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Source-Ord-1969 A1-1263
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CITY OF PRICHARD ORDINANCE NO. __ 1969
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 1965 PROMULGATING RULES AND
REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF BINGO GAMES IN THE CITY OF PRICHARD
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted in Amendment No. 440, to the
Constitution of Alabama 1901, the Prichard City Council (“the City Council”), for the welfare
and benefit of the citizens of the City of Prichard (“the City”) and the State of Alabama, desires
to ensure that all forms of bingo, made lawful in the City of Prichard pursuant to Amendment
No. 440.
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 440 to the Constitution of Alabama, 1901, (“Amendment
440”) provides that:
[t]he operation of bingo games for prizes or money by certain
nonprofit organizations for charitable, educational, or other lawful
purposes shall be legal in Mobile county, subject to the provisions
of any resolution or ordinance by the county governing body or the
governing bodies of the respective cities and towns, within their
respective jurisdictions as provided by law regulating such
operation. The said_governing bodies shall have the authority to
promulgate rules and regulations for the issuance of permits or
licenses and for operation of bingo games, within their respective
jurisdictions; provided, however, that said governing bodies must
ensure compliance pursuant to said law and the following
provisions:”
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2004, Alabama Attorney General Troy King (“the Attorney
General”) announced the findings from his unprecedented, hands-on evaluation and review of
gambling occurring in Alabama (“Gambling Review”);
WHEREAS, the Attorney General states in the findings of his “Gambling Review” that,
notwithstanding his personal opposition to gambling, “[i]t is not my job as Attorney General,
however, to determine whether Alabama will allow gambling. It is my personal belief on a
public policy matter that controls my actions as Attorney General, but, instead, it is the law and
my duty to faithfully enforce it that must guide me;”
WHEREAS, the Attorney General in his Gambling Review states that “Alabama is a state
with an unusual provision in her constitution that allows for the enactment of constitutional
amendments affecting less than the whole state;”
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WHEREAS, Amendment 440, is one of eighteen different local constitutional
amendments authorizing some form of bingo in a given city or county within the State of
Alabama;
WHEREAS, the Attorney General notes that “[t]he use of the word bingo is the source of
much of the debate regarding what type of gambling is allowed in Alabama.” He went on to
describe what is meant by the term “bingo” under Alabama law as follows:
Bingo evolved from a game that has been played in Italy since 1530. The game made its way
across Europe and to the United States sometime in the 1920s under'the name ‘beano.’ It is a
game played on a grid consisting of five horizontal and five vertical squares containing numbers
that are covered up as numbers are randomly drawn and that is won when a preordained pattern
is covered on the card. There are believed to be over 1.4 million variations of the ‘bingo’ card.
This is a game that must be played against other players and not played as a house banked game.
Bingo has evolved from its origins hundreds of years ago to cards where the numbers are
covered by buttons or other markers, to sheets of paper where the numbers are daubed with a
paint pen, to laptop computer-like devices where multiple cards can be played simultaneously, to
video consoles where the bingo game is simulated using computer chips. It is machines of this
final sort that are most prominently on display at Greenetrack and Victoryland and which have
been the focus of much of the controversy in Alabama surrounding the legality of these
operation. The games played on these video consoles must have certain important features to be
bingo: First, the game must incorporate the typical features of traditional bingo, including, but
not limited to, a grid of five horizontal and five vertical squares, numbers randomly selected, and
a’preordained winning pattern. Spinning wheels and other video graphics must not affect game
play. Second, just as in traditional bingo halls, players on the machines must compete against
one another. Consequently, the electronic machines must be linked so that players are competing
against each other to permit the machines to comply with the constitutional requirerhent of
“bingo.” For example, such a machine might depict a bingo card in the upper left hand corner of
the machine, and as the game play commences, balls containing numbers begin to fall. When a
number depicted on the card is dropped, it would be marked on the cards of those playing and
players would win prizes in the same manner that they win prizes in traditional bingo halls. If
the machines at any facility should ever be determined to be operating independently or hosting
games for single participants, then these facilities would be operating outside the bounds of the
constitutional grant and would be subject to the appropriate legal action.”
