Bill Text: NJ A3584 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires State Lottery Commission to issue licenses for operation and playing of keno games in certain bars and restaurants.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A3584 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A3584-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires State Lottery Commission to issue licenses for operation and playing of keno games in certain bars and restaurants.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the operation and playing of keno games in bars and restaurants, amending P.L.1983, c.80, and amending and supplementing P.L.1970, c.13 (C.5:9-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1970, c.13 (C.5:9-3) is amended to read as follows:
3. For the purposes of this act:
a. "Commission" shall mean the State Lottery Commission established by this act.
b. "Division" shall mean the Division of the State Lottery created by this act.
c. "Lottery" or "State lottery" shall mean the lottery established and operated pursuant to this act. The lottery shall include, but shall not be limited to, the operation of keno games pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
d. "Director" shall mean the Director of the Division of the State Lottery.
e. "Keno" shall mean any game where a player purchases a ticket from a field of 80 numbers and selects a specific amount of numbers, a random number generator employed by the commission chooses 20 numbers at random, and the player is paid out against his or her original wager.
(cf: P.L.1970, c.13, s.3)
2. Section 1 of P.L.1983, c.80 (C.5:9-7.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. Notwithstanding any
other provision of law to the contrary, and except as specifically
authorized by section 2 of P.L. , c. (C.
) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) regarding the operation of keno
games, no lottery or type of lottery or lottery game shall be authorized or
conducted which uses any video mechanical, electrical or other video device,
contrivance or machine which, upon the insertion by the participant of a coin,
token or similar object therein, or upon payment of any consideration whatsoever,
is available to play or operate, the play or operation of which, whether by
reason of the skill of the operator or application of the element of chance,
or both, may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the machine to
receive cash, tokens to be exchanged for cash, or any other prize, whether the
payoff is made automatically from the machine or in any other
manner whatsoever.
(cf: P.L.1983, c.80, s.1)
3. (New section) a. The commission shall issue a lottery sales agent license to a restaurant or bar holding a plenary retail consumption license, as defined by R.S.33:1-12, solely for the operation of keno games, as defined in section 3 of P.L.1970, c.13 (C.5:9-3), provided that the restaurant or bar has been considered by the director under the factors enumerated for the licensing of lottery sales agents in section 11 of P.L.1970, c.13 (C.5:9-11) and approved for a lottery sales agent license by the commission for the operation of keno games.
b. The fee for a keno license shall be established by the commission and shall not be less than $500 per year or more than $2,500 per year.
c. Except as specified in this section, or as specified by rules and regulations promulgated by the commission to implement this section, the operation of keno games shall be subject to the requirements of the "State Lottery Law," P.L.1970, c.13 (C.5:9-1 et seq.), and the rules and regulations adopted by the commission pursuant thereto.
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment, except that the State Lottery Commission may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the State Lottery Commission to issue licenses for the operation and playing of keno games in bars and restaurants holding a plenary retail consumption license. Keno is a game in which a player purchases a ticket from a field of 80 numbers and selects a specific amount of numbers. A random number generator employed by the commission chooses 20 numbers at random and the player is paid out against his or her original wager.
In accordance with existing law regarding the licensing of lottery sales agents, before the commission issues a license for the operation of keno, the Director of the Division of the State Lottery will consider such factors as the financial responsibility and security of the person and his business or activity, the accessibility of his place of business or activity to the public, the sufficiency of existing licenses to serve the public convenience, and the volume of expected sales.
More than a dozen states have implemented the operation of keno to raise revenue, and the operation of keno in New Jersey is anticipated to raise substantial revenue for the State. By limiting the operation of keno games to restaurants and bars with liquor licenses, the exposure of minors to the game is limited. Additionally, this restriction provides another method of preventing over-saturation of keno across the State.
As the game of keno represents a form of the lottery, the operation of keno will be subject to the same laws and regulations that apply to the State lottery.
The sponsor hopes that the operation of keno games in bars and restaurants provides much-needed revenue to the State. The proceeds from the State lottery are used for State institutions and State aid for education.
