To amend sections 119.12, 2915.01, 2915.03, 2915.06, 2915.061, 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.05, 3772.01, 3772.02, 3772.03, 3772.032, 3772.033, 3772.04, 3772.06, 3772.07, 3772.10, 3772.12, 3772.121, 3772.15, 3772.17, 3772.21, 3772.23, 3772.25, 3772.31, and 3772.99 and to enact sections 2915.062 and 3772.14 of the Revised Code to make various changes to the Gambling Law, Lottery Law, and Casino Law.

Section 1.  That sections 119.12, 2915.01, 2915.03, 2915.06, 2915.061, 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.05, 3772.01, 3772.02, 3772.03, 3772.032, 3772.033, 3772.04, 3772.06, 3772.07, 3772.10, 3772.12, 3772.121, 3772.15, 3772.17, 3772.21, 3772.23, 3772.25, 3772.31, and 3772.99 be amended and sections 2915.062 and 3772.14 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 119.12.  Any party adversely affected by any order of an agency issued pursuant to an adjudication denying an applicant admission to an examination, or denying the issuance or renewal of a license or registration of a licensee, or revoking or suspending a license, or allowing the payment of a forfeiture under section 4301.252 of the Revised Code may appeal from the order of the agency to the court of common pleas of the county in which the place of business of the licensee is located or the county in which the licensee is a resident, except that appeals from decisions of the liquor control commission, the Ohio casino control commission, the state medical board, state chiropractic board, and the board of nursing shall be to the court of common pleas of Franklin county. If any party appealing from the order is not a resident of and has no place of business in this state, the party may appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county.

Any party adversely affected by any order of an agency issued pursuant to any other adjudication may appeal to the court of common pleas of Franklin county, except that appeals from orders of the fire marshal issued under Chapter 3737. of the Revised Code may be to the court of common pleas of the county in which the building of the aggrieved person is located and except that appeals under division (B) of section 124.34 of the Revised Code from a decision of the state personnel board of review or a municipal or civil service township civil service commission shall be taken to the court of common pleas of the county in which the appointing authority is located or, in the case of an appeal by the department of rehabilitation and correction, to the court of common pleas of Franklin county.

This section does not apply to appeals from the department of taxation.

Any party desiring to appeal shall file a notice of appeal with the agency setting forth the order appealed from and stating that the agency's order is not supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is not in accordance with law. The notice of appeal may, but need not, set forth the specific grounds of the party's appeal beyond the statement that the agency's order is not supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is not in accordance with law. The notice of appeal shall also be filed by the appellant with the court. In filing a notice of appeal with the agency or court, the notice that is filed may be either the original notice or a copy of the original notice. Unless otherwise provided by law relating to a particular agency, notices of appeal shall be filed within fifteen days after the mailing of the notice of the agency's order as provided in this section. For purposes of this paragraph, an order includes a determination appealed pursuant to division (C) of section 119.092 of the Revised Code. The amendments made to this paragraph by Sub. H.B. 215 of the 128th general assembly are procedural, and this paragraph as amended by those amendments shall be applied retrospectively to all appeals pursuant to this paragraph filed before the effective date of those amendments September 13, 2010, but not earlier than May 7, 2009, which was the date the supreme court of Ohio released its opinion and judgment in Medcorp, Inc. v. Ohio Dep't. of Job and Family Servs. (2009), 121 Ohio St.3d 622.

The filing of a notice of appeal shall not automatically operate as a suspension of the order of an agency. If it appears to the court that an unusual hardship to the appellant will result from the execution of the agency's order pending determination of the appeal, the court may grant a suspension and fix its terms. If an appeal is taken from the judgment of the court and the court has previously granted a suspension of the agency's order as provided in this section, the suspension of the agency's order shall not be vacated and shall be given full force and effect until the matter is finally adjudicated. No renewal of a license or permit shall be denied by reason of the suspended order during the period of the appeal from the decision of the court of common pleas. In the case of an appeal from the Ohio casino control commission, the state medical board, or the state chiropractic board, the court may grant a suspension and fix its terms if it appears to the court that an unusual hardship to the appellant will result from the execution of the agency's order pending determination of the appeal and the health, safety, and welfare of the public will not be threatened by suspension of the order. This provision shall not be construed to limit the factors the court may consider in determining whether to suspend an order of any other agency pending determination of an appeal.

The final order of adjudication may apply to any renewal of a license or permit which has been granted during the period of the appeal.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any order issued by a court of common pleas or a court of appeals suspending the effect of an order of the liquor control commission issued pursuant to Chapter 4301. or 4303. of the Revised Code that suspends, revokes, or cancels a permit issued under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code or that allows the payment of a forfeiture under section 4301.252 of the Revised Code shall terminate not more than six months after the date of the filing of the record of the liquor control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas and shall not be extended. The court of common pleas, or the court of appeals on appeal, shall render a judgment in that matter within six months after the date of the filing of the record of the liquor control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas. A court of appeals shall not issue an order suspending the effect of an order of the liquor control commission that extends beyond six months after the date on which the record of the liquor control commission is filed with a court of common pleas.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any order issued by a court of common pleas or a court of appeals suspending the effect of an order of the Ohio casino control commission issued under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code that limits, conditions, restricts, suspends, revokes, denies, not renews, fines, or otherwise penalizes an applicant, licensee, or person excluded or ejected from a casino facility in accordance with section 3772.031 of the Revised Code shall terminate not more than six months after the date of the filing of the record of the Ohio casino control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas and shall not be extended. The court of common pleas, or the court of appeals on appeal, shall render a judgment in that matter within six months after the date of the filing of the record of the Ohio casino control commission with the clerk of the court of common pleas. A court of appeals shall not issue an order suspending the effect of an order of the Ohio casino control commission that extends beyond six months after the date on which the record of the Ohio casino control commission is filed with the clerk of a court of common pleas.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any order issued by a court of common pleas suspending the effect of an order of the state medical board or state chiropractic board that limits, revokes, suspends, places on probation, or refuses to register or reinstate a certificate issued by the board or reprimands the holder of the certificate shall terminate not more than fifteen months after the date of the filing of a notice of appeal in the court of common pleas, or upon the rendering of a final decision or order in the appeal by the court of common pleas, whichever occurs first.

Within thirty days after receipt of a notice of appeal from an order in any case in which a hearing is required by sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, the agency shall prepare and certify to the court a complete record of the proceedings in the case. Failure of the agency to comply within the time allowed, upon motion, shall cause the court to enter a finding in favor of the party adversely affected. Additional time, however, may be granted by the court, not to exceed thirty days, when it is shown that the agency has made substantial effort to comply. The record shall be prepared and transcribed, and the expense of it shall be taxed as a part of the costs on the appeal. The appellant shall provide security for costs satisfactory to the court of common pleas. Upon demand by any interested party, the agency shall furnish at the cost of the party requesting it a copy of the stenographic report of testimony offered and evidence submitted at any hearing and a copy of the complete record.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any party desiring to appeal an order or decision of the state personnel board of review shall, at the time of filing a notice of appeal with the board, provide a security deposit in an amount and manner prescribed in rules that the board shall adopt in accordance with this chapter. In addition, the board is not required to prepare or transcribe the record of any of its proceedings unless the appellant has provided the deposit described above. The failure of the board to prepare or transcribe a record for an appellant who has not provided a security deposit shall not cause a court to enter a finding adverse to the board.

Unless otherwise provided by law, in the hearing of the appeal, the court is confined to the record as certified to it by the agency. Unless otherwise provided by law, the court may grant a request for the admission of additional evidence when satisfied that the additional evidence is newly discovered and could not with reasonable diligence have been ascertained prior to the hearing before the agency.

The court shall conduct a hearing on the appeal and shall give preference to all proceedings under sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code, over all other civil cases, irrespective of the position of the proceedings on the calendar of the court. An appeal from an order of the state medical board issued pursuant to division (G) of either section 4730.25 or 4731.22 of the Revised Code, or the state chiropractic board issued pursuant to section 4734.37 of the Revised Code, or the liquor control commission issued pursuant to Chapter 4301. or 4303. of the Revised Code, or the Ohio casino control commission issued pursuant to Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code shall be set down for hearing at the earliest possible time and takes precedence over all other actions. The hearing in the court of common pleas shall proceed as in the trial of a civil action, and the court shall determine the rights of the parties in accordance with the laws applicable to a civil action. At the hearing, counsel may be heard on oral argument, briefs may be submitted, and evidence may be introduced if the court has granted a request for the presentation of additional evidence.

The court may affirm the order of the agency complained of in the appeal if it finds, upon consideration of the entire record and any additional evidence the court has admitted, that the order is supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is in accordance with law. In the absence of this finding, it may reverse, vacate, or modify the order or make such other ruling as is supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence and is in accordance with law. The court shall award compensation for fees in accordance with section 2335.39 of the Revised Code to a prevailing party, other than an agency, in an appeal filed pursuant to this section.

The judgment of the court shall be final and conclusive unless reversed, vacated, or modified on appeal. These appeals may be taken either by the party or the agency, shall proceed as in the case of appeals in civil actions, and shall be pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code. An appeal by the agency shall be taken on questions of law relating to the constitutionality, construction, or interpretation of statutes and rules of the agency, and, in the appeal, the court may also review and determine the correctness of the judgment of the court of common pleas that the order of the agency is not supported by any reliable, probative, and substantial evidence in the entire record.

The court shall certify its judgment to the agency or take any other action necessary to give its judgment effect.

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 unless authorized under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code, lottery unless authorized under Chapter 3770. of the Revised Code, 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. "Scheme of chance" includes the use of an electronic device to reveal the results of a game entry if valuable consideration is paid, directly or indirectly, for a chance to win a prize. Valuable consideration is deemed to be paid for a chance to win a prize in the following instances:

(1) Less than fifty per cent of the goods or services sold by a scheme of chance operator in exchange for game entries are used or redeemed by participants at any one location;

(2) Less than fifty per cent of participants who purchase goods or services at any one location do not accept, use, or redeem the goods or services sold or purportedly sold;

(3) More than fifty per cent of prizes at any one location are revealed to participants through an electronic device simulating a game of chance or a "casino game" as defined in section 3772.01 of the Revised Code;

(4) The good or service sold by a scheme of chance operator in exchange for a game entry cannot be used or redeemed in the manner advertised;

(5) A participant pays more than fair market value for goods or services offered by a scheme of chance operator in order to receive one or more game entries;

(6) A participant may use the electronic device to purchase additional game entries;

(7) A participant may purchase additional game entries by using points or credits won as prizes while using the electronic device;

(8) A scheme of chance operator pays out in prize money more than twenty per cent of the gross revenue received at one location; or

(9) A participant makes a purchase or exchange in order to obtain any good or service that may be used to facilitate play on the electronic device.

As used in this division, "electronic device" means a mechanical, video, digital, or electronic machine or device that is capable of displaying information on a screen or other mechanism and that is owned, leased, or otherwise possessed by any person conducting a scheme of chance, or by that person's partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, or contractors.

(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;

(6) Skill-based amusement machines or slot machines used in violation of this chapter or Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code.

(G) "Gambling offense" means any of the following:

(1) A violation of section 2915.02, 2915.03, 2915.04, 2915.05, 2915.06, 2915.062, 2915.07, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.082, 2915.09, 2915.091, 2915.092, 2915.10, or 2915.11 or of division (D), (E), or (F) of section 3772.99 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 either of the following:

(1) An organization that 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) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(2) A volunteer rescue service organization, volunteer firefighter's organization, veteran's organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8), (c)(10), or (c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code.