WHEREAS, the Attorney General in‘his Gambling Review, recognizes the impact of
technology upon the game of “bingo” as he addresses the confusion that may ensue from the
appearance or form of today’s technologically advanced and computer generated “media” bingo
games. The Attorney General states that [i]t cannot be concluded, as some have, that just
because the game .is being played on video consoles, it is not ‘bingo.’ Just as no one would
contend that e-mails are any less a form of correspondence than are letters written with a quill
pen, but instead represent a technological evolution in correspondence; similarly, bingo games
that are depicted on a video console can still be bingo — albeit a technologically advanced form
of bingo — but bingo nonetheless.
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WHEREAS, the Attorney General has concluded “that, as a matter of law, machines that
operate in the manner described above are permissible” in counties “with facilities operating
under a valid constitutional amendment;,
WHEREAS, Amendment 440 as adopted by the Legislature and approved by a vote of
the people is a valid constitutional amendment which provides that the.operation of bingo games
for prizes or money by certain nonprofit organizations for charitable, educational, or other lawful
purposes shall be legal in Mobile county, subject to the provisions of any resolution or ordinance
by the county governing body or the governing bodies of the respective cities and towns, within
their respective jurisdictions as provided by law regulating such operation.
WHEREAS, Alabama Attorney General Opinion Number 97-072 held that once a valid
constitutional amendment makes Charitable Bingo legal within the limits of a city or county, the
city or county “does not have the authority to decline to permit bingo operations by qualified
organizations, but that its power is limited to the authority to regulate bingo operations.”
WHEREAS, Amendment 440 related to Bingo in Mobile county may not contemplate the
impact of the technological evolution in computer technology upon the game of “bingo” and
current “media” forms of “bingo” that have emerged from said technological advances;
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Prichard City Council that all forms of the game known
as “bingo,” including but not limited to, “media” forms of “bingo” shall be subject to licensure
and regulation in the City of Prichard;
WHEREAS, Amendment Number 440 to the Constitution of Alabama, 1901, also
requires: that said governing bodies must ensure compliance pursuant to said law and the
following provisions:
(a) No person under the age of 19 shall be permitted to play any game or games of bingo, unless
accompanied by a parent or guardian; nor shall any person under the age of 19 be permitted to
conduct or assist in the conduct of any game of bingo;
(b) No bingo permit or license shall be issued to any nonprofit: organization, unless such
organization shall have been in existence for at least 12 months immediately prior to the issuance
of the permit or license;
(c) Bingo games shall be operated only on the premises owned or leased by the nonprofit
organization operating the bingo game. If the premises is leased, the rate or rental shall not be
based on a percentage of receipts or profits resulting from the operation of bingo games;
(d) No nonprofit organization shall enter into any contract with any individual, firm, association
or corporation to have said individual or entity operate bingo games or concessions on behalf of
the nonprofit organization, nor shall said nonprofit organization pay consulting fees to any
individual or entity for any services performed in relation to the operation or conduct of a bingo
game.
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(e) A noriprofit organization shall not lend its name or allow its identity to be used by any other
person or entity in the operating or advertising of a bingo game in which said nonprofit
organization is not directly and solely operating said bingo game;
(f) Prizes given by any qualified nonprofit organization for the playing of bingo games shall not
exceed the cash amount or gifts of equivalent value, set by the legislature, during any bingo
session. The legislature shall set a maximum amount for any calendar week;
(g) No person or organization, by whatever name or composition thereof, shall take any expenses
for the operation of a bingo game except as permitted by law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as follows:
The following Rules and Regulations for the Licensing and Operation of Bingo Games in
the City of Prichard (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Rules”, “Regulations” or “Rules and
Regulations”) are hereby promulgated by the City Council of the City of Prichard to regulate the
issuance of permits or licenses for and the operation of Bingo Games by certain Nonprofit
Organizations in the City of Prichard, Alabama pursuant to Amendments Nos. 440 and 797.
Section 1 Definitions.
