sufficient to establish that the applicant is a charitable organization, and a copy of a determination letter that is issued by the Internal Revenue Service and states that the organization is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(e) A statement as to whether the applicant has ever had any previous application refused, whether it previously has had a license revoked or suspended, and the reason stated by the attorney general for the refusal, revocation, or suspension;
(f) A statement of the charitable purposes for which the net profit derived from bingo, other than instant bingo, will be used, and a statement of how the net profit derived from instant bingo and charitable electronic instant bingo will be distributed in accordance with section 2915.101 of the Revised Code;
(g) Other necessary and reasonable information that the attorney general may require by rule adopted pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code;
(h) If the applicant is a charitable trust as defined in section 109.23 of the Revised Code, a statement as to whether it has registered with the attorney general pursuant to section 109.26 of the Revised Code or filed annual reports pursuant to section 109.31 of the Revised Code, and, if it is not required to do either, the exemption in section 109.26 or 109.31 of the Revised Code that applies to it;
(i) If the applicant is a charitable organization as defined in section 1716.01 of the Revised Code, a statement as to whether it has filed with the attorney general a registration statement pursuant to section 1716.02 of the Revised Code and a financial report pursuant to section 1716.04 of the Revised Code, and, if it is not required to do both, the exemption in section 1716.03 of the Revised Code that applies to it;
(j) In the case of an applicant seeking to qualify as a youth athletic park organization, a statement issued by a board or body vested with authority under Chapter 755. of the Revised Code for the supervision and maintenance of recreation facilities in the territory in which the organization is located, certifying that the playing fields owned by the organization were used for at least one hundred days during the year in which the statement is issued, and were open for use to all residents of that territory, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin, for athletic activities by youth athletic organizations that do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin, and that the fields were not used for any profit-making activity at any time during the year. That type of board or body is authorized to issue the statement upon request and shall issue the statement if it finds that the applicant's playing fields were so used.
(3) The attorney general, within thirty days after receiving a timely filed application from a charitable organization that has been issued a license under this section that has not expired and has not been revoked or suspended, shall send a temporary permit to the applicant specifying the date on which the application was filed with the attorney general and stating that, pursuant to section 119.06 of the Revised Code, the applicant may continue to conduct bingo until a new license is granted or, if the application is rejected, until fifteen days after notice of the rejection is mailed to the applicant. The temporary permit does not affect the validity of the applicant's application and does not grant any rights to the applicant except those rights specifically granted in section 119.06 of the Revised Code. The issuance of a temporary permit by the attorney general pursuant to this division does not prohibit the attorney general from rejecting the applicant's application because of acts that the applicant committed, or actions that the applicant failed to take, before or after the issuance of the temporary permit.
(4) Within thirty days after receiving an initial license application from a charitable organization to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo, the attorney general shall conduct a preliminary review of the application and notify the applicant regarding any deficiencies. Once an application is deemed complete, or beginning on the thirtieth day after the application is filed, if the attorney general failed to notify the applicant of any deficiencies, the attorney general shall have an additional sixty days to conduct an investigation and either grant or deny the application based on findings established and communicated in accordance with divisions (B) and (E) of this section. As an option to granting or denying an initial license application, the attorney general may grant a temporary license and request additional time to conduct the investigation if the attorney general has cause to believe that additional time is necessary to complete the investigation and has notified the applicant in writing about the specific concerns raised during the investigation.