To qualify as a "charitable organization," an 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.

(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) "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.

(K) "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.

(L) "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.

(M) "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.

(N) "Charitable bingo game" means any bingo game described in division (O)(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.

(O) "Bingo" means either 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 (O)(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.

(P) "Conduct" means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of bingo or a game of chance, a scheme of chance, or a sweepstakes, or a skill-based amusement machine.

(Q) "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, and preparing, selling, and serving food or beverages.

(R) "Participant" means any person who plays bingo.

(S) "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 (O)(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 (S)(1) of this section.

(T) "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.

(U) "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.

(V) "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 (K) of this section.

(W) "Internal Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as now or hereafter amended.

(X) "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.

(Y) "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 (Y)(1) of this section.

(Z) "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; 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.

(AA) "Instant bingo" means a form of bingo that shall use 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, and may also include games in which some winners are determined by the random selection of one or more bingo numbers by the use of a seal card or bingo blower. In all "instant bingo" the prize amount and structure shall be predetermined. "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.

(BB) "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.

(CC) "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.

(DD) "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.

(EE) "Gross profit" means gross receipts minus the amount actually expended for the payment of prize awards.

(FF) "Net profit" means gross profit minus expenses.

(GG) "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.

(HH) "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.

(II) "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.

(JJ) "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.

(KK) "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.

(LL) "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.

(MM) "Gross annual revenues" means the annual gross receipts derived from the conduct of bingo described in division (O)(1) of this section plus the annual net profit derived from the conduct of bingo described in division (O)(2) of this section.

(NN) "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.

(OO)(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.

(PP) "Deal of instant bingo tickets" means a single game of instant bingo tickets all with the same serial number.

(QQ)(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.

(RR) "Net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo" means gross profit minus the ordinary, necessary, and reasonable expense expended for the purchase of instant bingo supplies, and, in the case of instant bingo conducted by a veteran's, fraternal, or sporting organization, minus the payment by that organization of real property taxes and assessments levied on a premises on which instant bingo is conducted.

(SS) "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.

(TT) "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.

(UU)(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.

A card for the purchase of gasoline is a redeemable voucher for purposes of division (UU)(1) of this section even if the skill-based amusement machine for the play of which the card is awarded is located at a place where gasoline may not be legally distributed to the public or the card is not redeemable at the location of, or at the time of playing, the skill-based amusement machine.

(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 (UU)(1) of this section:

(a) As used in division (UU) of 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 (UU)(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.

(VV) "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 (VV)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(WW) "Redeemable voucher" means any ticket, token, coupon, receipt, or other noncash representation of value.

(XX) "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.

(YY) "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 league of Ohio sportsmen, and that has been in continuous existence in this state for a period of three years.

(ZZ) "Community action agency" has the same meaning as in section 122.66 of the Revised Code.

(AAA)(1) "Sweepstakes terminal device" means a mechanical, video, digital, or electronic machine or device that is owned, leased, or otherwise possessed by any person conducting a sweepstakes, or by that person's partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, or contractors, that is intended to be used by a sweepstakes participant, and that is capable of displaying information on a screen or other mechanism. A device is a sweepstakes terminal device if any of the following apply:

(a) The device uses a simulated game terminal as a representation of the prizes associated with the results of the sweepstakes entries.

(b) The device utilizes software such that the simulated game influences or determines the winning of or value of the prize.

(c) The device selects prizes from a predetermined finite pool of entries.

(d) The device utilizes a mechanism that reveals the content of a predetermined sweepstakes entry.

(e) The device predetermines the prize results and stores those results for delivery at the time the sweepstakes entry results are revealed.

(f) The device utilizes software to create a game result.

(g) The device reveals the prize incrementally, even though the device does not influence the awarding of the prize or the value of any prize awarded.

(h) The device determines and associates the prize with an entry or entries at the time the sweepstakes is entered.

(2) As used in this division and in section 2915.02 of the Revised Code:

(a) "Enter" means the act by which a person becomes eligible to receive any prize offered in a sweepstakes.

(b) "Entry" means one event from the initial activation of the sweepstakes terminal device until all the sweepstakes prize results from that activation are revealed.

(c) "Prize" means any gift, award, gratuity, good, service, credit, reward, or any other thing of value that may be transferred to a person, whether possession of the prize is actually transferred, or placed on an account or other record as evidence of the intent to transfer the prize.

(d) "Sweepstakes terminal device facility" means any location in this state where a sweepstakes terminal device is provided to a sweepstakes participant, except as provided in division (G) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code.

(BBB) "Sweepstakes" means any game, contest, advertising scheme or plan, or other promotion where consideration is not required for a person to enter to win or become eligible to receive any prize, the determination of which is based upon chance. "Sweepstakes" does not include bingo as authorized under this chapter, pari-mutuel wagering as authorized by Chapter 3769. of the Revised Code, lotteries conducted by the state lottery commission as authorized by Chapter 3770. of the Revised Code, and casino gaming as authorized by Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2915.03.  (A) No person, being the owner or lessee, or having custody, control, or supervision of premises, shall:

(1) Use or occupy such premises for gambling in violation of section 2915.02, 2915.06, or 2915.062 or of division (E)(12) of section 3772.99 of the Revised Code;

(2) Recklessly Knowingly permit such premises to be used or occupied for gambling in violation of section 2915.02, 2915.06, or 2915.062 or of division (E)(12) of section 3772.99 of the Revised Code.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a gambling house, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, operating a gambling house is a felony of the fifth degree.

(C) Premises used or occupied in violation of this section constitute a nuisance subject to abatement pursuant to sections 3767.01 to 3767.99 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2915.06. (A) No person shall give to another person any item described in division (VV)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code in exchange for a noncash prize, toy, or novelty received as a reward for playing or operating a skill-based amusement machine or for a free or reduced-price game won on a skill-based amusement machine.

(B) No person shall conduct, or participate in the conduct of, a skill-based amusement machine without first obtaining a license under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code.

This division does not apply to a person who has obtained, from the director of agriculture, a license under section 1711.11 of the Revised Code to operate concessions at a fair or exhibition conducted by a county or independent agricultural society or by the Ohio expositions commission.

(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of skill-based amusement machine prohibited conduct. A violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree for each redemption of a prize that is involved in the violation. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, violation of division (A) of this section, a violation of that division is a felony of the fifth degree for each redemption of a prize that is involved in the violation. The maximum fine authorized to be imposed for a felony of the fifth degree shall be imposed upon the offender.

(D) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of conducting an illegal skill-based amusement machine, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree.

(E) Premises used or occupied in violation of this section constitute a nuisance subject to abatement under Chapter 3767. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2915.061. Any regulation of skill-based amusement machines shall be governed by this chapter and Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code and not by Chapter 1345. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2915.062.  (A) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by law, no person shall conduct, or participate in the conduct of, a casino game, as defined in section 3772.01 of the Revised Code, without first obtaining a license under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of conducting an illegal casino game, a midemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, violation of this section is a felony of the fifth degree.

(C) Premises used or occupied in violation of this section constitute a nuisance subject to abatement under Chapter 3767. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3770.01.  (A) There is hereby created the state lottery commission consisting of nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. No more than five members of the commission shall be members of the same political party. Of the additional and new appointments made to the commission pursuant to the amendment of August 1, 1980, three shall be for terms ending August 1, 1981, three shall be for terms ending August 1, 1982, and three shall be for terms ending August 1, 1983. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for three years, each term ending on the same day of the same month of the year as did the term which it succeeds.

(B) Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(C) All members of the commission shall be citizens of the United States and residents of this state. The members of the commission shall represent the various geographic regions of the state. No member of the commission shall have any pecuniary interest in any contract or license awarded by the commission. One person appointed as a member of the commission shall represent an organization that deals with have experience or training in the area of problem gambling or other addictions and assists in assistance to recovering gambling or other addicts. Each person appointed as a member of the commission, except the member appointed as a representative of an organization that deals with problem gambling and assists recovering gambling addicts, shall have prior experience or education in business administration, management, sales, marketing, or advertising.

(D) The commission shall elect annually one of its members to serve as chairperson for a term of one year. Election as chairperson shall not extend a member's appointive term. Each member of the commission shall receive an annual salary of five thousand dollars, payable in monthly installments. Each member of the commission also shall receive the member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of the member's official duties.

(E) Each member of the commission, before entering upon the discharge of the member's official duties, shall give a bond, payable to the treasurer of state, in the sum of ten thousand dollars with sufficient sureties to be approved by the treasurer of state, which bond shall be filed with the secretary of state.

(F) The governor may remove any member of the commission for malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, giving the member a copy of the charges against the member and affording the member an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in the member's own defense upon not less than ten days' notice. If the member is removed, the governor shall file in the office of the secretary of state a complete statement of all charges made against the member and the governor's finding on the charges, together with a complete report of the proceedings, and the governor's decision on the charges is final.

(G) The commission shall maintain offices at locations in the state as it may consider necessary for the efficient performance of its functions. The director shall maintain an office in Columbus to coordinate the activities of the state lottery commission with other state departments.

Sec. 3770.02.  (A) Subject to the advice and consent of the senate, the governor shall appoint a director of the state lottery commission who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The director shall devote full time to the duties of the office and shall hold no other office or employment. The director shall meet all requirements for appointment as a member of the commission and shall, by experience and training, possess management skills that equip the director to administer an enterprise of the nature of a state lottery. The director shall receive an annual salary in accordance with pay range 48 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The director shall attend all meetings of the commission and shall act as its secretary. The director shall keep a record of all commission proceedings and shall keep the commission's records, files, and documents at the commission's principal office. All records of the commission's meetings shall be available for inspection by any member of the public, upon a showing of good cause and prior notification to the director.

(2) The director shall be the commission's executive officer and shall be responsible for keeping all commission records and supervising and administering the state lottery in accordance with this chapter, and carrying out all commission rules adopted under section 3770.03 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) The director shall appoint an assistant director, deputy directors of marketing, operations, sales, finance, public relations, security, and administration, and as many regional managers as are required. The director may also appoint necessary professional, technical, and clerical assistants. All such officers and employees shall be appointed and compensated pursuant to Chapter 124. of the Revised Code. Regional and assistant regional managers, sales representatives, and any lottery executive account representatives shall remain in the unclassified service.

(2) The director, in consultation with the director of administrative services, may establish standards of proficiency and productivity for commission field representatives.

(D) The director shall request the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, the department of public safety, or any other state, local, or federal agency to supply the director with the criminal records of any job applicant and may periodically request the criminal records of commission employees. At or prior to the time of making such a request, the director shall require a job applicant or commission employee to obtain fingerprint cards prescribed by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation at a qualified law enforcement agency, and the director shall cause these fingerprint cards to be forwarded to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and the federal bureau of investigation. The commission shall assume the cost of obtaining the fingerprint cards and shall pay to each agency supplying criminal records for each investigation under this division a reasonable fee, as determined by the agency.

(E) The director shall license lottery sales agents pursuant to section 3770.05 of the Revised Code and, when it is considered necessary, may revoke or suspend the license of any lottery sales agent. The director may license video lottery technology providers, independent testing laboratories, and gaming employees, and promulgate rules relating thereto. When the director considers it necessary, the director may suspend or revoke the license of a video lottery technology provider, independent testing laboratory, or gaming employee, including suspension or revocation without affording an opportunity for a prior hearing under section 119.07 of the Revised Code when the public safety, convenience, or trust requires immediate action.