As used herein the following words shall have the following meanings as described
herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) “Bingo” or “Bingo Games” shall mean any game of chance known as bingo,
which is certified by a nationally recognized gaming laboratory certifying that the
game complies with both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Alabama
Attorney General’s definition of bingo set forth in his 2004 Press Release, which
incorporates the following elements: (i) the game must be played on a grid of five
(5) horizontal rows intersected by five (5) contiguous squares contained within
the grid; (ii) each square in a grid must be designated by a number or other
symbol contained in a collection of numbers or symbols used for playing the
game; (iii) numbers or symbols are selected by a procedure or mechanism entirely
or predominately governed by chance and, as such number or symbols are
selected during the playing of a particular game, the same numbers or symbols, if
they are present on one or more of the squares on any grid in play, are covered or
otherwise marked on such grid; (iv) the winner or winners of a particular game
are the players of those grids for which a previously designated pattern or
arrangement is first covered or marked; (v) one or more players must compete
against one or another for prizes; (vi) monetary wagers may be collected from the
players of bingo for the opportunity to participate in the game, and such wagers
may vary in amount to reflect the value of the prize for winning a particular game,
whether the wager is for participation in the whole game or a particular phase
thereof, and other factors reflecting the interplay of the amount wagered, the size
of the prize and the probability of winning; and (vii) the prizes for winning the
game can be money or anything of value without limit as to amount. To the
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(b)
(c)
extent that the foregoing elements are present in the game of bingo, it can be
played with different kinds of equipment varying from one end of the spectrum,
where traditional cards displaying the playing grids are used with tokens to cover
the designated squares on the cards, to the technologically advanced end of the
spectrum, where electronic devices perform the operations of the game using
computers or micro-processors and interact with the human players by means of
an electronic console. If the game of bingo is played on electronic devices which
determine and signal the winner, such devices shall be electronically linked to
ensure that multiple players are competing against each other. The prizes or
evidence thereof for winning bingo games may be disbursed by the electronic
devices or consoles used in playing such games at the time each game is won or
on different schedules that reflect a record of wins and losses involving multiple
games. The entertaining capabilities of electronic devices and consoles used in
playing bingo may be enhanced by spinning reels and other video or mechanical
displays, but such displays and the apparatus used to produce them may not affect
the play or outcome of the game.
“Bingo Equipment and Supplies” shall mean any electronic or mechanical
equipment, machine or device, or computer or other technologic hardware or
device, (i) which is installed, or is to be installed, at a bingo facility and (ii) which
is used, or can be used, to play Bingo as herein defined. , Bingo Equipment and
Supplies includes any machine, device or hardware that assists a player or the
playing of Bingo Games, broadens the participation levels in a common game and
includes all of the ancillary Bingo supplies. Examples of Bingo Equipment and
Supplies include, but are not limited to, dispensers, readers, electronic player
stations, player terminals, central computer servers containing random number
generators and other processing capabilities for remote player terminals,
electronic consoles capable of providing game results in different display modes,
telephones and telephone circuits, televisions, cables and other telecommunication
circuits, and satellites and related transmitting and receiving equipment. Bingo
Equipment shall not be deemed to be for any purpose a gambling
5 1 5 1 14 13 1287 1460 98 25 93.099350 device or slot
4 1 5 1 15 0 392 1498 1100 33 -1
5 1 5 1 15 1 392 1500 124 25 96.655411 machine
within the meaning of the Code of Alabama 1975, Sections 13A-12-
20(5) and (10) or any other provision of law, whether now in effect or hereafter
enacted. The playing of bingo at any facility and all equipment and facilities
relating thereto shall comply with the “Americans with Disabilities Act.”
“Bingo Expenses” shall mean all expenses incurred in connection with the
holding, operating and conducting of Bingo Games, including but not limited to,
the following expenses: rental of Bingo Equipment, the payment of services
necessary for the repair of Bingo Equipment, payment of prizes, rental for the
Location, money paid to Bingo workers and employees whether directly paid or
‘paid to an employee leasing company, utilities, janitorial services, security
services, banking services, permit fees, taxes and license fees, insurance
premiums, professional services and maintenance.
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(d)
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69)
(g)
(h)
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“Bingo Session” shall mean a consecutive period of time up to twenty-four
consecutive hours during which Bingo is played on as many as seven (7) days ina
given week. A holder of a Class A Bingo License or a Class B Bingo License
shall not be limited in the number of Bingo Sessions it operates during any
twenty-four (24) hour period.
