A. A nonprofit charitable organization shall conduct a bingo game only on property which is both owned or leased by it and used by such organization for an office or for the performance of the purposes for which the organization is organized, and the organization has been at such location for one year prior to the application for a license pursuant to this chapter. Each organization applying for a bingo license shall have a primary reason for the organization’s existence other than the playing of bingo.

B. No minors shall be allowed to participate in any bingo game.

C. All bingo games shall be open to the public, not just to the members of the nonprofit charitable organization.

D. A bingo game shall be operated and staffed only by members of the nonprofit charitable organization which organized it, and none shall receive a profit, wage or salary from any bingo game, including any free or discounted play of any bingo game. This subsection does not preclude the employment of security personnel, who are not members of the authorized organization, at such bingo game by the organization conducting the game. Such members during operation of any bingo game shall wear on his or her outside clothing, in plain view, at chest height, an identification badge or device, measuring not less than three square inches in area of any shape, clearly specifying the name of the licensed organization and either the full name of the person wearing such identification or a number corresponding to the registration of such employee or member held by the licensed organization. The employee or members while managing, supervising or conducting any bingo game shall not be allowed to participate as a player in any bingo game. Only the organization authorized to conduct a bingo game shall operate such game or participate in the promotion, supervision or any other phase of such game.

E. No individual, corporation, partnership or other legal entity except the organization authorized to conduct a game shall hold a financial interest in the conduct of such bingo game.

F. With respect to organizations exempt from payment of the bank and corporation tax by Section 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code, all profits derived from a bingo game shall be kept in a special fund or account and shall not be commingled with any other fund or account. Such profit shall be used only for charitable purposes.

G. With respect to other organizations authorized to conduct bingo games pursuant to Section 23701 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, except 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code, proceeds derived from a bingo game shall be kept in a special fund or account and shall not be commingled with any other fund or account. “Proceeds” are the receipts of bingo games conducted by organizations not within subsection (F) of this section. Such proceeds shall be used only for charitable purposes, except as follows:

H. No person shall be allowed to participate in a bingo game unless the person is physically present at the time and place in which the bingo game is being conducted.

I. The total value of prizes awarded during the conduct of any bingo game shall not exceed $500.00 in cash or kind, or both, for each separate game that is held.

J. No bingo game shall be conducted between the hours of midnight and 8:00 a.m.

K. No bingo game shall be conducted by an organization on more than three days out of seven calendar days.

L. No chairperson shall knowingly permit a person who is intoxicated and unable to exercise care for his safety or the safety of others to participate in or wander about any bingo game.

M. All disbursements from the bingo account shall be by consecutively numbered checks signed by two authorized officers of the licensee and shall be made payable to a specific individual or organization. There shall be written on each check the nature of the expenditure for which the check is drawn. No check shall be drawn to “cash” or a fictitious payee.

N. A record of all donations and/or sales of bingo playing cards shall be maintained and kept on file in the bingo office with the financial statement for inspection purposes.

O. Within 30 days after any bingo game is held, the licensee shall file with the Director of Public Safety a full and complete financial statement, using a form(s) approved by the Director of Finance, of all moneys collected or disbursed and the amount remaining for charitable purposes, or if the licensee conducts single games on an on-going basis, the licensee shall file a monthly statement due 30 days after the end of each month. The Director of Public Safety shall have the power to inspect all books, records, and papers of the nonprofit charitable organization which pertain to the operation of the bingo games.

P. No admission fee, purchase or donation shall be required for entry into the bingo premises. This section shall not preclude no-smoking tables and tables designated for the handicapped.

Q. Attendance Limited to Occupancy Capacity. Notwithstanding that bingo games are open to the public, attendance at any bingo game shall be limited to the occupancy capacity of the room in which such game is conducted, as determined by the Fire Department in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Signs shall be posted showing what the occupancy capacity of such room is.

R. No alcoholic beverages shall be served or consumed during the hours of bingo operation in the bingo hall.

S. Use of Credit Prohibited. No licensee shall issue chips or money to a patron on credit or loan (including but not limited to IOUs and checks to be held), or allow any patron to play on credit.

T. Proceeds – Counting Procedures. The bingo chairperson or his/her designated co-chairperson and one other member of the licensed organization shall jointly count all bingo proceeds and both shall sign a statement of their count which shall become a permanent record maintained in the bingo files.

U. Cost, Prizes and Rules – Posting Required. The licensee shall post the cost, prizes, and rules of each game to be played. Such signs shall be posted in plain view in a conspicuous place during the conduct of the bingo game, or on the program provided to the player.

V. Posting of License. An organization licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not conduct or permit to be conducted a bingo game unless the license is posted at the public entrance in a conspicuous place during the conduct of any bingo game.

W. No bingo organization shall maintain a “net remaining balance” of more than $8,000 at the end of any given calendar month.

X. Any bingo organization which has its license permanently suspended or revoked or does not renew its license shall expend all remaining moneys in either its savings or cash on hand or checking account within 30 days, and those accounts shall be closed immediately. All remaining moneys shall go to charity. A financial report shall be submitted to the Director of Public Safety showing the expenditures of all remaining cash.

Y. It shall be unlawful to call or post any bingo letter or number unless the letter or number on the object drawn is displayed to the assemblage in such a manner that the letter or number is visible to such assemblage.

Z. All bingo cards presented for winnings shall be verified by a third party. Such verification shall be made prior to the beginning of the next bingo game.

AA. All winners of individual bingo games shall be recognized by the person calling the letters or numbers as winning that game when they call “bingo” and raise their hand. If more than one person is recognized as a verified winner, they shall share the winnings equally.

BB. Charitable Contributions. Organizations authorized to conduct bingo games pursuant to Section 23701 of the Revenue and Taxation (“R&T”) Code, except 23701d of the R&T Code, shall contribute 10 percent of their gross income to charity each month.

CC. A yearly financial statement shall be filed with the Director of Public Safety by the chairperson of each bingo organization, at the end of each calendar year, in addition to the monthly financial statement. (Ord. 3157 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2175 § 1, 1986; Ord. 1987 § 1, 1982; Ord. 1695 § 2, 1976).