(F) The director shall confer at least once each month with the commission, at which time the director shall advise it regarding the operation and administration of the lottery. The director shall make available at the request of the commission all documents, files, and other records pertaining to the operation and administration of the lottery. The director shall prepare and make available to the commission each month a complete and accurate accounting of lottery revenues, prize money disbursements and the cost of goods and services awarded as prizes, operating expenses, and all other relevant financial information, including an accounting of all transfers made from any lottery funds in the custody of the treasurer of state to benefit education.

(G) The director may enter into contracts for the operation or promotion of the lottery pursuant to Chapter 125. of the Revised Code.

(H)(1) Pursuant to rules adopted by the commission under section 3770.03 of the Revised Code, the director shall require any lottery sales agents to deposit to the credit of the state lottery fund, in banking institutions designated by the treasurer of state, net proceeds due the commission as determined by the director.

(2) Pursuant to rules adopted by the commission under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the director may impose penalties for the failure of a sales agent to transfer funds to the commission in a timely manner. Penalties may include monetary penalties, immediate suspension or revocation of a license, or any other penalty the commission adopts by rule.

(I) The director may arrange for any person, or any banking institution, to perform functions and services in connection with the operation of the lottery as the director may consider necessary to carry out this chapter.

(J)(1) As used in this chapter, "statewide joint lottery game" means a lottery game that the commission sells solely within this state under an agreement with other lottery jurisdictions to sell the same lottery game solely within their statewide or other jurisdictional boundaries.

(2) If the governor directs the director to do so, the director shall enter into an agreement with other lottery jurisdictions to conduct statewide joint lottery games. If the governor signs the agreement personally or by means of an authenticating officer pursuant to section 107.15 of the Revised Code, the director then may conduct statewide joint lottery games under the agreement. Before the governor directs the director to enter into an agreement, the commission may begin discussions and the planning process for a statewide joint lottery game, but the commission shall not file the rules for the game under division (B) or (H) of section 119.03 of the Revised Code before the governor directs the director to enter into the agreement.

(3) The entire net proceeds from any statewide joint lottery games shall be used to fund elementary, secondary, vocational, and special education programs in this state.

(4) The commission shall conduct any statewide joint lottery games in accordance with rules it adopts under division (B)(5) of section 3770.03 of the Revised Code.

(K)(1) The director shall enter into an agreement with the department of mental health and addiction services under which the department shall provide a program of gambling addiction services on behalf of the commission. The commission shall pay the costs of the program provided pursuant to the agreement.

(2) As used in this section, "gambling addiction services" has the same meaning as in section 5119.01 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3770.05.  (A) As used in this section, "person" means any person, association, corporation, partnership, club, trust, estate, society, receiver, trustee, person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, instrumentality of the state or any of its political subdivisions, or any other combination of individuals meeting the requirements set forth in this section or established by rule or order of the state lottery commission.

(B) The director of the state lottery commission may license any person as a lottery sales agent. No license shall be issued to any person or group of persons to engage in the sale of lottery tickets as the person's or group's sole occupation or business.

Before issuing any license to a lottery sales agent, the director shall consider all of the following:

(1) The financial responsibility and security of the applicant and the applicant's business or activity;

(2) The accessibility of the applicant's place of business or activity to the public;

(3) The sufficiency of existing licensed agents to serve the public interest;

(4) The volume of expected sales by the applicant;

(5) Any other factors pertaining to the public interest, convenience, or trust.

(C) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of this section, the director of the state lottery commission shall refuse to grant, or shall suspend or revoke, a license if the applicant or licensee:

(1) Has been convicted of a felony or has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

(2) Has been convicted of an offense that involves illegal gambling;

(3) Has been found guilty of fraud or misrepresentation in any connection;

(4) Has been found to have violated any rule or order of the commission; or

(5) Has been convicted of illegal trafficking in supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.

(D) Except as otherwise provided in division (F) of this section, the director of the state lottery commission shall refuse to grant, or shall suspend or revoke, a license if the applicant or licensee is a corporation and any of the following applies:

(1) Any of the corporation's directors, officers, or controlling shareholders has been found guilty of any of the activities specified in divisions (C)(1) to (5) of this section;

(2) It appears to the director of the state lottery commission that, due to the experience, character, or general fitness of any director, officer, or controlling shareholder of the corporation, the granting of a license as a lottery sales agent would be inconsistent with the public interest, convenience, or trust;

(3) The corporation is not the owner or lessee of the business at which it would conduct a lottery sales agency pursuant to the license applied for;

(4) Any person, firm, association, or corporation other than the applicant or licensee shares or will share in the profits of the applicant or licensee, other than receiving dividends or distributions as a shareholder, or participates or will participate in the management of the affairs of the applicant or licensee.

(E)(1) The director of the state lottery commission shall refuse to grant a license to an applicant for a lottery sales agent license and shall revoke a lottery sales agent license if the applicant or licensee is or has been convicted of a violation of division (A) or (C)(1) of section 2913.46 of the Revised Code.

(2) The director shall refuse to grant a license to an applicant for a lottery sales agent license that is a corporation and shall revoke the lottery sales agent license of a corporation if the corporation is or has been convicted of a violation of division (A) or (C)(1) of section 2913.46 of the Revised Code.

(F) The director of the state lottery commission shall request the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, the department of public safety, or any other state, local, or federal agency to supply the director with the criminal records of any applicant for a lottery sales agent license, and may periodically request the criminal records of any person to whom a lottery sales agent license has been issued. At or prior to the time of making such a request, the director shall require an applicant or licensee to obtain fingerprint impressions on fingerprint cards prescribed by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation at a qualified law enforcement agency, and the director shall cause those fingerprint cards to be forwarded to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, to the federal bureau of investigation, or to both bureaus. The commission shall assume the cost of obtaining the fingerprint cards.

The director shall pay to each agency supplying criminal records for each investigation a reasonable fee, as determined by the agency.

The commission may adopt uniform rules specifying time periods after which the persons described in divisions (C)(1) to (5) and (D)(1) to (4) of this section may be issued a license and establishing requirements for those persons to seek a court order to have records sealed in accordance with law.

(G)(1) Each applicant for a lottery sales agent license shall do both of the following:

(a) Pay fees to the state lottery commission, if required by rule adopted by the director under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and the controlling board approves the fees;

(b) Prior to approval of the application, obtain a surety bond in an amount the director determines by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or, alternatively, with the director's approval, deposit the same amount into a dedicated account for the benefit of the state lottery. The director also may approve the obtaining of a surety bond to cover part of the amount required, together with a dedicated account deposit to cover the remainder of the amount required. The director also may establish an alternative program or policy, with the approval of the commission by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that otherwise ensures the lottery's financial interests are adequately protected. If such an alternative program or policy is established, an applicant or lottery sales agent, subject to the director's approval, may be permitted to participate in the program or proceed under that policy in lieu of providing a surety bond or dedicated amount.

A surety bond may be with any company that complies with the bonding and surety laws of this state and the requirements established by rules of the commission pursuant to this chapter. A dedicated account deposit shall be conducted in accordance with policies and procedures the director establishes.

A surety bond, dedicated account, other established program or policy, or any combination of these resources, as applicable, may be used to pay for the lottery sales agent's failure to make prompt and accurate payments for lottery ticket sales, for missing or stolen lottery tickets, for damage to equipment or materials issued to the lottery sales agent, or to pay for expenses the commission incurs in connection with the lottery sales agent's license.

(2) A lottery sales agent license is effective for at least one year, but not more than three years.

A licensed lottery sales agent, on or before the date established by the director, shall renew the agent's license and provide at that time evidence to the director that the surety bond, dedicated account deposit, or both, required under division (G)(1)(b) of this section has been renewed or is active, whichever applies.

Before the commission renews a lottery sales agent license, the lottery sales agent shall submit a renewal fee to the commission, if one is required by rule adopted by the director under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and the controlling board approves the renewal fee. The renewal fee shall not exceed the actual cost of administering the license renewal and processing changes reflected in the renewal application. The renewal of the license is effective for at least one year, but not more than three years.

(3) A lottery sales agent license shall be complete, accurate, and current at all times during the term of the license. Any changes to an original license application or a renewal application may subject the applicant or lottery sales agent, as applicable, to paying an administrative fee that shall be in an amount that the director determines by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that the controlling board approves, and that shall not exceed the actual cost of administering and processing the changes to an application.

(4) The relationship between the commission and a lottery sales agent is one of trust. A lottery sales agent collects funds on behalf of the commission through the sale of lottery tickets for which the agent receives a compensation.

(H) Pending a final resolution of any question arising under this section, the director of the state lottery commission may issue a temporary lottery sales agent license, subject to the terms and conditions the director considers appropriate.

(I) If a lottery sales agent's rental payments for the lottery sales agent's premises are determined, in whole or in part, by the amount of retail sales the lottery sales agent makes, and if the rental agreement does not expressly provide that the amount of those retail sales includes the amounts the lottery sales agent receives from lottery ticket sales, only the amounts the lottery sales agent receives as compensation from the state lottery commission for selling lottery tickets shall be considered to be amounts the lottery sales agent receives from the retail sales the lottery sales agent makes, for the purpose of computing the lottery sales agent's rental payments.

Sec. 3772.01. As used in this chapter:

(A) "Applicant" means any person who applies to the commission for a license under this chapter.

(B) "Casino control commission fund" means the casino control commission fund described in Section 6(C)(3)(d) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, the money in which shall be used to fund the commission and its related affairs.

(C) "Casino facility" means a casino facility as defined in Section 6(C)(9) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution.

(D) "Casino game" means any slot machine or table game as defined in this chapter.

(E) "Casino gaming" means any type of slot machine or table game wagering, using money, casino credit, or any representative of value, authorized in any of the states of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as of January 1, 2009, and includes slot machine and table game wagering subsequently authorized by, but shall not be limited by, subsequent restrictions placed on such wagering in such states. "Casino gaming" does not include bingo, as authorized in Section 6 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution and conducted as of January 1, 2009, or horse racing where the pari-mutuel system of wagering is conducted, as authorized under the laws of this state as of January 1, 2009.

(F) "Casino gaming employee" means any employee of a casino operator or management company, but not a key employee, and as further defined in section 3772.131 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Casino operator" means any person, trust, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, association, limited liability company, or other business enterprise that directly or indirectly holds an ownership or leasehold interest in a casino facility. "Casino operator" does not include an agency of the state, any political subdivision of the state, any person, trust, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, association, limited liability company, or other business enterprise that may have an interest in a casino facility, but who is legally or contractually restricted from conducting casino gaming.

(H) "Central system" means a computer system that provides the following functions related to casino gaming equipment used in connection with casino gaming authorized under this chapter or skill-based amusement machine equipment used in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code: security, auditing, data and information retrieval, and other purposes deemed necessary and authorized by the commission.

(I) "Cheat" means to alter the result of a casino game, the element of chance, the operation of a machine used in a casino game, or the method of selection of criteria that determines (a) the result of the casino game, (b) the amount or frequency of payment in a casino game, (c) the value of a wagering instrument, or (d) the value of a wagering credit. "Cheat" does not include an individual who, without the assistance of another individual or without the use of a physical aid or device of any kind, uses the individual's own ability to keep track of the value of cards played and uses predictions formed as a result of the tracking information in the individual's playing and betting strategy.

(J) "Commission" means the Ohio casino control commission.

