Bill Text: NJ S2272 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Removes limit on amount or value of bingo prizes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-10-15 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S2272 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2272-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator RAYMOND J. LESNIAK
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Removes limit on amount or value of bingo prizes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning bingo prizes and amending P.L.1954, c.6.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 4 of P.L.1954, c.6 (C.5:8-27) is amended to read as follows:
4. The governing body of the municipality shall make an investigation of the qualifications of each applicant and the merits of each application, with due expedition after the filing of the application, and if it shall determine that the applicant is duly qualified to be licensed under this act to hold, operate and conduct games of chance under the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct thereof in the municipality; that the member or members of the applicant designated in the application to hold, operate or conduct the games of chance which the license is applied for are bona fide active members of the applicant and are persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of crime; that such games of chance are to be held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of this act and in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct thereof and that the proceeds thereof are to be disposed of as provided by this act, and if the governing body is satisfied that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense whatever will be paid or given to any person holding, operating or conducting or assisting in the holding, operation or conduct of any such game of chance except as in this act otherwise provided; and that no prize will be offered and given in excess of the sum or value of $1,000, or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.140, in any single game of chance, and that the aggregate of all prizes offered and given in all such games of chance, held, operated and conducted on a single occasion, under said license shall not exceed the sum or value of $3,000, or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.140, it shall issue a license to the applicant for the holding, operation and conduct of the specific kind of games of chance applied for, accordingly, upon payment of a license fee or fees prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission for each occasion upon which any game or games are to be conducted under such license.
The $1,000 limitation on single game prizes and the $3,000 aggregate prize limitation established in this section shall not apply to games in which the prize is determined based upon a percentage of the gross receipts from the sale of cards to participate in the game. The control commission shall, by regulation, prescribe the method of play and set the minimum and maximum percentage to be awarded in any such game.
No license for the holding, operation and conduct of any game or games of chance shall be issued under this act which shall be effective for a period of more than one year.
Beginning not earlier than 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), there shall be no limit imposed as a condition of the license issued on the amount or value of the prize offered and given in any single game conducted under any such license or on the aggregate amount or value of all prizes offered and given in all games held, operated and conducted on a single occasion.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.140, s.2)
2. Section 12 of P.L.1954, c.6 (C.5:8-35) is amended to read as follows:
12. a. No amount in excess of the amount prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission shall be charged by any licensee for admission to any room or place in which any game or games of chance are to be held, operated and conducted under any license issued under this act, which admission fee, upon payment thereof, shall entitle the person paying the same to a card entitling him to participate without additional charge in all regular games of chance to be played under such license on such occasion, and no charge in excess of the amount prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission shall be made for a single opportunity to participate in all special games to be played under such license on such occasion. No prize greater in amount or value than $1,000, or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.140, shall be offered or given in any single game conducted under any such license and the aggregate amount or value of all prizes offered and given in all games played on a single occasion shall not exceed $3,000 or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.140, and all winners shall be determined and all prizes shall be awarded in any game played on any occasion within the same calendar day as that upon which the winner is determined.
b. Beginning no earlier
than 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), there shall be no limit imposed as a condition of
the license issued on the amount or value of a prize that may be offered and
given in any single game conducted under any such license or on the aggregate
amount or value of all prizes offered and given in all games played
on a single occasion.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.140, s.3)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill, beginning no earlier than 90 days after its effective date, removes the maximum limits on the amount or value of a prize that can be offered and given in any single bingo game or on the aggregate amount or value of all prizes that can be offered and given in all games played on a single occasion pursuant to a bingo license issued by a municipality to a qualified, eligible organization in accordance with the Bingo Licensing Law.
Under current law, a qualified, bona fide organization can offer and give in any single bingo game a maximum prize in the amount or value of $1,000. The maximum amount or value of the aggregate amount of all prizes that can be offered and given in all games played on a single occasion is $3,000.