“Class A Bingo License” shall mean a license issued to an applicant who desires
_ to operate only paper card Bingo at a Class A Qualified Location.
“Class B Bingo License” shall mean a license issued to an applicant who desires
to operate any and all games of Bingo at a Class B Qualified Location.
“Class A Qualified Location” for the holder of a Class A Bingo License shall
mean a Location which has been inspected and recommended for approval by the
Prichard Bingo Commission for the conduct of Bingo Games.
“Class B Qualified Location” for the holder of a Class B Bingo License shall
mean a Location which has been inspected and recommended for approval by the
Prichard Bingo Commission for conducting Bingo Games and other lawful
activities and for which the holder of a Class B Bingo License or Operator has
submitted satisfactory evidence that the Location is in place.
After the completion of the facility for the operation for the Bingo Games the
licensee shall provide the following: (i) liability insurance in an amount not less
than $1,000,000; (ii) liquor liability insurance in the amount required by State of
Alabama, if applicable; (iii) adequate parking for patrons and employees; (iv)
onsite security as reasonably recommended by the Prichard Bingo Commission;
(v) onsite first aid personnel as reasonably recommended by the Prichard Bingo
Commission; (vi) such accounting procedures, controls’ and security monitoring as
are reasonably necessary to preserve and promote the integrity of the operation of
Bingo Games and the protection of the Nonprofit Organization and the patrons of
the Bingo Games; and (vii) satisfactory evidence that the Location is fully
compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“License Holder” shall mean any holder of a Class A Bingo License or Class B
Bingo License.
“Premises” shall mean a building, hall, enclosure, room, location, grounds and/or
outdoor area that complies with all federal, state and local laws and applicable
building and fire codes.
“Nonprofit Organization” shall mean a bona fide organization for charitable,
educational, or other lawful purposes which operates without profit to its
members (if any) which has been in existence for at least 12 months prior to the
issuance of the permit or license.
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)) “Person” shall mean any human being, corporation, partnership, business
organization, association or legal entity of any kind whatsoever,
Section 2 Prichard Bingo Commission
(@)
(b)
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There is established within the City of Prichard a Commission to be known as the
Prichard Bingo Commission.
Composition: investigation, term of office, removal
(1) | The Commission shall be composed of three (3) members who shall be appointed
by the City Council. The members of the Commission shall select, by a majority vote,
one of their members to act as Chairman.
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term of office of the members of
the Commission shall be three years.
(B) The initial members of the commission shall be designated by the Council to
serve for terms of one, two, and three years, respectively, from the date of their
appointment. Thereafter, the term of office shall be three years.
(3) No individual shall be eligible for any appointment to, or to continue service on,
the Commission, who —
(A) has been convicted of a felony or gaming offense;
(B) has any financial interest in, or management responsibility for, any gaming
activity
(4) A Commissioner may be removed from office at will by the City Council.
Vacancies occurring on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment. A member may serve after the expiration of his term of office until his
successor has been appointed, unless the member has been removed under subsection
(b)(4) of this section.
Two members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
The Commission shall select, by majority vote, one of the members of the Commission to
serve as Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall serve as Chairman during meetings of
the Commission in the absence of the Chairman.
The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman or a majority of its members, but
shall meet at least once every 3 months.
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(g) All members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for the reasonable and necessary
expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties
(h) Powers of Chairman
+
(a) The Chairman, on behalf of the Commission, shall have power, subject to an appeal to
the Commission, to —
(1) preside at all meetings of the Commission and shall be a voting member;
(2) issue orders of temporary closure of gaming activities as provided in the
bingo rules and regulations;
(3) the Chairman shall have such other powers as may be delegated by the
City Council of the City of Prichard.