(K) "Gaming agent" means a peace officer employed by the commission that is vested with duties to enforce this chapter and conduct other investigations into the conduct of the casino gaming and the maintenance of the equipment that the commission considers necessary and proper and is in compliance with section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(L) "Gaming-related vendor" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, trust, or any other group of individuals, however organized, who supplies gaming-related equipment, goods, or services to a casino operator or management company, that are directly related to or affect casino gaming authorized under this chapter, including, but not limited to, the manufacture, sale, distribution, or repair of slot machines and table game equipment, or who supplies skill-based amusement machine equipment, goods, or services to a skill-based amusement machine operator.

(M) "Holding company" means any corporation, firm, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other form of business organization not a natural person which directly or indirectly does any of the following:

(1) Has the power or right to control a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license applicant or licensee;

(2) Holds an ownership interest of five per cent or more, as determined by the commission, in a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license applicant or licensee;

(3) Holds voting rights with the power to vote five per cent or more of the outstanding voting rights of a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor applicant or licensee.

(N) "Initial investment" includes costs related to demolition, engineering, architecture, design, site preparation, construction, infrastructure improvements, land acquisition, fixtures and equipment, insurance related to construction, and leasehold improvements.

(O) "Institutional investor" means any of the following entities owning five per cent or more, but less than fifteen per cent, of an ownership interest in a casino facility, casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, gaming-related vendor, or holding company: a corporation, bank, insurance company, pension fund or pension fund trust, retirement fund, including funds administered by a public agency, employees' profit-sharing fund or employees' profit-sharing trust, any association engaged, as a substantial part of its business or operations, in purchasing or holding securities, including a hedge fund, mutual fund, or private equity fund, or any trust in respect of which a bank is trustee or cotrustee, investment company registered under the "Investment Company Act of 1940," 15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq., collective investment trust organized by banks under Part Nine of the Rules of the Comptroller of the Currency, closed-end investment trust, chartered or licensed life insurance company or property and casualty insurance company, investment advisor registered under the "Investment Advisors Act of 1940," 15 U.S.C. 80 b-1 et seq., and such other persons as the commission may reasonably determine to qualify as an institutional investor for reasons consistent with this chapter, and that does not exercise control over the affairs of a licensee and its ownership interest in a licensee is for investment purposes only, as set forth in division (E) of section 3772.10 of the Revised Code.

(P) "Key employee" means any executive, employee, or agent who has the power to exercise significant influence over decisions concerning any part of the operation of a casino operator or, management company licensee having the power to exercise significant influence over decisions concerning any part of the operation of such licensee, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor, including:

(1) An officer, director, trustee, or partner of a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license or of a holding company that has control of a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license;

(2) A person that holds a direct or indirect ownership interest of more than one per cent in a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license or holding company that has control of a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license;

(3) A managerial employee who performs the function of principal executive officer, principal operating officer, principal accounting officer, or an equivalent officer or other person the commission determines has the power to exercise significant influence over decisions concerning any part of the operation of a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor license in Ohio, or a managerial employee of a holding company that has control of a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator or gaming-related vendor license in Ohio, who performs the function of principal executive officer, principal operating officer, principal accounting officer, or an equivalent officer or other person the commission determines to have the power to exercise significant influence over decisions concerning any part of the operation of such licensee a license.

The commission shall determine whether an individual whose duties or status varies from those described in this division also is considered a key employee.

(Q) "Licensed casino operator" means a casino operator that has been issued a license by the commission and that has been certified annually by the commission to have paid all applicable fees, taxes, and debts to the state.

(R) "Majority ownership interest" in a license or in a casino facility, as the case may be, means ownership of more than fifty per cent of such license or casino facility, as the case may be. For purposes of the foregoing, whether a majority ownership interest is held in a license or in a casino facility, as the case may be, shall be determined under the rules for constructive ownership of stock provided in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(5)(iii) as in effect on January 1, 2009.

(S) "Management company" means an organization retained by a casino operator to manage a casino facility and provide services such as accounting, general administration, maintenance, recruitment, and other operational services.

(T) "Ohio law enforcement training fund" means the state law enforcement training fund described in Section 6(C)(3)(f) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, the money in which shall be used to enhance public safety by providing additional training opportunities to the law enforcement community.

(U) "Person" includes, but is not limited to, an individual or a combination of individuals; a sole proprietorship, a firm, a company, a joint venture, a partnership of any type, a joint-stock company, a corporation of any type, a corporate subsidiary of any type, a limited liability company, a business trust, or any other business entity or organization; an assignee; a receiver; a trustee in bankruptcy; an unincorporated association, club, society, or other unincorporated entity or organization; entities that are disregarded for federal income tax purposes; and any other nongovernmental, artificial, legal entity that is capable of engaging in business.

(V) "Problem casino gambling and addictions fund" means the state problem gambling and addictions fund described in Section 6(C)(3)(g) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, the money in which shall be used for treatment of problem gambling and substance abuse, and for related research.

(W) "Promotional gaming credit" means a slot machine or table game credit, discount, or other similar item issued to a patron to enable the placement of, or increase in, a wager at a slot machine or table game.

(X) "Skill-based amusement machine" has the same meaning as in section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.

(Y) "Skill-based amusement machine operator" means a person that provides skill-based amusement machines to a player or participant.

(Z) "Slot machine" means any mechanical, electrical, or other device or machine which, upon insertion of a coin, token, ticket, or similar object, or upon payment of any consideration, is available to play or operate, the play or operation of which, whether by reason of the skill of the operator or application of the element of chance, or both, makes individual prize determinations for individual participants in cash, premiums, merchandise, tokens, or any thing of value, whether the payoff is made automatically from the machine or in any other manner, but does not include any device that is a skill-based amusement machine, as defined in section 2915.01 of the Revised Code.

(Y)(AA) "Table game" means any game played with cards, dice, or any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device or machine for money, casino credit, or any representative of value. "Table game" does not include slot machines.

(Z)(BB) "Upfront license" means the first plenary license issued to a casino operator.

(AA)(CC) "Voluntary exclusion program" means a program provided by the commission that allows persons to voluntarily exclude themselves from the gaming areas of facilities under the jurisdiction of the commission by placing their name on a voluntary exclusion list and following the procedures set forth by the commission.

Sec. 3772.02. (A) There is hereby created the Ohio casino control commission described in Section 6(C)(1) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution.

(B) The commission shall consist of seven members appointed within one month of the effective date of this section September 10, 2010, by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor shall forward all appointments to the senate within twenty-four hours.

(1) Each commission member is eligible for reappointment at the discretion of the governor. No commission member shall be appointed for more than three terms in total.

(2) Each commission member shall be a resident of Ohio.

(3) At least one commission member shall be experienced in law enforcement and criminal investigation.

(4) At least one commission member shall be a certified public accountant experienced in accounting and auditing.

(5) At least one commission member shall be an attorney admitted to the practice of law in Ohio.

(6) At least one commission member shall be a resident of a county where one of the casino facilities is located.

(7) Not more than four commission members shall be of the same political party.

(8) No commission member shall have any affiliation with an Ohio casino operator or facility.

(C) Commission members shall serve four-year terms, except that when the governor makes initial appointments to the commission under this chapter, the governor shall appoint three members to serve four-year terms with not more than two such members from the same political party, two members to serve three-year terms with such members not being from the same political party, and two members to serve two-year terms with such members not being from the same political party.

(D) Each commission member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. Any member shall continue in office after the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. A vacancy in the commission membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(E) The governor shall select one member to serve as chairperson and the commission members shall select one member from a different party than the chairperson to serve as vice-chairperson. The governor may remove and replace the chairperson at any time. No such member shall serve as chairperson for more than six successive years. The vice-chairperson shall assume the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall perform but shall not be limited to additional duties as are prescribed by commission rule.

(F) A commission member is not required to devote the member's full time to membership on the commission. Each member of the commission shall receive compensation of sixty thirty thousand dollars per year, payable in monthly installments for the first four years of the commission's existence. Each member shall receive the member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of the member's official duties.

(G) The governor shall not appoint an individual to the commission, and an individual shall not serve on the commission, if the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a disqualifying offense as defined in section 3772.07 of the Revised Code. Members coming under indictment or bill of information of a disqualifying offense shall resign from the commission immediately upon indictment.

(H) At least five commission members shall be present for the commission to meet. The concurrence of four members is necessary for the commission to take any action. All members shall vote on the adoption of rules, and the approval of, and the suspension or revocation of, the licenses of casino operators or management companies, unless a member has a written leave of absence filed with and approved by the chairperson.

(I) A commission member may be removed or suspended from office in accordance with section 3.04 of the Revised Code.

(J) Each commission member, before entering upon the discharge of the member's official duties, shall make an oath to uphold the Ohio Constitution and laws of the state of Ohio and shall give a bond, payable by the commission, to the treasurer of state, in the sum of ten thousand dollars with sufficient sureties to be approved by the treasurer of state, which bond shall be filed with the secretary of state.

(K) The commission shall hold one regular meeting each month and shall convene other meetings at the request of the chairperson or a majority of the members. A member who fails to attend at least three-fifths of the regular and special meetings of the commission during any two-year period forfeits membership on the commission. All meetings of the commission shall be open meetings under section 121.22 of the Revised Code except as otherwise allowed by law.

Sec. 3772.03. (A) To ensure the integrity of casino gaming and skill-based amusement machines, the commission shall have authority to complete the functions of licensing, regulating, investigating, and penalizing casino operators, management companies, holding companies, key employees, casino gaming employees, skill-based amusement machine operators, and gaming-related vendors. The commission also shall have jurisdiction over all persons participating in casino gaming authorized by Section 6(C) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, and this chapter and in skill-based amusement machine operations authorized by this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.

(B) All rules adopted by the commission under this chapter shall be adopted under procedures established in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The commission may contract for the services of experts and consultants to assist the commission in carrying out its duties under this section.

(C) Within six months of September 10, 2010, the The commission shall adopt initial rules as are necessary for completing the functions stated in division (A) of this section and for addressing the subjects enumerated in division (D) of this section.

(D) The commission shall adopt, and as advisable and necessary shall amend or repeal, rules that include all of the following:

(1) The prevention of practices detrimental to the public interest;

(2) Prescribing the method of applying, and the form of application, that an applicant for a license under this chapter must follow as otherwise described in this chapter;

(3) Prescribing the information to be furnished by an applicant or licensee as described in section 3772.11 of the Revised Code this chapter;

(4) Describing the certification standards and duties of an independent testing laboratory certified under section 3772.31 of the Revised Code and the relationship between the commission, the laboratory, the gaming-related vendor, and the casino operator, management company, or skill-based amusement machine operator;

(5) The minimum amount of insurance that must be maintained by a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor;

(6) The approval process for a significant change in ownership or transfer of control of a licensee as provided in section 3772.091 of the Revised Code;

(7) The design of casino gaming and skill-based amusement machine supplies, devices, and equipment to be distributed by gaming-related vendors;

(8) Identifying the casino gaming that is permitted, identifying the casino gaming and skill-based amusement machine supplies, devices, and equipment, that are permitted, defining the area in which the permitted casino gaming may be conducted, and specifying the method of operation according to which the permitted casino gaming is to be conducted as provided in section 3772.20 of the Revised Code, and requiring casino gaming and skill-based amusement machine devices and equipment to meet the standards of this state;

(9) Tournament play in any casino facility;

(10) Establishing and implementing a voluntary exclusion program that provides all of the following:

(a) Except as provided by commission rule, a person who participates in the program shall agree to refrain from entering a casino facility.

