Bill Text: OH HB195 | 2011-2012 | 129th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: To provide licensing of skill-based amusement machine operators and distributors and sweepstakes terminal device operators and distributors and to make changes to bingo and other gambling law.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-12 - To State Government & Elections [HB195 Detail]
Download: Ohio-2011-HB195-Introduced.html
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Representatives Anielski, Baker
Cosponsors:
Representatives Murray, McKenney, Slaby, Grossman, Blessing
To amend sections 2915.01, 2915.03, 2915.06, | 1 |
2915.061, 2915.08, 2915.09, 3772.01, 3772.02, | 2 |
3772.03, 3772.032, 3772.033, 3772.04, 3772.06, | 3 |
3772.07, 3772.10, 3772.17, 3772.21, 3772.23, | 4 |
3772.30, 3772.31, and 3772.99 and to enact | 5 |
sections 2915.062, 2915.063, 2915.064, 3772.34, | 6 |
and 3772.35 of the Revised Code to provide | 7 |
licensing of skill-based amusement machine | 8 |
operators and distributors and sweepstakes | 9 |
terminal device operators and distributors and to | 10 |
make changes to bingo and other gambling law. | 11 |
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 2915.01, 2915.03, 2915.06, 2915.061, | 12 |
2915.08, 2915.09, 3772.01, 3772.02, 3772.03, 3772.032, 3772.033, | 13 |
3772.04, 3772.06, 3772.07, 3772.10, 3772.17, 3772.21, 3772.23, | 14 |
3772.30, 3772.31, and 3772.99 be amended and sections 2915.062, | 15 |
2915.063, 2915.064, 3772.34, and 3772.35 of the Revised Code be | 16 |
enacted to read as follows: | 17 |
Sec. 2915.01. As used in this chapter: | 18 |
(A) "Bookmaking" means the business of receiving or paying | 19 |
off bets. | 20 |
(B) "Bet" means the hazarding of anything of value upon the | 21 |
result of an event, undertaking, or contingency, but does not | 22 |
include a bona fide business risk. | 23 |
(C) "Scheme of chance" means a slot machine, lottery, numbers | 24 |
game, pool conducted for profit, or other scheme in which a | 25 |
participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a | 26 |
prize, but does not include bingo, a skill-based amusement | 27 |
machine, or a pool not conducted for profit. | 28 |
(D) "Game of chance" means poker, craps, roulette, or other | 29 |
game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of | 30 |
gain, the outcome of which is determined largely by chance, but | 31 |
does not include bingo. | 32 |
(E) "Game of chance conducted for profit" means any game of | 33 |
chance designed to produce income for the person who conducts or | 34 |
operates the game of chance, but does not include bingo. | 35 |
(F) "Gambling device" means any of the following: | 36 |
(1) A book, totalizer, or other equipment for recording bets; | 37 |
(2) A ticket, token, or other device representing a chance, | 38 |
share, or interest in a scheme of chance or evidencing a bet; | 39 |
(3) A deck of cards, dice, gaming table, roulette wheel, slot | 40 |
machine, or other apparatus designed for use in connection with a | 41 |
game of chance; | 42 |
(4) Any equipment, device, apparatus, or paraphernalia | 43 |
specially designed for gambling purposes; | 44 |
(5) Bingo supplies sold or otherwise provided, or used, in | 45 |
violation of this chapter; | 46 |
(6) Skill-based amusement machines, slot machines, or | 47 |
sweepstakes terminal devices used in violation of this chapter. | 48 |
(G) "Gambling offense" means any of the following: | 49 |
(1) A violation of section 2915.02, 2915.03, 2915.04, | 50 |
2915.05, 2915.06, 2915.062, 2915.063, 2915.07, 2915.08, 2915.081, | 51 |
2915.082, 2915.09, 2915.091, 2915.092, 2915.10, or 2915.11 of the | 52 |
Revised Code; | 53 |
(2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance | 54 |
or law of this or any other state or the United States | 55 |
substantially equivalent to any section listed in division (G)(1) | 56 |
of this section or a violation of section 2915.06 of the Revised | 57 |
Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996; | 58 |
(3) An offense under an existing or former municipal | 59 |
ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, | 60 |
of which gambling is an element; | 61 |
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in | 62 |
committing, any offense under division (G)(1), (2), or (3) of this | 63 |
section. | 64 |
(H) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, "charitable | 65 |
organization" means any tax exempt religious, educational, | 66 |
veteran's, fraternal, sporting, service, nonprofit medical, | 67 |
volunteer rescue service, volunteer firefighter's, senior | 68 |
citizen's, historic railroad educational, youth athletic, amateur | 69 |
athletic, or youth athletic park organization. An organization is | 70 |
tax exempt if the organization is, and has received from the | 71 |
internal revenue service a determination letter that currently is | 72 |
in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal | 73 |
income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in | 74 |
subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or | 75 |