(@ Powers of Commission
(a) Budget approval for the Commission; Application fees; The Commission shall have
the following powers —
(1) By an affirmative vote of not less than 2 members, to recommend to the City
Council approval of Bingo Locations and the issuance of Bingo Licenses;
(2) Subject to the recommendation of Mayor and approval of the Council, to
propose an annual budget of the Commission;
(3) By an affirmative vote of not less than 2 members, to recommend a change in
the license and application fees as provided in the bingo rules and regulations;
(4) Monitoring; inspection of premises; investigations; access to records; mail;
contracts; hearings; oaths; regulations The Commission —
(a) shall monitor bingo operations in Prichard on a continuing basis;
(b) shall inspect and examine all premises where bingo is located and
conducted and make reports of such inspection to the Mayor and
City Council;
(c) . shall conduct or cause to be conducted such background
investigations as may be necessary;
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(b) To inspect at any time without notice all bingo facilities and to inspect, examine,
photocopy, and audit all papers, books, and records necessary to carry out the duties of
the Commission.
Section 3 Operation of Bingo Games in the City of Prichard, Alabama. Pursuant to
Amendment No. 440 to the Constitution of Alabama 1901, the operation of Bingo Games for
prizes or money by Nonprofit Organizations shall be allowed in the City of Prichard, provided
that the Nonprofit Organization shall first obtain a Class A Bingo License or Class B Bingo
License. The holder of a Class A Bingo License or a Class B Bingo License shall be authorized
to conduct Bingo Games and pay Bingo Expenses in accordance with these Rules and
Regulations and Amendments Number 440 and 797 to the Constitution of Alabama 1901.
Section 4 Bingo License Required, No Nonprofit Organization shall be allowed to operate a
Bingo Game unless the City Council of the City of Prichard first authorizes the issuance of a
license to said organization authorizing it to do so. The license described herein shall be in a
form designated by Prichard City Council. Multiple qualified organizations shall be permitted to
participate in bingo at a single facility, not allowing sharing of cost and revenue. A holder of a
Class A Bingo License or a Class B Bingo License may hold only one license, and that license
shall be valid for only one Location in the City of Prichard, Alabama. A license is not assignable
or transferable without the express, written consent of the Prichard City Council and shall
become automatically void upon the dissolution of the License Holder. If a Nonprofit
Organization changes its name, the Prichard City Council shall issue an amended license bearing
such name and such Nonprofit Organization shall not be required to comply with the license
amendment provisions set forth herein.
Section 5. Application for License; Submission; Form Contents.
(a) Any nonprofit charity desiring to obtain a license to operate Bingo Games
hereunder shall in its individual capacity make application to the Prichard Bingo
Commission on forms prescribed by the Prichard City Council and shall pay an
application fee of $250.00 for a Class A Bingo License and $1,000.00 for a Class
B Bingo License. Such license shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years. A
holder of a Class A Bingo License shall pay, in addition to the application fee, an
annual fee of $250.00. A holder of a Class B Bingo License shall pay, in addition
to the application fee, an annual fee of $1,000.00 in order to retain said licenses.
Renewal applications shall be filed with the Prichard Bingo Commission at least
forty-five (45) days prior to expiration of any license term and shall be on forms
prescribed by the Prichard Bingo Commission. Renewal applications shall be
subject to the same application fee as provided for an original application.
(b) The Prichard Bingo Commission shall refuse to recommend the. granting of a
Bingo License or renewal to any applicant qualified hereunder unless and until the
applicant fully provides the information required hereunder, such being provided
in a form and in sufficient detail to satisfy the Prichard Bingo Commission of its
9 of 15 oRD# 1969
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validity and sufficiency. The Prichard Bingo Commission may require any
reasonable confirming documentation as to any information required hereunder
and shall have a reasonable time to check or confirm by any available method the
accuracy or validity of any information provided hereunder.
(c) Each application for a Bingo License or renewal thereof shall contain the
following information and exhibits:
@ The date of incorporation or other evidence of inception showing
existence by the Nonprofit Organization for at least twelve (12) months
prior to the issuance of the permit.
(ii) ~—A certified copy of the charter, certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or
other evidence of legal existence of the Nonprofit Organization or
Operator.
dii) A copy of the letter ruling or tax-exempt determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service, or other proof deemed acceptable by the
Prichard Bingo Commission verifying the tax-exempt status of the
Nonprofit Organization named in the application or the parent
O organization of which the same is a qualified branch, chapter, lodge, or
post.