(b) The name of a person participating in the program shall be included on a list of persons excluded from all casino facilities.

(c) Except as provided by commission rule, no person who participates in the program shall petition the commission for admittance into a casino facility.

(d) The list of persons participating in the program and the personal information of those persons shall be confidential and shall only be disseminated by the commission to a casino operator and the agents and employees of the casino operator for purposes of enforcement and to other entities, upon request of the participant and agreement by the commission.

(e) A casino operator shall make all reasonable attempts as determined by the commission to cease all direct marketing efforts to a person participating in the program.

(f) A casino operator shall not cash the check of a person participating in the program or extend credit to the person in any manner. However, the program shall not exclude a casino operator from seeking the payment of a debt accrued by a person before participating in the program.

(g) Any and all locations at which a person may register as a participant in the program shall be published.

(h) A person who enters a casino facility while participating in the program shall surrender any money or thing of value that the person has converted or attempted to convert into a wagering instrument, including, but not limited to, chips, tokens, prizes, jackpots, non-complimentary pay vouchers, cash, cash equivalents, electronic credits, and vouchers representing electronic credits, to the commission for deposit in the problem casino gambling and addictions fund.

(11) Requiring the commission to adopt standards regarding the marketing materials of a licensed casino operator and skill-based amusement machine operator, including allowing the commission to prohibit marketing materials that are contrary to the adopted standards;

(12) Requiring that the records, including financial statements, of any casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, and gaming-related vendor be maintained in the manner prescribed by the commission and made available for inspection upon demand by the commission, but shall be subject to section 3772.16 of the Revised Code;

(13) Permitting a licensed casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, key employee, or casino gaming employee to question a person suspected of violating this chapter;

(14) The chips, tokens, tickets, electronic cards, or similar objects that may be purchased by means of an agreement under which credit is extended to a wagerer by a casino operator;

(15) Establishing standards for provisional key employee licenses for a person who is required to be licensed as a key employee and is in exigent circumstances and standards for provisional licenses for casino gaming employees who submit complete applications and are compliant under an instant background check. A provisional license shall be valid not longer than three months. A provisional license may be renewed one time, at the commission's discretion, for an additional three months. In establishing standards with regard to instant background checks the commission shall take notice of criminal records checks as they are conducted under section 311.41 of the Revised Code using electronic fingerprint reading devices.

(16) Establishing approval procedures for third-party engineering or accounting firms, as described in section 3772.09 of the Revised Code;

(17) Prescribing the manner in which winnings, compensation from casino gaming, and gross revenue must be computed and reported by a licensee as described in Chapter 5753. of the Revised Code and in which winnings or compensation from skill-based amusement machine operations must be computed and reported by a licensee under this chapter;

(18) Prescribing conditions under which a licensee's license may be suspended or revoked as described in section 3772.04 of the Revised Code;

(19) Prescribing the manner and procedure of all hearings to be conducted by the commission or by any hearing examiner;

(20) Prescribing technical standards and requirements that are to be met by security and surveillance equipment that is used at and standards and requirements to be met by personnel who are employed at casino facilities, and standards and requirements for the provision of security at and surveillance of casino facilities;

(21) Prescribing requirements for a casino operator to provide unarmed security services at a casino facility by licensed casino employees, and the training that shall be completed by these employees;

(22) Prescribing standards according to which casino operators shall keep accounts and standards according to which casino accounts shall be audited, and establish means of assisting the tax commissioner in levying and collecting the gross casino revenue tax levied under section 5753.02 of the Revised Code, and standards according to which skill-based amusement machine operators shall keep accounts and standards according to which such accounts shall be audited;

(23) Defining penalties for violation of commission rules and a process for imposing such penalties subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming and wagering;

(24) Establishing standards for decertifying contractors that violate statutes or rules of this state or the federal government;

(25) Establishing standards for the repair of casino gaming equipment and skill-based amusement machines;

(26) Establishing procedures to ensure that casino operators, management companies, and holding companies are compliant with the compulsive and problem gambling plan submitted under section 3772.18 of the Revised Code;

(27) Prescribing, for institutional investors in or holding companies of a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor that fall below the threshold needed to be considered an institutional investor or a holding company, standards regarding what any employees, members, or owners of those investors or holding companies may do and shall not do in relation to casino facilities and casino gaming or skill-based amusement machines in this state, which standards shall rationally relate to the need to proscribe conduct that is inconsistent with passive institutional investment status;

(28) Providing for any other thing necessary and proper for successful and efficient regulation of casino gaming and skill-based amusement machines under this chapter.

(E) The commission shall employ and assign gaming agents as necessary to assist the commission in carrying out the duties of this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. In order to maintain employment as a gaming agent, the gaming agent shall successfully complete all continuing training programs required by the commission and shall not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a disqualifying offense as defined in section 3772.07 of the Revised Code.

(F) The commission, as a law enforcement agency, and its gaming agents, as law enforcement officers as defined in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code, shall have authority with regard to the detection and investigation of, the seizure of evidence allegedly relating to, and the apprehension and arrest of persons allegedly committing gaming violations of this chapter or gambling offenses as defined in section 2915.01 of the Revised Code or violating any other law of this state that may affect the integrity of casino gaming or the operation of skill-based amusement machines, and shall have access to casino facilities and skill-based amusement machine operators' facilities to carry out the requirements of this chapter.

(G) The commission may eject or exclude or authorize the ejection or exclusion of and a gaming agent may eject a person from a casino facility for any of the following reasons:

(1) The person's name is on the list of persons voluntarily excluding themselves from all casinos in a program established according to rules adopted by the commission;

(2) The person violates or conspires to violate this chapter or a rule adopted thereunder; or

(3) The commission determines that the person's conduct or reputation is such that the person's presence within a casino facility may call into question the honesty and integrity of the casino gaming operations or interfere with the orderly conduct of the casino gaming operations.

(H) A person, other than a person participating in a voluntary exclusion program, may petition the commission for a public hearing on the person's ejection or exclusion under this chapter.

(I) A casino operator or management company shall have the same authority to eject or exclude a person from the management company's casino facilities as authorized in division (G) of this section. The licensee shall immediately notify the commission of an ejection or exclusion.

(J) The commission shall submit a written annual report with the governor, president and minority leader of the senate, speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, and joint committee on gaming and wagering before the first day of September each year. The annual report shall include a statement describing the receipts and disbursements of the commission, relevant financial data regarding casino gaming, including gross revenues and disbursements made under this chapter, actions taken by the commission, an update on casino operators', management companies', and holding companies' compulsive and problem gambling plans and the voluntary exclusion program and list, and any additional information that the commission considers useful or that the governor, president or minority leader of the senate, speaker or minority leader of the house of representatives, or joint committee on gaming and wagering requests.

(K) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning on July 1, 2011, the The commission shall assume have jurisdiction over and oversee the regulation of skill-based amusement machines as is provided in the law of this state.

Sec. 3772.032. (A) The permanent joint committee on gaming and wagering is established. The committee consists of six members. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint to the committee three members of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall appoint to the committee three members of the senate. Not more than two members appointed from each chamber may be members of the same political party. The chairperson shall be from the opposite house as the chairperson of the joint committee on agency rule review. If the chairperson is to be from the house of representatives, the speaker of the house of representatives shall designate a member as the chairperson and the president of the senate shall designate a member as the vice-chairperson. If the chairperson is to be from the senate, the president of the senate shall designate a member as the chairperson and the speaker of the house of representatives shall designate a member as the vice-chairperson.

(B) The committee shall:

(1) Review all constitutional amendments, laws, and rules governing the operation and administration of casino gaming and skill-based amusement machines and all authorized gaming and wagering activities and recommend to the general assembly and commission any changes it may find desirable with respect to the language, structure, and organization of those amendments, laws, or rules;

(2) Make an annual report to the governor and to the general assembly with respect to the operation and administration of casino gaming and skill-based amusement machines;

(3) Review all changes of fees and penalties as provided in this chapter and rules adopted thereunder; and

(4) Study all proposed changes to the constitution and laws of this state and to the rules adopted by the commission governing the operation and administration of casino gaming and skill-based amusement machines, and report to the general assembly on their adequacy and desirability as a matter of public policy.

(C) Any study, or any expense incurred, in furtherance of the committee's objectives shall be paid for from, or out of, the casino control commission fund or other appropriation provided by law. The members shall receive no additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

Sec. 3772.033. In carrying out the responsibilities vested in the commission by this chapter, the commission may do all the following and may designate any such responsibilities to the executive director, to the commission's employees, or to the gaming agents:

(A) Inspect and examine all premises where casino gaming is conducted, skill-based amusement machines are operated, or where casino gaming or skill-based amusement machine supplies, devices, or equipment are manufactured, sold, or distributed;

(B) Inspect all casino gaming or skill-based amusement machine supplies, devices, and equipment in or about a casino facility or skill-based amusement machine operator facility;

(C) Summarily impound and seize and remove from the casino facility or skill-based amusement machine operator facility premises casino gaming or skill-based amusement machine supplies, devices, and equipment for the purpose of examination and inspection;

(D) Determine any facts, or any conditions, practices, or other matters, as the commission considers necessary or proper to aid in the enforcement of this chapter or of a rule adopted thereunder;

(E) Audit casino gaming or skill-based amusement machine operations, including those that have ceased operation;

(F) Investigate, for the purpose of prosecution, any suspected violation of this chapter or rules adopted thereunder or of Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code or any other law of this state that may affect the integrity of casino gaming or operation of skill-based amusement machines;

(G) Investigate as appropriate to aid the commission and to seek the executive director's advice in adopting rules;

(H) Secure information as is necessary to provide a basis for recommending legislation for the improvement of this chapter;

(I) Make, execute, and otherwise effectuate all contracts and other agreements, including contracts for necessary purchases of goods and services. Except for any contract entered into with independent testing laboratories under section 3772.31 of the Revised Code, the commission shall ensure use of Ohio products or services in compliance with sections 125.09 and 125.11 of the Revised Code and all rules adopted thereunder.

(J) Employ the services of persons the commission considers necessary for the purposes of consultation or investigation, and fix the salaries of, or contract for the services of, legal, accounting, technical, operational, and other personnel and consultants;

(K) Secure, by agreement, information and services as the commission considers necessary from any state agency or other unit of state government;

(L) Acquire furnishings, equipment, supplies, stationery, books, and all other things the commission considers necessary or desirable to successfully and efficiently carry out the commission's duties and functions; and

(M) Perform all other things the commission considers necessary to effectuate the intents and purposes of this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. This section shall not prohibit the commission from imposing administrative discipline, including fines and suspension or revocation of licenses, on licensees under this chapter if the licensee is found to be in violation of the commission's rules.

Sec. 3772.04. (A)(1) If the commission concludes that a license required by this chapter should be limited, conditioned, restricted, suspended, revoked, denied, or not renewed, the commission may, and if so requested by a licensee or applicant, shall, conduct a hearing in an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. After notice and opportunity for a hearing, the commission may limit, condition, restrict, suspend, revoke, deny, or not renew a license under rules adopted by the commission. The commission may reopen a licensing adjudication at any time.

(2) The commission shall appoint a hearing examiner to conduct the hearing in the adjudication. A party to the adjudication may file written objections to the hearing examiner's report and recommendations not later than the thirtieth day after they are served upon the party or the party's attorney or other representative of record. The commission shall not take up the hearing examiner's report and recommendations earlier than the thirtieth day after the hearing examiner's report and recommendations were submitted to the commission.