(B)(1) The attorney general shall adopt rules to enforce sections 2915.01, 2915.02, and 2915.07 to 2915.13 of the Revised Code to ensure that bingo or, instant bingo, or charitable electronic instant bingo is conducted in accordance with those sections and to maintain proper control over the conduct of bingo or, instant bingo, or charitable electronic instant bingo. The rules, except rules adopted pursuant to divisions (A)(2)(g) and (G) of this section, shall be adopted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The attorney general shall license charitable organizations to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo in conformance with this chapter and with the licensing provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(2) The attorney general may refuse to grant a license to any organization, or revoke or suspend the license of any organization, that does any of the following or to which any of the following applies:
(a) Fails or has failed at any time to meet any requirement of section 109.26, 109.31, or 1716.02, or sections 2915.07 to 2915.11 of the Revised Code, or violates or has violated any provision of sections 2915.02 or 2915.07 to 2915.13 of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the attorney general pursuant to this section;
(b) Makes or has made an incorrect or false statement that is material to the granting of the license in an application filed pursuant to division (A) of this section;
(c) Submits or has submitted any incorrect or false information relating to an application if the information is material to the granting of the license;
(d) Maintains or has maintained any incorrect or false information that is material to the granting of the license in the records required to be kept pursuant to divisions (A) and (C) of section 2915.10 of the Revised Code, if applicable;
(e) The attorney general has good cause to believe that the organization will not conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo in accordance with sections 2915.07 to 2915.13 of the Revised Code or with any rule adopted by the attorney general pursuant to this section.
(3) For the purposes of division (B) of this section, any action of an officer, trustee, agent, representative, or bingo game operator of an organization is an action of the organization.
(C) The attorney general may grant licenses to charitable organizations that are branches, lodges, or chapters of national charitable organizations.
(D) The attorney general shall send notice in writing to the prosecuting attorney and sheriff of the county in which the organization will conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo, as stated in its application for a license or amended license, and to any other law enforcement agency in that county that so requests, of all of the following:
(1) The issuance of the license;
(2) The issuance of the amended license;
(3) The rejection of an application for and refusal to grant a license;
(4) The revocation of any license previously issued;
(5) The suspension of any license previously issued.
(E) A license issued by the attorney general shall set forth the information contained on the application of the charitable organization that the attorney general determines is relevant, including, but not limited to, the location at which the organization will conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo and the days of the week and the times on each of those days when bingo will be conducted. If the attorney general refuses to grant or revokes or suspends a license, the attorney general shall notify the applicant in writing and specifically identify the reason for the refusal, revocation, or suspension in narrative form and, if applicable, by identifying the section of the Revised Code violated. The failure of the attorney general to give the written notice of the reasons for the refusal, revocation, or suspension or a mistake in the written notice does not affect the validity of the attorney general's refusal to grant, or the revocation or suspension of, a license. If the attorney general fails to give the written notice or if there is a mistake in the written notice, the applicant may bring an action to compel the attorney general to comply with this division or to correct the mistake, but the attorney general's order refusing to grant, or revoking or suspending, a license shall not be enjoined during the pendency of the action.
(F) A charitable organization that has been issued a license pursuant to division (B) of this section but that cannot conduct bingo or, instant bingo, or charitable electronic instant bingo at the location, or on the day of the week or at the time, specified on the license due to circumstances that make it impractical to do so may apply in writing, together with an application fee of two hundred fifty dollars, to the attorney general, at least thirty days prior to a change in location, day of the week, or time, and request an amended license. The application shall describe the causes making it impractical for the organization to conduct bingo or, instant bingo, or charitable electronic instant bingo in conformity with its license and shall indicate the location, days of the week, and times on each of those days when it desires to conduct bingo or, instant bingo, or charitable electronic instant bingo. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the attorney general shall issue the amended license in accordance with division (E) of this section, and the organization shall surrender its original license to the attorney general. The attorney general may refuse to grant an amended license according to the terms of division (B) of this section.
(G) The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, shall establish a schedule of reduced license fees for charitable organizations that desire to conduct bingo or, instant bingo, or charitable electronic instant bingo during fewer than twenty-six weeks in any calendar year.
(H) The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, shall establish license fees for the conduct of bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo for charitable organizations that prior to the effective date of this amendment July 1, 2003, have not been licensed to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, or charitable electronic instant bingo under this chapter.
(I) The attorney general may enter into a written contract with any other state agency to delegate to that state agency the powers prescribed to the attorney general under Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.
(J) The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, may adopt rules to determine the requirements for a charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to be in good standing in the state.
Sec. 2915.081.  (A) No distributor shall sell, offer to sell, or otherwise provide or offer to provide bingo supplies to another person, or modify, convert, add to, or remove parts from bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale, for use in this state without having obtained a license from the attorney general under this section.