(iv) The names and addresses of each of the officers and directors of the
Nonprofit Organization who are responsible for the operation or have
control over the operation or promotion of Bingo Games by the Nonprofit
Organization.
(v) | The physical Premises at which the applicant will conduct the Bingo
Games, shall be owned or leased by the nonprofit organization(s) which
are conducting Bingo Games. If such Premises is not owned by such
Nonprofit Organization, the application shall include the names and
addresses of the owners thereof and a copy of the lease with the said
owners regarding the use of the premises for the operation of Bingo
Games.
(vi) A statement listing all convictions, if any, for criminal offenses, other than
traffic offenses, of each of the Persons for whom names are required in.
subsections (iv) and (v) above.
Section 6 Issuance of License.
(a) Upon receipt of a fully completed and documented application for a license
meeting all of the requirements set out herein, the Prichard Bingo Commission
C) shall make such investigation as it may deem necessary or proper of the
10 of 15 orp # 1969
Page 11
qualifications of each applicant as required herein and the truth and veracity of the
information contained or attached to the application. Upon determining that the
issuance of the license is appropriate and after being satisfied that all
qualifications and requirements as set out herein have been fulfilled, the Prichard
Bingo Commission shall make a recommendation to the Prichard City Council to
issue or deny the issuance of such license to said applicant upon the terms and
conditions herein set forth.
(b) A Class A Bingo License shall be issued to an applicant who desires to operate
paper card Bingo only at a Class A Qualified Location. Due to limited public
safety resources, only one Class B Bingo License shall be issued initially. One
year thereafter a second Class B Bingo License may be issued and one year
thereafter a third Class B Bingo license may be issued. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, only three (3) Class B Bingo locations may be issued by the Prichard
City Council, and be active at any given time.
Section 7 Amendments; Applications; Licenses.
(a) An applicant may amend an application filed hereunder to correct or complete the
information contained therein or to change said information to comply with a
change in circumstances at any time prior to the recommendation of the Prichard
C) Bingo Commission to the Prichard City Council, provided, however, that said
amendment is made in or on a form satisfactory to the Prichard Bingo
Commission and the applicant pays a substitution or amendment fee of $50.00 per
amendment.
(b) A license, once issued, may be amended only upon resubmission of a new,
completed, application satisfactory to the Prichard Bingo Commission and
payment of a new application fee by the License Holder. The Prichard Bingo
Commission may recommend the denial of amendments for any reason for which
an original application may be denied. If such amendment is approved, a new
license will be issued in place of the license being amended.
' Section 8 Contents and Display of Licenses.
(a) Each Bingo License shall contain the name and address of the License Holder, the
Location at which the License Holder is permitted to conduct Bingo Games, the
days of the week on which the License Holder is permitted to conduct Bingo
Games, and the date on which the license was issued and upon which it expires.
(b) The License Holder shall display the license conspicuously at the Location where
Bingo is being conducted at all times during the conduct of a Bingo Game.
O Section 9 Fees and Fee Proceeds. A Class B location in addition to all other license
application and renewal fees shall pay a permit fee of $1,250,000.00 Dollars per year per
11 of 15 orD# 1969
Page 12
location. In addition, a Class B location shall pay the sum of $100 per machine per month for all
machines in excess of 1,000 machines. This permit fee is due the day when play begins and
must be renewed every 12 months. All monies collected by the Prichard Bingo Commission for
this fee shall be deposited immediately in an escrow account to be known as the Prichard Bingo
Escrow Account whose signatories thereon shall be the same as on the general funds account for
the City of Prichard. Each day, commencing on the day a Bingo Permit is issued, 1/365" of the
location fee, the earned amount shall become the absolute property of the City of Prichard. The
earned amount shall be deposited, at least once every thirty (30) days, into an account to be
known as the General Bingo Account of the City of Prichard. In the event any Class B location is
found to be in violation of any State or Federal laws and has to cease operation the remaining
uneamed fees for that calendar year minus 10% will be returned to the license holder.