(3) If the commission finds that a person fails or has failed to meet any requirement under this chapter or a rule adopted thereunder or under Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code, or violates or has violated this chapter or a rule adopted thereunder or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code or a rule adopted thereunder, the commission may issue an order:

(a) Limiting, conditioning, restricting, suspending, revoking, denying, or not renewing, a license issued under this chapter;

(b) Requiring a casino facility to exclude a licensee from the casino facility or requiring a casino facility not to pay to the licensee any remuneration for services or any share of profits, income, or accruals on the licensee's investment in the casino facility; or

(c) Fining a licensee or other person according to the penalties adopted by the commission.

(4) An order may be judicially reviewed under section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(B) Without in any manner limiting the authority of the commission to impose the level and type of discipline the commission considers appropriate, the commission may take into consideration the following:

(1) If the licensee knew or reasonably should have known that the action complained of was a violation of any law, rule, or condition on the licensee's license;

(2) If the licensee has previously been disciplined by the commission;

(3) If the licensee has previously been subject to discipline by the commission concerning the violation of any law, rule, or condition of the licensee's license;

(4) If the licensee reasonably relied upon professional advice from a lawyer, doctor, accountant, or other recognized professional that was relevant to the action resulting in the violation;

(5) If the licensee or the licensee's employer had a reasonably constituted and functioning compliance program;

(6) If the imposition of a condition requiring the licensee to establish and implement a written self-enforcement and compliance program would assist in ensuring the licensee's future compliance with all statutes, rules, and conditions of the license;

(7) If the licensee realized a pecuniary gain from the violation;

(8) If the amount of any fine or other penalty imposed would result in disgorgement of any gains unlawfully realized by the licensee;

(9) If the violation was caused by an officer or employee of the licensee, the level of authority of the individual who caused the violation;

(10) If the individual who caused the violation acted within the scope of the individual's authority as granted by the licensee;

(11) The adequacy of any training programs offered by the licensee or the licensee's employer that were relevant to the activity that resulted in the violation;

(12) If the licensee's action substantially deviated from industry standards and customs;

(13) The extent to which the licensee cooperated with the commission during the investigation of the violation;

(14) If the licensee has initiated remedial measures to prevent similar violations;

(15) The magnitude of penalties imposed on other licensees for similar violations;

(16) The proportionality of the penalty in relation to the misconduct;

(17) The extent to which the amount of any fine imposed would punish the licensee for the conduct and deter future violations;

(18) Any mitigating factors offered by the licensee; and

(19) Any other factors the commission considers relevant.

(C) For the purpose of conducting any study or investigation, the commission may direct that public hearings be held at a time and place, prescribed by the commission, in accordance with section 121.22 of the Revised Code. The commission shall give notice of all public hearings in such manner as will give actual notice to all interested parties.

(D)(1) For the purpose of conducting the hearing in an adjudication under division (A) of this section, or in the discharge of any duties imposed by this chapter, the commission may require that testimony be given under oath and administer such oath, issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of any papers, books, and accounts, directed to the sheriffs of the counties where such witnesses or papers, books, and accounts are found and cause the deposition of any witness. The subpoenas shall be served and returned in the same manner as subpoenas in criminal cases are served and returned. The fees of sheriffs shall be the same as those allowed by the court of common pleas in criminal cases.

(2) In the event of the refusal of any person without good cause to comply with the terms of a subpoena issued by the commission or refusal to testify on matters about which the person may lawfully be questioned, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which such person resides, upon the petition of the commission, may bring a proceeding for contempt against such person in the court of common pleas of that county.

(3) Witnesses shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for in section 119.094 of the Revised Code.

(4) All fees and mileage expenses incurred at the request of a party shall be paid in advance by the party.

(E) When conducting a public hearing, the commission shall not limit the number of speakers who may testify. However, the commission may set reasonable time limits on the length of an individual's testimony or the total amount of time allotted to proponents and opponents of an issue before the commission.

(F) The commission may rely, in whole or in part, upon investigations, conclusions, or findings of other casino gaming commissions or other government regulatory bodies in connection with licensing, investigations, or other matters relating to an applicant or licensee under this chapter.

(G) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, and except with respect to a casino operator, management company, or holding company of or affiliated with a casino facility, the executive director may issue an emergency order for the suspension, limitation, or conditioning of any license, registration, approval, or certificate issued, approved, granted, or otherwise authorized by the commission under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code or the rules adopted thereunder, requiring the inclusion of persons on the commission's exclusion list provided for under section 3772.031 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder, and requiring a casino facility not to pay a licensee, registrant, or approved or certified person any remuneration for services or any share of profits, income, or accruals on that person's investment in the casino facility.

(1) An emergency order may be issued when the executive director finds either of the following:

(a) A licensee, registrant, or approved or certified person has been charged with a violation of any of the criminal laws of this state, another state, or the federal government;

(b) Such an action is necessary to prevent a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted thereunder.

(2) An emergency order issued under division (G) of this section shall state the reasons for the commission's action, cite the law or rule directly involved, and state that the party will be afforded a hearing if the party requests it within thirty days after the time of mailing or personal delivery of the order.

(3)(a) Not later than the next business day after the issuance of the emergency order, the order shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the party at the party's last known mailing address appearing in the commission's records or personally delivered at any time to the party by an employee or agent of the commission.

(b) A copy of the order shall be mailed to the attorney or other representative of record representing the party.

(c) If the order sent by registered or certified mail is returned because the party fails to claim the order, the commission shall send the order by ordinary mail to the party at the party's last known address and shall obtain a certificate of mailing. Service by ordinary mail is complete when the certificate of mailing is obtained unless the order is returned showing failure of delivery.

(d) If the order sent by registered, certified, or ordinary mail is returned for failure of delivery, the commission shall either make personal delivery of the order by an employee or agent of the commission or cause a summary of the substantive provisions of the order to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the last known address of the party is located.

(i) Failure of delivery occurs only when a mailed order is returned by the postal authorities marked undeliverable, address or addressee unknown, or forwarding address unknown or expired.

(ii) When service is completed by publication, a proof of publication affidavit, with the first publication of the summary set forth in the affidavit, shall be mailed by ordinary mail to the party at the party's last known address and the order shall be deemed received as of the date of the last publication.

(e) Refusal of delivery of the order sent by mail or personally delivered to the party is not failure of delivery and service is deemed to be complete.

(4) The emergency order shall be effective immediately upon service of the order on the party. The emergency order shall remain effective until further order of the executive director or the commission.

(5) The commission may, and if so requested by the person affected by the emergency order shall, promptly conduct a hearing in an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3772.06. (A)(1) The commission shall appoint an executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The executive director is in the unclassified service, shall devote full time to the duties of the office, and shall hold no other office or employment. The executive director shall, by experience and training, possess management skills that equip the executive director to administer an enterprise of the nature of the commission. The executive director shall not have a pecuniary interest in any business organization that holds a license under this chapter, or that does business with any person licensed under this chapter. A member of the general assembly, a person who holds an elective office, or an office holder of a political party is ineligible to be appointed executive director at the same time as being such a member or holding such an office. The executive director shall receive an annual salary in accordance with pay range 48 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code.

(2) The executive director, before entering upon the discharge of the executive director's official duties, shall give, and thereafter shall maintain, bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, payable to the state, conditioned upon the executive director's faithful and proper performance of the executive director's official duties. The bond shall be issued by a surety authorized to do business in this state and shall be filed with the secretary of state. The bond may be an individual bond or a schedule or blanket bond.

(B)(1) The executive director or a deputy designated in writing by the executive director shall attend all meetings of the commission and shall act as its secretary. The executive director shall keep a record of all commission proceedings and shall keep the commission's records, files, and documents at the commission's principal office.

(2) The executive director shall be the chief executive officer and shall be responsible for keeping all commission records and supervising and administering casino gaming and skill-based amusement machines in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code, and enforcing all commission rules adopted under this chapter.

(3) The executive director shall hire staff, including an assistant director or deputy directors, as necessary to assist the executive director in the executive director's duties under this chapter. In appointing employees, the executive director is subject to section 3772.061 of the Revised Code. The executive director may employ employees as necessary, unless the commission determines otherwise. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all costs of administration incurred by the executive director and the executive director's employees shall be paid out of the casino control commission fund.

(C) A state agency or other unit of state government shall cooperate with the commission, and shall provide the commission with information and services the commission considers necessary to carry out the commission's duties and functions under this chapter.

(D) The executive director shall confer at least once each month with the commission, at which time the executive director shall advise it regarding the operation and administration of the commission and casino gaming. The executive director shall make available at the request of the commission all documents, files, and other records pertaining to the operation and administration of the commission and, casino gaming, and skill-based amusement machines. The executive director shall prepare and make available to the commission each month a complete and accurate accounting of gross casino gaming revenues, and all other relevant financial information, including an accounting of all transfers made from the casino control commission fund.

Sec. 3772.07.  The following appointing or licensing authorities shall obtain a criminal records check of the person who is to be appointed or licensed:

(A) The governor, before appointing an individual as a member of the commission;

(B) The commission, before appointing an individual as executive director or a gaming agent;

(C) The commission, before issuing a license for a key employee or casino gaming employee, and before issuing a license for each investor, except an institutional investor, for a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor;

(D) The executive director, before appointing an individual as a professional, technical, or clerical employee of the commission.

Thereafter, such an appointing or licensing authority shall obtain a criminal records check of the same individual at three-year intervals.

The appointing or licensing authority shall make available to each person of whom a criminal records check is required a copy of the form and the standard fingerprint impression sheet prescribed under divisions (C)(1) and (2) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code. The person shall complete the form and impression sheet and return them as directed by the appointing or licensing authority. If a person fails to complete and return the form and impression sheet within a reasonable time, the person is ineligible to be appointed or licensed or to continue in the appointment or licensure.

The appointing or licensing authority shall cause the completed form and impression sheet to be forwarded to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. The appointing or licensing authority shall request the superintendent also to obtain information from the federal bureau of investigation, including fingerprint-based checks of the national crime information databases, and from other states and the federal government under the national crime prevention and privacy compact as part of the criminal records check.

For all criminal records checks conducted under this section, the applicant for a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, gaming-related vendor, key employee, or casino gaming employee license shall pay the fee charged by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation or by a vendor approved by the bureau to conduct a criminal records check based on the applicant's fingerprints in accordance with division (A)(15) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code. If the applicant for a key employee or casino gaming employee license is applying at the request of a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor, the casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor shall pay the fee charged for all criminal records checks conducted under this section.

The appointing or licensing authority shall review the results of a criminal records check. An appointee for a commission member shall forward the results of the criminal records check to the president of the senate before the senate advises and consents to the appointment of the commission member. The appointing or licensing authority shall not appoint or license or retain the appointment or licensure of a person a criminal records check discloses has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty or no contest to a disqualifying offense. A "disqualifying offense" means any gambling offense, any theft offense, any offense having an element of fraud or misrepresentation, any offense having an element of moral turpitude, and any felony not otherwise included in the foregoing list, except as otherwise provided in section 3772.10 of the Revised Code.

The report of a criminal records check is not a public record that is open to public inspection and copying. The commission shall not make the report available to any person other than the person who was the subject of the criminal records check; an appointing or licensing authority; a member, the executive director, or an employee of the commission; or any court or agency, including a hearing examiner, in a judicial or administrative proceeding relating to the person's employment or application for a license under this chapter.