(B) The attorney general may issue a distributor license to any person that meets the requirements of this section. The application for the license shall be on a form prescribed by the attorney general and be accompanied by the annual fee prescribed by this section. The license is valid for a period of one year, and the annual fee for the license is five thousand dollars.
(C) The attorney general may refuse to issue a distributor license to any person to which any of the following applies, or to any person that has an officer, partner, or other person who has an ownership interest of ten per cent or more and to whom any of the following applies:
(1) The person, officer, or partner has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States.
(2) The person, officer, or partner has been convicted of any gambling offense.
(3) The person, officer, or partner has made an incorrect or false statement that is material to the granting of a license in an application submitted to the attorney general under this section or in a similar application submitted to a gambling licensing authority in another jurisdiction if the statement resulted in license revocation through administrative action in the other jurisdiction.
(4) The person, officer, or partner has submitted any incorrect or false information relating to the application to the attorney general under this section, if the information is material to the granting of the license.
(5) The person, officer, or partner has failed to correct any incorrect or false information that is material to the granting of the license in the records required to be maintained under division (E) of section 2915.10 of the Revised Code.
(6) The person, officer, or partner has had a license related to gambling revoked or suspended under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States.
(D) The attorney general shall not issue a distributor license to any person that is involved in the conduct of bingo on behalf of a charitable organization or that is a lessor of premises used for the conduct of bingo. This division does not prohibit a distributor from advising charitable organizations on the use and benefit of specific bingo supplies or prohibit a distributor from advising a customer on operational methods to improve bingo profitability.
(E)(1) No distributor shall sell, offer to sell, or otherwise provide or offer to provide bingo supplies to any person, or modify, convert, add to, or remove parts from bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale, for use in this state except to or for the use of a charitable organization that has been issued a license under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code or to another distributor that has been issued a license under this section. No distributor shall accept payment for the sale or other provision of bingo supplies other than by check or electronic fund transfer.
(2) No distributor may donate, give, loan, lease, or otherwise provide any bingo supplies or equipment, or modify, convert, add to, or remove parts from bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale, to or for the use of a charitable organization for use in a bingo session conditioned on or in consideration for an exclusive right to provide bingo supplies to the charitable organization. A distributor may provide a licensed charitable organization with free samples of the distributor's products to be used as prizes or to be used for the purpose of sampling.
(3) No distributor shall purchase bingo supplies for use in this state from any person except from a manufacturer issued a license under section 2915.082 of the Revised Code or from another distributor issued a license under this section. Subject to division (D) of section 2915.082 of the Revised Code, no distributor shall pay for purchased bingo supplies other than by check or electronic fund transfer.
(4) No distributor shall participate in the conduct of bingo on behalf of a charitable organization or have any direct or indirect ownership interest in a premises used for the conduct of bingo.
(5) No distributor shall knowingly solicit, offer, pay, or receive any kickback, bribe, or undocumented rebate, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, in return for providing bingo supplies to any person in this state.
(6) Except as provided by and through the negotiations of the Ohio statewide veterans, fraternal, and sporting coalition, no distributor shall sell, offer to sell, give, loan, lease, or otherwise provide or offer to provide charitable electronic instant bingo to any veterans, fraternal, or sporting organization that has been issued a license under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo.
(F) The attorney general shall affix a seal to a device a distributor intends to sell, offer to sell, or otherwise provide to a licensed organization to be used to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo if the attorney general finds the device meets the standards required under the law of this state. No distributor of charitable electronic instant bingo shall sell, offer to sell, or otherwise provide such a device to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo unless the device is affixed with the seal.
(G) The attorney general may suspend or revoke a distributor license for any of the reasons for which the attorney general may refuse to issue a distributor license specified in division (C) of this section or if the distributor holding the license violates any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted by the attorney general under this chapter.
(G)(H) Whoever violates division (A) or (E) of this section is guilty of illegally operating as a distributor. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegally operating as a distributor is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (A) or (E) of this section, illegally operating as a distributor is a felony of the fifth degree.