501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, or if the organization is | 76 |
a sporting organization that is exempt from federal income | 77 |
taxation under subsection 501(a) and is described in subsection | 78 |
501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a charitable | 79 |
organization, an organization, except a volunteer rescue service | 80 |
or volunteer firefighter's organization, shall have been in | 81 |
continuous existence as such in this state for a period of two | 82 |
years immediately preceding either the making of an application | 83 |
for a bingo license under section 2915.08 of the Revised Code or | 84 |
the conducting of any game of chance as provided in division (D) | 85 |
of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code. A charitable organization | 86 |
that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection | 87 |
501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal | 88 |
Revenue Code and that is created by a veteran's organization, a | 89 |
fraternal organization, or a sporting organization does not have | 90 |
to have been in continuous existence as such in this state for a | 91 |
period of two years immediately preceding either the making of an | 92 |
application for a bingo license under section 2915.08 of the | 93 |
Revised Code or the conducting of any game of chance as provided | 94 |
in division (D) of section 2915.02 of the Revised Code. | 95 |
(I) "Religious organization" means any church, body of | 96 |
communicants, or group that is not organized or operated for | 97 |
profit and that gathers in common membership for regular worship | 98 |
and religious observances. | 99 |
(J) "Educational organization" means any organization within | 100 |
this state that is not organized for profit, the primary purpose | 101 |
of which is to educate and develop the capabilities of individuals | 102 |
through instruction by means of operating or contributing to the | 103 |
support of a school, academy, college, or university. | 104 |
(K) "Veteran's organization" means any individual post or | 105 |
state headquarters of a national veteran's association or an | 106 |
auxiliary unit of any individual post of a national veteran's | 107 |
association, which post, state headquarters, or auxiliary unit is | 108 |
incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and either has received a | 109 |
letter from the state headquarters of the national veteran's | 110 |
association indicating that the individual post or auxiliary unit | 111 |
is in good standing with the national veteran's association or has | 112 |
received a letter from the national veteran's association | 113 |
indicating that the state headquarters is in good standing with | 114 |
the national veteran's association. As used in this division, | 115 |
"national veteran's association" means any veteran's association | 116 |
that has been in continuous existence as such for a period of at | 117 |
least five years and either is incorporated by an act of the | 118 |
United States congress or has a national dues-paying membership of | 119 |
at least five thousand persons. | 120 |
(L) "Volunteer firefighter's organization" means any | 121 |
organization of volunteer firefighters, as defined in section | 122 |
146.01 of the Revised Code, that is organized and operated | 123 |
exclusively to provide financial support for a volunteer fire | 124 |
department or a volunteer fire company and that is recognized or | 125 |
ratified by a county, municipal corporation, or township. | 126 |
(M) "Fraternal organization" means any society, order, state | 127 |
headquarters, or association within this state, except a college | 128 |
or high school fraternity, that is not organized for profit, that | 129 |
is a branch, lodge, or chapter of a national or state | 130 |
organization, that exists exclusively for the common business or | 131 |
sodality of its members. | 132 |
(N) "Volunteer rescue service organization" means any | 133 |
organization of volunteers organized to function as an emergency | 134 |
medical service organization, as defined in section 4765.01 of the | 135 |
Revised Code. | 136 |
(O) "Service organization" means either of the following: | 137 |
(1) Any organization, not organized for profit, that is | 138 |
organized and operated exclusively to provide, or to contribute to | 139 |
the support of organizations or institutions organized and | 140 |
operated exclusively to provide, medical and therapeutic services | 141 |
for persons who are crippled, born with birth defects, or have any | 142 |
other mental or physical defect or those organized and operated | 143 |
exclusively to protect, or to contribute to the support of | 144 |
organizations or institutions organized and operated exclusively | 145 |
to protect, animals from inhumane treatment or provide immediate | 146 |
shelter to victims of domestic violence; | 147 |
(2) Any organization that is described in subsection | 148 |
509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code | 149 |
