Ohio Code 2915.13 – Veteran’s organization or fraternal organization authorized to conduct bingo session
(A) Subject to the requirements of sections 2915.14 and 2915.15 of the Revised Code concerning electronic instant bingo, a veteran’s organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization authorized to conduct a bingo session pursuant to this chapter may conduct instant bingo, electronic instant bingo, or both other than at a bingo session under a type III license issued under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code if all of the following apply:
Attorney's Note
Under the Ohio Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the fifth degree | 6 to 12 months | up to $2,500 |
| Misdemeanor of the first degree | up to 180 days | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Ohio Code 2915.13
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- Bingo: means either of the following:
(1) A game with all of the following characteristics:
(a) The participants use bingo cards or sheets, including paper formats and electronic representation or image formats, that are divided into twenty-five spaces arranged in five horizontal and five vertical rows of spaces, with each space, except the central space, being designated by a combination of a letter and a number and with the central space being designated as a free space. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Bingo session: means a period that includes both of the following:
(1) Not to exceed five continuous hours for the conduct of one or more games described in division (O)(1) of this section, instant bingo, and electronic instant bingo;
(2) A period for the conduct of instant bingo and electronic instant bingo for not more than two hours before and not more than two hours after the period described in division (S)(1) of this section. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Conduct: means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of bingo or a game of chance, a scheme of chance, or a sweepstakes. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Electronic instant bingo: means a form of bingo that consists of an electronic or digital representation of instant bingo in which a participant wins a prize if the participant's electronic instant bingo ticket contains a combination of numbers or symbols that was designated in advance as a winning combination, and to which all of the following apply:
(a) Each deal has a predetermined, finite number of winning and losing tickets and a predetermined prize amount and deal structure, provided that there may be multiple winning combinations in each deal and multiple winning tickets. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Fraternal organization: means any society, order, state headquarters, or association within this state, except a college or high school fraternity, that is not organized for profit, that is a branch, lodge, or chapter of a national or state organization, that exists exclusively for the common business or sodality of its members. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Instant bingo: means a form of bingo that shall use folded or banded tickets or paper cards with perforated break-open tabs, a face of which is covered or otherwise hidden from view to conceal a number, letter, or symbol, or set of numbers, letters, or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize winners, and may also include games in which some winners are determined by the random selection of one or more bingo numbers by the use of a seal card or bingo blower. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Internal Revenue Code: means the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" 100 Stat. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Sporting organization: means a hunting, fishing, or trapping organization, other than a college or high school fraternity or sorority, that is not organized for profit, that is affiliated with a state or national sporting organization, including but not limited to, the league of Ohio sportsmen, and that has been in continuous existence in this state for a period of three years. See Ohio Code 2915.01
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Whoever: includes all persons, natural and artificial; partners; principals, agents, and employees; and all officials, public or private. See Ohio Code 1.02
(1) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization limits the sale of instant bingo or electronic instant bingo to twelve hours during any day, provided that the sale does not begin earlier than ten a.m. and ends not later than two a.m.
(2) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization limits the sale of instant bingo or electronic instant bingo to its own premises and to its own members and invited guests.
(3) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization is raising money for an organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this state and executes a written contract with that organization as required in division (B) of this section.
(B) If a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization authorized to conduct instant bingo or electronic instant bingo pursuant to division (A) of this section is raising money for another organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this state, the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization shall execute a written contract with the organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this state in order to conduct instant bingo or electronic instant bingo. That contract shall include a statement of the percentage of the net proceeds that the veteran’s, fraternal, or sporting organization will be distributing to the organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this state, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this state.
(C)(1) If a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization authorized to conduct instant bingo or electronic instant bingo pursuant to division (A) of this section has been issued a liquor permit under Chapter 4303 of the Revised Code, that permit may be subject to suspension, revocation, or cancellation if the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization violates a provision of this chapter.
(2) No veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that enters into a written contract pursuant to division (B) of this section shall violate any provision of this chapter or permit, aid, or abet any other person in violating any provision of this chapter.
(D) A veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization shall give all required proceeds earned from the conduct of instant bingo or electronic instant bingo to the organization with which the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization has entered into a written contract.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of illegal instant bingo or electronic instant bingo conduct. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal instant bingo or electronic instant bingo conduct is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, illegal instant bingo or electronic instant bingo conduct is a felony of the fifth degree.
Last updated August 4, 2021 at 4:36 PM