CHAPTER 3A
BINGO FOR CHARITY
ARTICLE 2. REGULATIONS
SECTION:
§2435 REGULATIONS
The following subsections constitute the regulations which govern the operation of bingo for charity:
A. No minors shall be allowed to participate in any bingo game.
B. Those organizations exempted from the payment of the bank and corporation tax by Sections 23701a, 23701b, 23701d, 23701e, 23701f, 23701g and 23701i of the Revenue and Taxation Code, mobile home park associations and senior citizens organizations only may conduct bingo games.
C. An organization authorized to conduct bingo games pursuant to subsection B shall conduct a bingo game only on property owned or leased by it, and which property is used by such organization for an office or for performance of the purposes for which the organization is organized. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require that the property owned or leased by the organization be used or leased exclusively by such organization.
D. All bingo games shall be open to the public, not just to the members of the authorized organization.
E. A bingo game shall be operated and staffed only by members of the authorized organization which organized it. Such members shall not receive a profit, wage or salary from 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.
F. No individual corporation, partnership or other legal entity except the organization authorized to conduct a bingo game shall hold a financial interest in the conduct of such bingo game.
G. 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 profits shall be used only for charitable purposes. With respect to other organizations authorized to conduct bingo games pursuant to this Section, all 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. Such proceeds shall be used only for charitable purposes, except as follows:
1. Such proceeds may be used for prizes;
2. A portion of such proceeds, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the proceeds after the deduction for prizes, or five hundred dollars ($500.00) per month, whichever is less, may be used for rental of property, overhead, including the purchase of bingo equipment and administration expenses. (Ord. 689, §1, adopted 1976; amd. by Ord. 699, §1, 1977; Ord. 736, §1, adopted 1980)
H. The total value of prizes awarded during the conduct of any bingo game shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) in cash or kind, or both, for each separate game which is held. (Ord. 689, §1, adopted 1976; amd. by Ord. 699, §1, 1977; Ord. 736, §1, adopted 1980)
I. As used in this Section, "bingo" means a game of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated number or symbols on a card which conform to numbers or symbols selected at random. Notwithstanding Penal Code Section 330c, as used in this Section, the game of bingo shall include cards having numbers or symbols which are concealed and preprinted in a manner providing for distribution of prizes. The winning cards shall not be known prior to the game by any person participating in the playing or operation of the bingo game. All such preprinted cards shall bear the legend, "for sale or use only in a bingo game authorized under California law and pursuant to local ordinance". (Ord. 689, §1, adopted 1976; amd. by Ord. 699, §1, 1977; Ord. 736, §2, adopted 1980)
J. 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.
Each nonprofit, charitable organization which wishes to conduct bingo games shall pay a license fee established by resolution of the City Council; said fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00). (Ord. 689, §1, adopted 1976; amd. by Ord. 699, §1, 1977)