Sec. 2915.083.  (A) The Ohio statewide veterans, fraternal, and sporting coalition is hereby recognized.
(B) For all charitable organizations licensed to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code, the coalition shall negotiate, and as agreed to by a majority of the coalition's members, all contract terms for provision and maintenance of charitable electronic instant bingo. No charitable organization that has been issued a license under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo shall enter into a contract with a distributor to buy, offer to buy, get, loan, lease, or otherwise be provided or offered to be provided charitable electronic instant bingo other than as negotiated by the coalition.
Sec. 2915.09.  (A) No charitable organization that conducts bingo shall fail to do any of the following:
(1) Own all of the equipment used to conduct bingo or lease that equipment from a charitable organization that is licensed to conduct bingo, or from the landlord of a premises where bingo is conducted, for a rental rate that is not more than is customary and reasonable for that equipment;
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(3) of this section, use all of the gross receipts from bingo for paying prizes, for reimbursement of expenses for or for renting premises in which to conduct a bingo session, for reimbursement of expenses for or for purchasing or leasing bingo supplies used in conducting bingo, for reimbursement of expenses for or for hiring security personnel, for reimbursement of expenses for or for advertising bingo, or for reimbursement of other expenses or for other expenses listed in division (LL) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, provided that the amount of the receipts so spent is not more than is customary and reasonable for a similar purchase, lease, hiring, advertising, or expense. If the building in which bingo is conducted is owned by the charitable organization conducting bingo and the bingo conducted includes a form of bingo described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, the charitable organization may deduct from the total amount of the gross receipts from each session a sum equal to the lesser of six hundred dollars or forty-five per cent of the gross receipts from the bingo described in that division as consideration for the use of the premises.
(3) Use, or give, donate, or otherwise transfer, all of the net profit derived from bingo, other than instant bingo, for a charitable purpose listed in its license application and described in division (Z) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, or distribute all of the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo as stated in its license application and in accordance with section 2915.101 of the Revised Code.
(B) No charitable organization that conducts a bingo game described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code shall fail to do any of the following:
(1) Conduct the bingo game on premises that are owned by the charitable organization, on premises that are owned by another charitable organization and leased from that charitable organization for a rental rate not in excess of the lesser of six hundred dollars per bingo session or forty-five per cent of the gross receipts of the bingo session, on premises that are leased from a person other than a charitable organization for a rental rate that is not more than is customary and reasonable for premises that are similar in location, size, and quality but not in excess of four hundred fifty dollars per bingo session, or on premises that are owned by a person other than a charitable organization, that are leased from that person by another charitable organization, and that are subleased from that other charitable organization by the charitable organization for a rental rate not in excess of four hundred fifty dollars per bingo session. If the charitable organization leases from a person other than a charitable organization the premises on which it conducts bingo sessions, the lessor of the premises shall provide the premises to the organization and shall not provide the organization with bingo game operators, security personnel, concessions or concession operators, bingo supplies, or any other type of service. A charitable organization shall not lease or sublease premises that it owns or leases to more than one other charitable organization per calendar week for the purpose of conducting bingo sessions on the premises. A person that is not a charitable organization shall not lease premises that it owns, leases, or otherwise is empowered to lease to more than three charitable organizations per calendar week for conducting bingo sessions on the premises. In no case shall more than nine bingo sessions be conducted on any premises in any calendar week.
(2) Display its license conspicuously at the premises where the bingo session is conducted;
(3) Conduct the bingo session in accordance with the definition of bingo set forth in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.
(C) No charitable organization that conducts a bingo game described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code shall do any of the following:
(1) Pay any compensation to a bingo game operator for operating a bingo session that is conducted by the charitable organization or for preparing, selling, or serving food or beverages at the site of the bingo session, permit any auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization to pay compensation to any bingo game operator who prepares, sells, or serves food or beverages at a bingo session conducted by the charitable organization, or permit any auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization to prepare, sell, or serve food or beverages at a bingo session conducted by the charitable organization, if the auxiliary unit or society pays any compensation to the bingo game operators who prepare, sell, or serve the food or beverages;
(2) Pay consulting fees to any person for any services performed in relation to the bingo session;
(3) Pay concession fees to any person who provides refreshments to the participants in the bingo session;
(4) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(4) of this section, conduct more than three bingo sessions in any seven-day period. A volunteer firefighter's organization or a volunteer rescue service organization that conducts not more than five bingo sessions in a calendar year may conduct more than three bingo sessions in a seven-day period after notifying the attorney general when it will conduct the sessions.
