CHARITABLE GAMBLING – PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
- Amendment to Section 1. G. of the Regulations
The purpose of this amendment is to strengthen the requirements for an annual bingo license and to make them similar to the annual permits for pull tabs.
Current Regulation:
G. Any bona fide volunteer fire and/or rescue company, fraternal, civic, war veterans', religious or charitable organization or corporation shall be issued a permit to conduct bingo by submitting an application approved by the Board of County Commissioners to the Committee. The permit shall be valid for one year. The holder of such a permit shall be subject to the provisions of Article 27, section 255(b) of the Annotated Code of Maryland as amended from time to time. The only gaming activity allowed under this permit is bingo.
Proposed Regulation:
G. Any qualified organization may file an application with the Committee for a permit to conduct bingo games. The Committee shall review the application and make a recommendation to the County Commissioners on the issuance of a permit to the qualified organization. Upon a favorable recommendation from the Committee, the County Commissioners may issue the requested permit. The permit shall be valid for one year. The holder of such a permit shall be subject to the provisions of Title 13 of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland as amended from time to time. The only gaming activity allowed under this permit is bingo, subject to the following provisions.
1 Income and expense reports for bingo shall be filed with the Committee annually, said reports to be filed within 15 days of the end of the permit year. If any of the proceeds are given to other organizations, the name and address of each such organization, the amount given and the date of the contribution shall be included in the report.
2. The provisions of Section III, subparagraphs B,C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, and O shall apply to bingo.
2. Amendment to Section III. A. of the Regulations
The purpose of this amendment is to increase the number of gaming events allowed per quarter from 3 to 6.
A. Not more than three (3) six (6) gambling events may be held by any organization per calendar quarter and not more than two per week An organization may request approval for up to three (3) six (6) dates in a quarter: If a gambling event is not held in conjunction with a carnival or fair, the total duration of an event for which a gambling permit may be issued shall not exceed twenty‑four (24) hours. Provided, however, that the actual number of hours of gambling during a twenty‑four (24) hour period shall not exceed a total of eight (8) hours. If a gambling event is held in conjunction with a carnival or fair that includes substantial non‑gaming activities, a gambling permit may be issued provided that:
3. Amendment to Section III. D. of the Regulations
The purpose of this amendment is to allow members of an auxiliary or other organization that supports the permitted organization to work at gaming events conducted by the permitted organization.
D. All gaming devices and the management thereof shall be operated by members of the permitted organization who are residents of Calvert County and who hold the highest class of membership permitted by the documents of the organization, or by members of an auxiliary or other bona fide organization established to raise funds for or generally support the programs and activities of a permitted organization who are residents of Calvert County and who hold the highest class of membership permitted by the documents of the organization.
Any person managing or operating a gaming event or device or acting as a dealer shall wear an identification tag depicting the organization's name, the operator's name, class of membership, position held to the organization, and place of residence. The Gambling Permit Review Committee will be the final authority as to the status of any operator as a full member of the organization. Criteria used to establish the operator's standing as a bona fide member may include:
1. Location of residence
2. Employment (location of employment)
3. Participation in organization activities other than fund raising
4. Review of driver's license, vehicle and voting registrations
4. Amendment to Section III. I. of the Regulations
The purpose of this amendment is to increase the number of gaming devices or tables allowed at an event from 8 to 10.
I. No more than 8 10 gaming devices/tables shall be permitted at any gambling event and a maximum of ten (10) individuals shall be permitted to play at any single table at any one time, with no limit on the number of players at wheel devices.
|