Sec. 3772.10. (A) In determining whether to grant or maintain the privilege of a casino operator, management company, holding company, key employee, casino gaming employee, or gaming-related vendor license issued under this chapter, the Ohio casino control commission shall consider all of the following, as applicable:

(1) The reputation, experience, and financial integrity of the applicant, its holding company, if applicable, and any other person that directly or indirectly controls the applicant;

(2) The financial ability of the applicant to purchase and maintain adequate liability and casualty insurance and to provide an adequate surety bond;

(3) The past and present compliance of the applicant and its affiliates or affiliated companies with casino-related licensing requirements in this state or any other jurisdiction, including whether the applicant has a history of noncompliance with the casino licensing requirements of any jurisdiction;

(4) If the applicant has been indicted, convicted, pleaded guilty or no contest, or forfeited bail concerning any criminal offense under the laws of any jurisdiction, either felony or misdemeanor, not including traffic violations;

(5) If the applicant has filed, or had filed against it a proceeding for bankruptcy or has ever been involved in any formal process to adjust, defer, suspend, or otherwise work out the payment of any debt;

(6) If the applicant has been served with a complaint or other notice filed with any public body regarding a payment of any tax required under federal, state, or local law that has been delinquent for one or more years;

(7) If the applicant is or has been a defendant in litigation involving its business practices;

(8) If awarding a license would undermine the public's confidence in the casino gaming industry in this state;

(9) If the applicant meets other standards for the issuance of a license that the commission adopts by rule, which shall not be arbitrary, capricious, or contradictory to the expressed provisions of this chapter.

(B) All applicants for a license under this chapter shall establish their suitability for a license by clear and convincing evidence. If the commission determines that a person is eligible under this chapter to be issued a license as a casino operator, management company, holding company, key employee, casino gaming employee, or gaming-related vendor, the commission shall issue such license for not more than three years, as determined by commission rule, if all other requirements of this chapter have been satisfied.

(C) The commission shall not issue a casino operator, management company, holding company, key employee, casino gaming employee, or gaming-related vendor license under this chapter to an applicant if:

(1) The applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying offense, as defined in section 3772.07 of the Revised Code.

(2) The applicant has submitted an application for license under this chapter that contains false information.

(3) The applicant is a commission member.

(4) The applicant owns an ownership interest that is unlawful under this chapter, unless waived by the commission.

(5) The applicant violates specific rules adopted by the commission related to denial of licensure.

(6) The applicant is a member of or employed by a gaming regulatory body of a governmental unit in this state, another state, or the federal government, or is employed by a governmental unit of this state. This division does not prohibit a casino operator from hiring special duty law enforcement officers if the officers are not specifically involved in gaming-related regulatory functions.

(7) The commission otherwise determines the applicant is ineligible for the license.

(D)(1) The commission shall investigate the qualifications of each applicant under this chapter before any license is issued and before any finding with regard to acts or transactions for which commission approval is required is made. The commission shall continue to observe the conduct of all licensees and all other persons having a material involvement directly or indirectly with a casino operator, management company, or holding company licensee to ensure that licenses are not issued to or held by, or that there is not any material involvement with a casino operator, management company, or holding company licensee by, an unqualified, disqualified, or unsuitable person or a person whose operations are conducted in an unsuitable manner or in unsuitable or prohibited places or locations.

(2) The executive director may recommend to the commission that it deny any application, or limit, condition, or restrict, or suspend or revoke, any license or finding, or impose any fine upon any licensee or other person according to this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder.

(3) A license issued under this chapter is a revocable privilege. No licensee has a vested right in or under any license issued under this chapter. The initial determination of the commission to deny, or to limit, condition, or restrict, a license may be appealed under section 2505.03 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) An institutional investor may be found to be suitable or qualified by the commission under this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter. An institutional investor shall be presumed suitable or qualified upon submitting documentation sufficient to establish qualifications as an institutional investor and upon certifying all of the following:

(a) The institutional investor owns, holds, or controls securities issued by a licensee or holding, intermediate, or parent company of a licensee or in the ordinary course of business for investment purposes only.

(b) The institutional investor does not exercise influence over the affairs of the issuer of such securities nor over any licensed subsidiary of the issuer of such securities.

(c) The institutional investor does not intend to exercise influence over the affairs of the issuer of such securities, nor over any licensed subsidiary of the issuer of such securities, in the future, and that it agrees to notify the commission in writing within thirty days if such intent changes.

(2) The exercise of voting privileges with regard to securities shall not be deemed to constitute the exercise of influence over the affairs of a licensee.

(3) The commission shall rescind the presumption of suitability for an institutional investor at any time if the institutional investor exercises or intends to exercise influence or control over the affairs of the licensee.

(4) This division shall not be construed to preclude the commission from requesting information from or investigating the suitability or qualifications of an institutional investor if:

(a) The commission becomes aware of facts or information that may result in the institutional investor being found unsuitable or disqualified; or

(b) The commission has any other reason to seek information from the investor to determine whether it qualifies as an institutional investor.

(5) If the commission finds an institutional investor to be unsuitable or unqualified, the commission shall so notify the investor and the casino operator, holding company, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor licensee in which the investor invested. The commission shall allow the investor and the licensee a reasonable amount of time, as specified by the commission on a case-by-case basis, to cure the conditions that caused the commission to find the investor unsuitable or unqualified. If during the specified period of time the investor or the licensee does not or cannot cure the conditions that caused the commission to find the investor unsuitable or unqualified, the commission may allow the investor or licensee more time to cure the conditions or the commission may begin proceedings to deny, suspend, or revoke the license of the casino operator, holding company, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor in which the investor invested or to deny any of the same the renewal of any such license.

(6) A private licensee or holding company shall provide the same information to the commission as a public company would provide in a form 13d or form 13g filing to the securities and exchange commission.

(F) Information provided on the application shall be used as a basis for a thorough background investigation of each applicant. A false or incomplete application is cause for denial of a license by the commission. All applicants and licensees shall consent to inspections, searches, and seizures and to the disclosure to the commission and its agents of confidential records, including tax records, held by any federal, state, or local agency, credit bureau, or financial institution and to provide handwriting exemplars, photographs, fingerprints, and information as authorized in this chapter and in rules adopted by the commission.

(G) The commission shall provide a written statement to each applicant for a license under this chapter who is denied the license that describes the reason or reasons for which the applicant was denied the license.

(H) Not later than January 31 in each calendar year, the commission shall provide to the general assembly and the governor a report that, for each type of license issued under this chapter, specifies the number of applications made in the preceding calendar year for each type of such license, the number of applications denied in the preceding calendar year for each type of such license, and the reasons for those denials. The information regarding the reasons for the denials shall specify each reason that resulted in, or that was a factor resulting in, denial for each type of license issued under this chapter and, for each of those reasons, the total number of denials for each such type that involved that reason.

Sec. 3772.12. (A) A person may apply for a gaming-related vendor license. All applications shall be made under oath.

(B) A person who holds a gaming-related vendor's license is authorized to sell or, lease, or otherwise provide, and to contract to sell or, lease, or otherwise provide, equipment, goods, and supplies services to any licensee involved in the ownership or management of a casino facility or skill-based amusement machine operator facility.

(C) Gambling supplies and Casino gaming and skill-based amusement machine equipment and goods shall not be distributed in this state unless supplies and the equipment and goods conform to standards adopted in rules adopted by the commission.

Sec. 3772.121. (A) The commission may issue a gaming-related vendor's license under this chapter to an applicant who has:

(1) Applied for the gaming-related vendor's license;

(2) Paid a nonrefundable license fee as described in section 3772.17 of the Revised Code, which shall cover all actual costs generated by each licensee and all background checks;

(3) Submitted two sets of the applicant's fingerprints; and

(4) Been determined by the commission as eligible for a gaming-related vendor's license.

(B) A gaming-related vendor shall furnish to the commission a list of all equipment, devices goods, and supplies services offered for sale or, lease, or otherwise provided in connection with casino games authorized under this chapter or skill-based amusement machines authorized under this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.

(C) A gaming-related vendor's equipment, devices, or supplies that are used by a person in an unauthorized casino gaming operation shall be forfeited to the state.

Sec. 3772.14. (A) A person may apply for a skill-based amusement machine operator license. All applications shall be made under oath and be on a form prescribed by and contain all of the information required by the commission.

(B) The commission may issue a skill-based amusement machine operator license under this chapter to an applicant who has done all of the following:

(1) Applied for the skill-based amusement machine operator license;

(2) Paid a nonrefundable license fee as described in section 3772.17 of the Revised Code;

(3) Submitted two sets of the applicant's fingerprints; and

(4) Been determined by the commission to be eligible for a skill-based amusement machine operator license.

(C) A person who holds a skill-based amusement machine operator license may offer skill-based amusement machines at a location approved by the commission and as authorized by this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder and by Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code and as approved by the commission.

(D) A skill-based amusement machine operator shall only purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire or obtain skill-based amusement machine equipment, goods, and services from a gaming-related vendor licensed under this chapter.

(E) Upon written request from and good cause shown, as determined by the commission, by a person that is required to apply for and obtain a skill-based amusement machine operator license under this chapter, the commission may grant a waiver or variance from one or more of the skill-based amusement machine operator licensure requirements.

(1) A waiver or variance request submitted under this division shall contain all of the following:

(a) The requestor's name, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and electronic mail address, as available;

(b) A contact person and that person's mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and electronic mail address, as available;

(c) A detailed description of the specific requirement or requirements that the requestor is seeking to have waived or to vary from and the reason or reasons justifying the request;

(d) The requestor's signature or the signature of a duly authorized agent, employee, or representative of the requestor; and

(e) Any other information required by the commission.

(2) The commission may consider any properly submitted waiver or variance request at a meeting held under section 3772.02 of the Revised Code or designate such responsibility to the commission chairperson or the executive director. If such a designation occurs, the commission chairperson or the executive director shall provide a written response to the requestor indicating whether the waiver or variance has been granted or denied.

(3) The commission, or the commission chairperson or executive director, if designated, shall retain sole authority to grant or deny a waiver or variance request submitted under this division. The request may be denied for any reason except that no denial under this division shall be done in an arbitrary or capricious manner.

(4) Denial of any waiver or variance request submitted under this division shall not require notice and an opportunity for hearing nor shall it be considered an adjudication or final appealable order for purposes of Chapter 119. or section 2505.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3772.15. (A) Unless a license issued under this chapter is suspended, expires, or is revoked, the license shall be renewed for three years, as determined by commission rule, after a determination by the commission that the licensee is in compliance with this chapter and rules authorized by this chapter and after the licensee pays a fee. The commission may assess the license renewal applicant a reasonable fee in the an amount set by rule that is necessary to cover the commission's costs associated with the review of the license renewal application.

(B) A licensee shall undergo a complete investigation at least every three years, as determined by commission rule, to determine that the licensee remains in compliance with this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.

(C) Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, the commission may investigate a licensee at any time the commission determines it is necessary to ensure that the licensee remains in compliance with this section.

(D) The holder of a license shall bear the cost of an investigation, except key employees that are employed by a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor and casino gaming employees who are employed by a casino operator or management company, in which case the casino operator employer shall pay the investigation cost.

Sec. 3772.17. (A) The upfront license fee to obtain a license as a casino operator shall be fifty million dollars per casino facility and shall be paid upon each casino operator's filing of its casino operator license application with the commission. The upfront license fee, once paid to the commission, shall be deposited into the economic development programs fund, which is created in the state treasury.