(5) Pay out more than six thousand dollars in prizes for bingo games described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code during any bingo session that is conducted by the charitable organization. "Prizes" does not include awards from the conduct of instant bingo.
(6) Conduct a bingo session at any time during the ten-hour period between midnight and ten a.m., at any time during, or within ten hours of, a bingo game conducted for amusement only pursuant to section 2915.12 of the Revised Code, at any premises not specified on its license, or on any day of the week or during any time period not specified on its license. Division (A)(6) of this section does not prohibit the sale of instant bingo tickets beginning at nine a.m. for a bingo session that begins at ten a.m. If circumstances make it impractical for the charitable organization to conduct a bingo session at the premises, or on the day of the week or at the time, specified on its license or if a charitable organization wants to conduct bingo sessions on a day of the week or at a time other than the day or time specified on its license, the charitable organization may apply in writing to the attorney general for an amended license pursuant to division (F) of section 2915.08 of the Revised Code. A charitable organization may apply twice in each calendar year for an amended license to conduct bingo sessions on a day of the week or at a time other than the day or time specified on its license. If the amended license is granted, the organization may conduct bingo sessions at the premises, on the day of the week, and at the time specified on its amended license.
(7) Permit any person whom the charitable organization knows, or should have known, is under the age of eighteen to work as a bingo game operator;
(8) Permit any person whom the charitable organization knows, or should have known, has been convicted of a felony or gambling offense in any jurisdiction to be a bingo game operator;
(9) Permit the lessor of the premises on which the bingo session is conducted, if the lessor is not a charitable organization, to provide the charitable organization with bingo game operators, security personnel, concessions, bingo supplies, or any other type of service;
(10) Purchase or lease bingo supplies from any person except a distributor issued a license under section 2915.081 of the Revised Code;
(11)(a) Use or permit the use of electronic bingo aids except under the following circumstances:
(i) For any single participant, not more than ninety bingo faces can be played using an electronic bingo aid or aids.
(ii) The charitable organization shall provide a participant using an electronic bingo aid with corresponding paper bingo cards or sheets.
(iii) The total price of bingo faces played with an electronic bingo aid shall be equal to the total price of the same number of bingo faces played with a paper bingo card or sheet sold at the same bingo session but without an electronic bingo aid.
(iv) An electronic bingo aid cannot be part of an electronic network other than a network that includes only bingo aids and devices that are located on the premises at which the bingo is being conducted or be interactive with any device not located on the premises at which the bingo is being conducted.
(v) An electronic bingo aid cannot be used to participate in bingo that is conducted at a location other than the location at which the bingo session is conducted and at which the electronic bingo aid is used.
(vi) An electronic bingo aid cannot be used to provide for the input of numbers and letters announced by a bingo caller other than the bingo caller who physically calls the numbers and letters at the location at which the bingo session is conducted and at which the electronic bingo aid is used.
(b) The attorney general may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that govern the use of electronic bingo aids. The rules may include a requirement that an electronic bingo aid be capable of being audited by the attorney general to verify the number of bingo cards or sheets played during each bingo session.
(12) Permit any person the charitable organization knows, or should have known, to be under eighteen years of age to play bingo described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.
(D)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(3) of this section, no charitable organization shall provide to a bingo game operator, and no bingo game operator shall receive or accept, any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity, or other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, regardless of the source, for conducting bingo or providing other work or labor at the site of bingo during a bingo session.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(3) of this section, no charitable organization shall provide to a bingo game operator any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity, or other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, regardless of the source, for conducting instant bingo other than at a bingo session at the site of instant bingo other than at a bingo session.
