Bill Text: IL HB5437 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Amends the Bingo License and Tax Act. Allows senior citizens organizations to conduct bingo at a building owned by a church or veterans organization. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-07-21 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-1150 [HB5437 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HB5437-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning gaming.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Bingo License and Tax Act is amended by
changing Section 1.3 as follows:
(230 ILCS 25/1.3)
Sec. 1.3. Restrictions on licensure. Licensing for the
conducting of bingo is subject to the following restrictions:
(1) The license application, when submitted to the
Department, must contain a sworn statement attesting to the
not-for-profit character of the prospective licensee
organization, signed by a person listed on the application
as an owner, officer, or other person in charge of the
necessary day-to-day operations of that organization.
(2) The license application shall be prepared in
accordance with the rules of the Department.
(3) The licensee shall prominently display the license
in the area where the licensee conducts bingo. The licensee
shall likewise display, in the form and manner as
prescribed by the Department, the provisions of Section 8
of this Act.
(4) Each license shall state the day of the week, hours
and at which location the licensee is permitted to conduct

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bingo games.
(5) A license is not assignable or transferable.
(6) A license authorizes the licensee to conduct the
game commonly known as bingo, in which prizes are awarded
on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card
conforming to numbers or symbols selected at random.
(7) The Department may, on special application made by
any organization having a bingo license, issue a special
permit for conducting bingo at other premises and on other
days not exceeding 5 consecutive days, except that a
licensee may conduct bingo at the Illinois State Fair or
any county fair held in Illinois during each day that the
fair is held, without a fee. Bingo games conducted at the
Illinois State Fair or a county fair shall not require a
special permit. No more than 2 special permits may be
issued in one year to any one organization.
(8) Any organization qualified for a license but not
holding one may, upon application and payment of a
nonrefundable fee of $50, receive a limited license to
conduct bingo games at no more than 2 indoor or outdoor
festivals in a year for a maximum of 5 consecutive days on
each occasion. No more than 2 limited licenses under this
item (7) may be issued to any organization in any year. A
limited license must be prominently displayed at the site
where the bingo games are conducted.
(9) Senior citizens organizations may conduct bingo

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without a license or fee, subject to the following
conditions:
(A) bingo shall be conducted only (i) at a facility
that is owned by a unit of local government to which
the corporate authorities have given their approval
and that is used to provide social services or a
meeting place to senior citizens, or (ii) in common
areas in multi-unit federally assisted rental housing
maintained solely for the elderly and handicapped, or
(iii) at a building owned by a church or veterans
organization;
(B) the price paid for a single card shall not
exceed 50 cents;
(C) the aggregate retail value of all prizes or
merchandise awarded in any one game of bingo shall not
exceed $5;
(D) no person or organization shall participate in
the management or operation of bingo under this item
(9) if the person or organization would be ineligible
for a license under this Section; and
(E) no license is required to provide premises for
bingo conducted under this item (9).
(10) Bingo equipment shall not be used for any purpose
other than for the play of bingo.
(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07; 96-210, eff. 8-10-09.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

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becoming law.