(B) New License and renewal license fees for a new casino operator, management company, and holding company license and renewal license fees of or affiliated with a casino facility shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming and wagering. If an applicant for a license as a management company or holding company is related through a joint venture or controlled by or under common control with another applicant for a license as a casino operator, management company, or holding company for the same casino facility and the applicant for a license as a management company or holding company was reviewed for suitability as part of the investigation of the casino operator, only one license fee shall be assessed against both applicants for that casino facility.

(C) The fee to obtain an application for a casino operator, management company, or holding company license shall be one million five hundred thousand dollars per application. The application fee for a casino operator, management company, or holding company license may be increased to the extent that the actual review and investigation costs relating to an applicant exceed the application fee set forth in this division. If an applicant for a license as a management company or holding company is related through a joint venture or controlled by or under common control with another applicant for a license as a casino operator, management company, or holding company for the same casino facility, with the exception of actual costs of the review and investigation of the additional applicant, only one application fee shall be required of such applicants for that casino facility. The application fee shall be deposited into the casino control commission fund. The application fee is nonrefundable.

(D) The license fees for a skill-based amusement machine operator shall be set by rule, subject to review by the joint committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the commission may assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount necessary to process a skill-based amusement machine operator application.

(E) The license fees for a gaming-related vendor shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the commission may assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount necessary to process a gaming-related vendor license application.

(E)(F) The license fees for a key employee shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the commission may assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount necessary to process a key employee license application. If the license is being sought at the request of a casino operator, such fees shall be paid by the casino operator.

(F)(G) The license fees for a casino gaming employee shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming and wagering. If the license is being sought at the request of a casino operator, the fee shall be paid by the casino operator.

Sec. 3772.21. (A) Casino gaming or skill-based amusement machine equipment, goods, and supplies customarily used in conducting casino gaming services shall only be purchased or, leased only, or otherwise acquired or obtained from gaming-related vendors licensed under this chapter. A management company owning casino gaming devices, supplies, and equipment shall be licensed as a gaming-related vendor under this chapter.

(B) A licensed gaming-related vendor shall provide only casino gaming and skill-based amusement machine equipment, goods, and services that have been approved by the commission.

(C) Annually, a gaming-related vendor shall furnish to the commission a list of all equipment, devices, and supplies offered for sale or, lease, or are otherwise offered in connection with casino gaming authorized under this chapter and skill-based amusement machines authorized under this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.

(C)(D) A gaming-related vendor shall keep books and records for the furnishing of equipment, devices, and supplies to casino gaming and skill-based amusement machine operations separate from books and records of any other business operated by the gaming-related vendor. A gaming-related vendor shall file a quarterly return with the commission listing all sales and leases. A gaming-related vendor shall permanently affix the gaming-related vendor's name to all of the gaming-related vendor's equipment, devices, and supplies for casino gaming operations goods.

(D)(E) A gaming-related vendor's equipment, devices, or supplies goods that are used by a person in an unauthorized casino gaming or skill-based amusement machine operation shall be forfeited to the commission.

Sec. 3772.23. (A) All tokens, chips, or electronic cards that are used to make wagers shall be purchased from the casino operator or management company while at a casino facility that has been approved by the commission. Chips, tokens, tickets, electronic cards, or similar objects may be used while at the casino facility only for the purpose of making wagers on casino games.

(B) Casino operators and management companies may provide promotional gaming credits to their patrons. Promotional gaming credits shall be subject to oversight by the commission.

(C) Casino operators and, management companies, and skill-based amusement machine operators shall not do any of the following:

(1) Obtain a license to operate a check-cashing business under sections 1315.01 to 1315.30 of the Revised Code;

(2) Obtain a license to provide loans under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code;

(3) Obtain a license to provide loans under sections 1321.35 to 1321.48 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3772.25. The following are not subject to, or limited by, the requirements of this chapter or Section 6(C) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution:

(A) Charitable gaming authorized by Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code;

(B) Charitable bingo authorized by Section 6 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, and as authorized by Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code;

(C) Lottery games as authorized by Section 6 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution; and

(D) Pari-mutuel wagering authorized by Chapter 3769. of the Revised Code; and

(E) Concessions under section 1711.11 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3772.31.  (A) The commission, by and through the executive director of the commission and as required under section 125.05 of the Revised Code, may enter into contracts necessary to ensure the proper operation and reporting of all casino gaming authorized under this chapter and all skill-based amusement machines authorized under this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. The commission shall not require use of a central system by a casino operator, management company, or skill-based amusement machine operator if the casino operator, management company, or skill-based amusement machine operator is in compliance with this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code, as applicable. If the commission determines, after written notice to the casino operator, management company, or skill-based amusement machine operator and a hearing under section 3772.04 of the Revised Code, that a casino operator, management company, or skill-based amusement machine operator is not in compliance with this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code, as applicable, the commission may determine it is necessary to require the casino operator, management company, or skill-based amusement machine operator to install and implement a central system under such conditions as the commission may require. Before any such hearing, the commission shall provide the casino operator party with written notice that the casino operator party is not in compliance with a specific requirement of this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code, as applicable, describe the requirement, and provide the casino operator party at least thirty days to cure the noncompliance or, if the cure cannot be reasonably rectified within thirty days, require the casino operator party to demonstrate to the commission's satisfaction that the casino operator party is diligently pursuing the required cure. The system shall be operated by or under the commission's control. If the commission determines that a central system is necessary and adopts rules authorizing a central system, casino operators or management companies shall be responsible for the costs of the central system as it relates to casino facilities and skill-based amusement machine operators shall be responsible for the costs of the central system as it relates to skill-based amusement machines.

(B) The commission shall certify independent testing laboratories to scientifically test and technically evaluate all slot machines, mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic table games, slot accounting systems, and other electronic gaming equipment for compliance with this chapter and all skill-based amusement machines and related equipment and goods for compliance with this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. The certified independent testing laboratories shall be accredited by a national accreditation body. The commission shall certify an independent testing laboratory if it is competent and qualified to scientifically test and evaluate electronic gaming equipment for compliance with this chapter and Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code, as applicable, and to otherwise perform the functions assigned to an independent testing laboratory under this chapter. An independent testing laboratory shall not be owned or controlled by, or have any interest in, a gaming-related vendor of electronic gaming equipment. The commission shall prepare a list of certified independent testing laboratories from which independent testing laboratories shall be chosen for all purposes under this chapter.

Sec. 3772.99.  (A) The commission shall levy and collect penalties for noncriminal violations of this chapter. Noncriminal violations include using the term "casino" in any advertisement in regard to a facility operating video lottery terminals, as defined in section 3770.21 of the Revised Code, in this state. Moneys collected from such penalty levies shall be credited to the general revenue fund.

(B) If a licensed casino operator, management company, holding company, gaming-related vendor, or key employee licensee violates this chapter or engages in a fraudulent act, the commission may suspend or revoke the license and may do either or both of the following:

(1) Suspend, revoke, or restrict the casino gaming operations of a casino operator or management company or the skill-based amusement machine operations of a skill-based amusement machine operator;

(2) Require the removal of a management company, key employee, or discontinuance of services from a gaming-related vendor.

(C) The commission shall impose civil penalties against a person who violates this chapter under the penalties adopted by commission rule and reviewed by the joint committee on gaming and wagering.

(D) A person who purposely or knowingly or intentionally does any of the following commits a misdemeanor of the first degree on the first offense and a felony of the fifth degree for a subsequent offense:

(1) Makes a false statement on an application submitted under this chapter;

(2) Permits a person less than twenty-one years of age to make a wager at a casino facility;

(3) Aids, induces, or causes a person less than twenty-one years of age who is not an employee of the casino gaming operation to enter or attempt to enter a casino facility;

(4) Enters or attempts to enter a casino facility while under twenty-one years of age, unless the person enters a designated area as described in section 3772.24 of the Revised Code;

(5) Is a casino operator or employee and participates in casino gaming other than as part of operation or employment.

(E) A person who purposely or knowingly or intentionally does any of the following commits a felony of the fifth degree on a first offense and a felony of the fourth degree for a subsequent offense. If the person is a licensee under this chapter, the commission shall revoke the person's license after the first offense.

(1) Uses or possesses with the intent to use a device to assist in projecting the outcome of the casino game, keeping track of the cards played, analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to the casino game, or analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in the casino game, except as permitted by the commission;

(2) Cheats at a casino game;

(3) Manufactures, sells, or distributes any cards, chips, dice, game, or device that is intended to be used to violate this chapter;

(4) Alters or misrepresents the outcome of a casino game on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made sure but before the outcome is revealed to the players;

(5) Places, increases, or decreases a wager on the outcome of a casino game after acquiring knowledge that is not available to all players and concerns the outcome of the casino game that is the subject of the wager;

(6) Aids a person in acquiring the knowledge described in division (E)(5) of this section for the purpose of placing, increasing, or decreasing a wager contingent on the outcome of a casino game;

(7) Claims, collects, takes, or attempts to claim, collect, or take money or anything of value in or from a casino game with the intent to defraud or without having made a wager contingent on winning a casino game;

(8) Claims, collects, or takes an amount of money or thing of value of greater value than the amount won in a casino game;

(9) Uses or possesses counterfeit chips, tokens, or cashless wagering instruments in or for use in a casino game;

(10) Possesses a key or device designed for opening, entering, or affecting the operation of a casino game, skill-based amusement machine, drop box, or an electronic or a mechanical device connected with the casino game or skill-based amusement machine or removing coins, tokens, chips, or other contents of a casino game or skill-based amusement machine. This division does not apply to a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor or their agents and employees in the course of agency or employment.

(11) Possesses materials used to manufacture a device intended to be used in a manner that violates this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code;

(12) Operates a casino gaming operation in which wagering is conducted or is to be conducted in a manner other than the manner required under this chapter or a skill-based amusement machine operation in a manner other than the manner required under this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code.

(F) The possession of more than one of the devices described in division (E)(9), (10), or (11) of this section creates a rebuttable presumption that the possessor intended to use the devices for cheating.

(G) A person who purposely or knowingly or intentionally does any of the following commits a felony of the third degree. If the person is a licensee under this chapter, the commission shall revoke the person's license after the first offense. A public servant or party official who is convicted under this division is forever disqualified from holding any public office, employment, or position of trust in this state.

(1) Offers, promises, or gives anything of value or benefit to a person who is connected with the casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, holding company, or gaming-related vendor, including their officers and employees, under an agreement to influence or with the intent to influence the actions of the person to whom the offer, promise, or gift was made in order to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a casino game or skill-based amusement machine or an official action of a commission member, agent, or employee;

(2) Solicits, accepts, or receives a promise of anything of value or benefit while the person is connected with a casino facility or skill-based amusement machine, including an officer or employee of a casino operator, management company, skill-based amusement machine operator, or gaming-related vendor, under an agreement to influence or with the intent to influence the actions of the person to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of a casino game or skill-based amusement machine or an official action of a commission member, agent, or employee;

(H) A person who is convicted of a felony described in this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code may be barred for life from entering a casino facility by the commission.

Section 2.  That existing sections 119.12, 2915.01, 2915.03, 2915.06, 2915.061, 3770.01, 3770.02, 3770.05, 3772.01, 3772.02, 3772.03, 3772.032, 3772.033, 3772.04, 3772.06, 3772.07, 3772.10, 3772.12, 3772.121, 3772.15, 3772.17, 3772.21, 3772.23, 3772.25, 3772.31, and 3772.99 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3.  Section 3772.10 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. Sub. H.B. 386 and Am. Sub. S.B. 337 of the 129th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.