(3) Nothing in division (D) of this section prohibits an employee of a fraternal organization, veteran's organization, or sporting organization from selling instant bingo tickets or cards to the organization's members or invited guests, as long as no portion of the employee's compensation is paid from any receipts of bingo.
(E) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, a charitable organization that, prior to December 6, 1977, has entered into written agreements for the lease of premises it owns to another charitable organization or other charitable organizations for the conducting of bingo sessions so that more than two bingo sessions are conducted per calendar week on the premises, and a person that is not a charitable organization and that, prior to December 6, 1977, has entered into written agreements for the lease of premises it owns to charitable organizations for the conducting of more than two bingo sessions per calendar week on the premises, may continue to lease the premises to those charitable organizations, provided that no more than four sessions are conducted per calendar week, that the lessor organization or person has notified the attorney general in writing of the organizations that will conduct the sessions and the days of the week and the times of the day on which the sessions will be conducted, that the initial lease entered into with each organization that will conduct the sessions was filed with the attorney general prior to December 6, 1977, and that each organization that will conduct the sessions was issued a license to conduct bingo games by the attorney general prior to December 6, 1977.
(F) This section does not prohibit a bingo licensed charitable organization or a game operator from giving any person an instant bingo ticket as a prize.
(G) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is guilty of illegally conducting a bingo game, a felony of the fourth degree. Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (A)(1) or (3), (B)(1), (2), or (3), (C)(1) to (12), or (D) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (A)(1) or (3), (B)(1), (2), or (3), (C)(1) to (11), or (D) of this section, a violation of division (A)(1) or (3), (B)(1), (2), or (3), (C), or (D) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Whoever violates division (C)(12) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, if the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (C)(12) of this section, a felony of the fourth degree.
Sec. 2915.095. The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, shall establish a standard contract to be used by a charitable instant bingo organization, a veteran's organization, , a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization for the conduct of instant bingo other than at a bingo session or charitable electronic instant bingo. The terms of the contract shall be limited to the provisions in Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2915.096.  (A) No charitable organization that conducts charitable electronic instant bingo shall do any of the following:
(1) Fail to comply with the requirements of divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of section 2915.09 of the Revised Code;
(2) Conduct charitable electronic instant bingo unless that organization is, and has received from the internal revenue service a determination letter that is currently in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a), is described in subsection 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19), or is a veteran's organization described in subsection 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and conducts instant bingo under section 2915.13 of the Revised Code;
(3) Conduct charitable electronic instant bingo on any day, at any time, or at any premises not specified on the organization's license issued under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code;
(4) Permit any person whom the organization knows or should have known has been convicted of a felony or gambling offense in any jurisdiction to operate or perform any type of maintenance in the conduct of charitable electronic instant bingo;
(5) Purchase or lease supplies used to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo from any person except a distributor licensed under section 2915.081 of the Revised Code;
(6) Allow a person under eighteen years of age to play, wager, operate, or perform any type of maintenance in the conduct of charitable electronic instant bingo;
(7) Pay any compensation to a bingo maintenance person for conducting charitable electronic instant bingo;
(8) Pay fees to any person who provides refreshments to charitable electronic instant bingo participants from the profits of the charitable electronic instant bingo;
(9) Allow charitable electronic instant bingo to be played by a bingo maintenance person at a premises at which the organization conducts charitable electronic instant bingo or to be played by employees of a person issued a D liquor permit under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code who are working at a premises at which charitable electronic instant bingo is conducted;
(10) Possess a charitable electronic instant bingo machine that was not purchased or leased from a distributor licensed under section 2915.081 of the Revised Code as reflected on a seal affixed by the attorney general under that section;
(11) Fail to pay a player for any reason other than fraud by the player or malfunction of the machine;
(12) Possess charitable electronic instant bingo supplies that were not obtained in accordance with sections 2915.01 to 2915.13 of the Revised Code.
(B) A veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that conducts charitable electronic instant bingo shall limit the conduct of charitable electronic instant bingo to the organization's premises and to the organization's members and invited guests.