All other monies (including those derived from fines, license fees, renewal fees, and device
permit fees) once released to the Prichard Bingo Commission shall be deposited into the General
Bingo Account of the City of Prichard. Upon the approval of the City Council, all expenses
incurred by the Prichard Bingo Commission in the administration and enforcement hereof shall
be paid from the General Bingo Account of the City of Prichard, with the balance, if any in said
account to be transferred to the general fund of the City of Prichard to be used by the City of
Prichard subject to the recommendation of the Mayor and approval of the City Council, for any
purpose it so wishes, to the extent allowed by law, in the public interest. The said General Bingo
Account shall be subject to audit by the State of Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts.
Section 10 General Regulations; Prizes.
(a) No Person under the age of nineteen (19) years shall be permitted to play any
Bingo Game, nor shall any Person under the age of nineteen (19) years be
permitted to conduct or assist in the operation of any game of Bingo.
(b) No Class A Bingo License or Class B Bingo License shall be issued to any
Nonprofit Organization unless the organization shall have been in existence at
least twelve (12) months immediately prior to the issuance of the permit or
license.
(c) Bingo Games shall be operated only on the premises owned or leased by the
nonprofit organization operating the bingo game. If the premises is leased, the rate
of rental shall not be based on a percentage of receipts or profits resulting from
the operation of bingo games. The nonprofit organization may lease the premises
from any Person, including, but not limited to, the City of Prichard. The nonprofit
organization may lease Bingo Equipment from any Person, and the rate of rental
for said Bingo Equipment may be calculated based upon a percentage of receipts
or profits earned by the operation of Bingo Games.
12 of 15 orp# 1969
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d)
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(g)
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Section 11
No nonprofit organization shall enter into any contract with any individual, firm,
association or corporation to have said individual or entity operate bingo games or
concessions on behalf of the nonprofit organization, nor shall said nonprofit
organization pay consulting fees to any individual or entity for any services
performed in relation to the operation or conduct of a bingo game.
A Nonprofit Organization shall not lend its name or allow its identity to be used
by any other person or entity in the operating or advertising of a Bingo Game in
which said Nonprofit Organization is not directly and solely operating said Bingo
Game.
Prizes given by any qualified Nonprofit Organization for the playing of Bingo
Games shall not exceed the cash amount or gifts of equivalent value set by the
legislature, during any Bingo session. The legislature shall set a maximum
amount for any calendar week.
No person or organization, by whatever name or composition thereof, shall take
any expenses for the operation of a bingo game except for rent, utilities, security,
and insurance unless otherwise expressly approved by the Commission.
No Person who has been convicted of a felony offense, and whose civil rights
have not been restored by law, shall conduct or in any way participate in the
operation of any Bingo Game permitted hereunder, nor shall any Person who has
been convicted of any gambling offense be permitted to conduct or in any way
participate in the operation of any Bingo Game permitted hereunder.
Records and Accounting. Each holder of a Class A Bingo License and Class B
Bingo License shall keep and maintain the following records and accounts pertaining to each
Bingo Session conducted by it for at least three (3) years from the date of such session:
(a)
(b)
(c)
An itemized list of all gross receipts for each Bingo Session, which shall include
all receipts derived from the sale of Bingo cards, entrance fees, donations, or from
any other source whatsoever pertaining to the operation of such session.
An itemized list of all Bingo Expenses, costs and disbursements, other than prizes
paid or given as a result of the operation of any Bingo Session, together with the
name and address of each Person to whom said Bingo Expenses, disbursements or
consideration was paid or given; a receipt or invoice for all items purchased and
for all services rendered; and such other records as will adequately reflect the
amount and nature of such expenses, costs and disbursements.
All records, receipts, accounts and/or lists required to be kept and maintained
hereunder may be inspected by the Prichard Bingo Commission or its authorized
agents or representatives at any time without notice. All Locations at which Bingo
Games are being held by a License Holder, or at which a License Holder intends
13 of 15, orD# 1969
Page 14
to conduct Bingo Games, may be inspected by the Prichard Bingo Commission,
or its authorized agents or representatives, at any time without notice. On or
before April 15th of each calendar year, each holder of a Class A Bingo License
or Class B Bingo License who held a license for all or any part of the preceding
calendar year shall file with the Prichard Bingo Commission a verified copy of all
records, receipts, accounts, contracts and/or lists required to be kept or maintained
hereunder relating to the operation of Bingo Games for said previous calendar
year.