(C) A veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization with a membership of at least one hundred members shall be permitted up to four charitable electronic instant bingo machines. Each organization shall be permitted one additional machine for each additional one hundred members, with a maximum of twenty total machines for each organization.
(D) If a veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization licensed to conduct charitable electronic instant bingo under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code has been issued a liquor permit under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code, the liquor permit may be subject to suspension, revocation, or cancellation if the organization violates this chapter.
(E) The attorney general may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to govern the conduct of charitable electronic instant bingo. Before adopting any such rules, the attorney general shall reference the recommended standards for randomization, minimum information, winner protection, and other standards established by the North American gaming regulators association.
(F) Whoever violates division (A) of this section or a rule adopted under division (E) of this section is guilty of illegal charitable electronic instant bingo conduct. For the first offense, illegal charitable electronic instant bingo conduct is a misdemeanor of the first degree. For each subsequent offense, illegal charitable electronic instant bingo conduct is a felony of the fifth degree.
Sec. 2915.101. Except as otherwise provided by law, a charitable organization that conducts instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo shall distribute the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo as follows:
(A)(1) If a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization conducted the instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo, the organization shall distribute the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo, as follows:
(a) For the first two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or a greater amount prescribed by the attorney general to adjust for changes in prices as measured by the consumer price index as defined in section 325.18 of the Revised Code and other factors affecting the organization's expenses as defined in division (LL) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, or less of net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo generated in a calendar year:
(i) At least twenty-five per cent shall be distributed to an organization described in division (Z)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code or to a department or agency of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision.
(ii) Not more than seventy-five per cent may be deducted and retained by the organization for reimbursement of or for the organization's expenses, as defined in division (LL) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, in conducting the instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo game.
(b) For any net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo of more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars or an adjusted amount generated in a calendar year:
(i) A minimum of fifty per cent shall be distributed to an organization described in division (Z)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code or to a department or agency of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision.
(ii) Five per cent may be distributed for the organization's own charitable purposes or to a community action agency.
(iii) Forty-five per cent may be deducted and retained by the organization for reimbursement of or for the organization's expenses, as defined in division (LL) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, in conducting the instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo game.
(2) If a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization does not distribute the full percentages specified in divisions (A)(1)(a) and (b) of this section for the purposes specified in those divisions, the organization shall distribute the balance of the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo not distributed or retained for those purposes to an organization described in division (Z)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) If a charitable organization other than a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization conducted the instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo, the organization shall distribute one hundred per cent of the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo to an organization described in division (Z)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code or to a department or agency of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision.
(C) Nothing in this section prohibits a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization from distributing any net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo or charitable electronic instant bingo to an organization that is described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code when the organization that is described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is one that makes donations to other organizations and permits donors to advise or direct such donations so long as the donations comply with requirements established in or pursuant to subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Sec. 2915.12. (A) Sections 2915.07 to 2915.11 of the Revised Code 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 division (A)(1) or (2) of this section:
(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 or 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.
(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 any of the following:
(i) A bingo session during which a charitable bingo game is conducted pursuant to sections 2915.07 to 2915.11 of the Revised Code;
(ii) A scheme or game of chance, or bingo described in division (S)(2) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.
(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 to purchase a bingo card or 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 or sheets, objects to cover the spaces, or other devices used in playing bingo does not exceed one hundred dollars.
(c) All of the money paid for bingo cards or sheets, objects to cover spaces, or other devices used in playing bingo is 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.
(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:
(i) A bingo session during which a charitable bingo game is conducted pursuant to sections 2915.07 to 2915.11 of the Revised Code;
(ii) A scheme of chance or game of chance, or bingo described in division (S)(2) or (3) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.
(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) The attorney general or any local law enforcement agency may investigate the conduct of a bingo game that purportedly is conducted for purposes of amusement only if there is reason to believe that the purported amusement bingo game does not comply with the requirements of either division (A)(1) or (2) 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 attorney general when commencing the action.
Section 2.  That existing sections 2915.01, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.09, 2915.095, 2915.101, and 2915.12 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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