Section 12 Accountability and Transparency. All documents of the City of Prichard and
the Prichard Bingo Commission generated as the result of the passage of the Ordinance shall be
subject to review by the general public pursuant to the Alabama’s Public Records Act. All
business conducted in meetings of the City of Prichard and/or the Prichard Bingo Commission as
the result of the passage of this Ordinance shall be subject to Alabama’s Open Meetings Act.
Section 13 Enforcement and Supervision; Rules: Bonds. Subject to the authority and powers
of the Mayor and City Council the Prichard Bingo Commission shall be charged with the duty to
and shall enforce and supervise the administration and enforcement of all of the rules,
regulations and reporting required hereunder. In addition to these Regulations, the Prichard
Bingo Commission may seek to enforce all applicable criminal and civil laws of the State of
Alabama to prevent and discourage any illegal activity.
Section 14 Revocation of Licenses; Appeal. The Prichard Bingo Commission, for good cause
shown, may recommend the revocation of any license issued pursuant hereto and/or recommend
the levy of a fine not to exceed the amount of $500.00 if the License Holder violates any of the
material Regulations herein promulgated, provided, however, that no license may be revoked
without complying with the following procedures: The Prichard Bingo Commission must first
deliver to any Person named in the license application pursuant to Section 4, subsections (c)(iv)
and (c)(v) hereunder thirty (30) days’ written notice of its intention to revoke said license and the
grounds therefore to allow the License Holder to cure any alleged violation of any of the
Regulations herein provided. If the License Holder cures any alleged violation within the thirty-
day notice period, no revocation shall be effective but any imposed fine shall remain in effect. In
the event that the Prichard Bingo Commission determines that the violation was not cured within
the thirty-day notice period, it shall give additional notice to the License Holder, in the manner
set forth above, that it intends to proceed with revocation and give the License Holder the
opportunity to make a written request for a hearing as to such revocation to the City of Prichard
City Council within ten (10) days of receipt of such notice. Upon such timely request for hearing,
the City Council shall hold a hearing upon such revocation, subject to rules and regulations for
the conduct of meetings and hearings before such City Council, at its next regularly scheduled
meeting, or specially called meeting for the purpose of such hearing or as soon as practicable.
Upon such hearing, the rendering of a decision adverse to the License Holder shall result in the
immediate and final revocation of the subject license.
14 of 15 orD# 1969
Page 15
OD
Section 15 Effect of Revocation. A License Holder whose license is revoked as herein set out
shall return such license to the Prichard Bingo Commission on or before the effective date of
such revocation and whether returned or not such license shall be void and not valid beyond the
effective date of revocation. A License Holder whose license is revoked in consequence of a
violation of any rule or regulation promulgated herein shall be ineligible to apply for or have
issued to it another license hereunder for a period of one year after the effective date of such
revocation. Nor shall any license be issued to any Person which is directed or controlled by
Persons listed in the application for license filed pursuant to Section 4, subsections (c)(iv) and
(c)(v) hereof, in regard to the revoked license or to any organization of which the membership is
substantially the same as any organization whose license has been revoked hereunder, for a
period of one year after the effective date of such revocation.
Section 16 Appeal of Denial of License. Any Person whose application for a license
hereunder is recommended for denial by the Prichard Bingo Commission pursuant to these
Regulations shall have the right to appeal such denial to the City of Prichard City Council in the
same manner as an appeal of revocation of a license issued hereunder may be appealed pursuant
hereto provided, however, that such Person shall not operate any Bingo Game until such
application shall have been granted, and a license issued.
Section 17 Amendments to Regulations. If the City of Prichard should make any amendment
to these Regulations, such amendment shall not be retroactive to any license holder. However,
any change shall apply to all licensees prospectively.
Section 18 Severability. The provisions hereto and the Regulations promulgated hereunder are
severable. If any part hereof shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration shall
not affect any parts hereof which shall remain.
Section 19 Effective Date. Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Prichard
this 17" day of __ December , 2009.
NAPOLEON BRACY, Couficil President
ATTEST:
: { jel c Ou) C EO
ENE LEWIS ON DAVIS
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED this the 17" day of December , 2009
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