and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax | 150 |
exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection | 151 |
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is an | 152 |
organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and | 153 |
operated primarily to provide, or to contribute to the support of | 154 |
organizations or institutions organized and operated primarily to | 155 |
provide, medical and therapeutic services for persons who are | 156 |
crippled, born with birth defects, or have any other mental or | 157 |
physical defect. | 158 |
(P) "Nonprofit medical organization" means either of the | 159 |
following: | 160 |
(1) Any organization that has been incorporated as a | 161 |
nonprofit corporation for at least five years and that has | 162 |
continuously operated and will be operated exclusively to provide, | 163 |
or to contribute to the support of organizations or institutions | 164 |
organized and operated exclusively to provide, hospital, medical, | 165 |
research, or therapeutic services for the public; | 166 |
(2) Any organization that is described and qualified under | 167 |
subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that has been | 168 |
incorporated as a nonprofit corporation for at least five years, | 169 |
and that has continuously operated and will be operated primarily | 170 |
to provide, or to contribute to the support of organizations or | 171 |
institutions organized and operated primarily to provide, | 172 |
hospital, medical, research, or therapeutic services for the | 173 |
public. | 174 |
(Q) "Senior citizen's organization" means any private | 175 |
organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and | 176 |
operated exclusively to provide recreational or social services | 177 |
for persons who are fifty-five years of age or older and that is | 178 |
described and qualified under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal | 179 |
Revenue Code. | 180 |
(R) "Charitable bingo game" means any bingo game described in | 181 |
division (S)(1) or (2) of this section that is conducted by a | 182 |
charitable organization that has obtained a license pursuant to | 183 |
section 2915.08 of the Revised Code and the proceeds of which are | 184 |
used for a charitable purpose. | 185 |
(S) "Bingo" means either of the following: | 186 |
(1) A game with all of the following characteristics: | 187 |
(a) The participants use bingo cards or sheets, including | 188 |
paper formats and electronic representation or image formats, that | 189 |
are divided into twenty-five spaces arranged in five horizontal | 190 |
and five vertical rows of spaces, with each space, except the | 191 |
central space, being designated by a combination of a letter and a | 192 |
number and with the central space being designated as a free | 193 |
space. | 194 |
(b) The participants cover the spaces on the bingo cards or | 195 |
sheets that correspond to combinations of letters and numbers that | 196 |
are announced by a bingo game operator. | 197 |
(c) A bingo game operator announces combinations of letters | 198 |
and numbers that appear on objects that a bingo game operator | 199 |
selects by chance, either manually or mechanically, from a | 200 |
receptacle that contains seventy-five objects at the beginning of | 201 |
each game, each object marked by a different combination of a | 202 |
letter and a number that corresponds to one of the seventy-five | 203 |
possible combinations of a letter and a number that can appear on | 204 |
the bingo cards or sheets. | 205 |
(d) The winner of the bingo game includes any participant who | 206 |
properly announces during the interval between the announcements | 207 |
of letters and numbers as described in division (S)(1)(c) of this | 208 |
section, that a predetermined and preannounced pattern of spaces | 209 |
has been covered on a bingo card or sheet being used by the | 210 |
participant. | 211 |
(2) Instant bingo, punch boards, and raffles. | 212 |
(T) "Conduct" means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry | 213 |
on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of bingo or a game of | 214 |
chance. | 215 |
(U) "Bingo game operator" means any person, except security | 216 |
personnel, who performs work or labor at the site of bingo, | 217 |
including, but not limited to, collecting money from participants, | 218 |
handing out bingo cards or sheets or objects to cover spaces on | 219 |
bingo cards or sheets, selecting from a receptacle the objects | 220 |
that contain the combination of letters and numbers that appear on | 221 |
bingo cards or sheets, calling out the combinations of letters and | 222 |
numbers, distributing prizes, selling or redeeming instant bingo | 223 |
tickets or cards, supervising the operation of a punch board, | 224 |
selling raffle tickets, selecting raffle tickets from a receptacle | 225 |
and announcing the winning numbers in a raffle, and preparing, | 226 |
selling, and serving food or beverages. | 227 |
(V) "Participant" means any person who plays bingo. | 228 |
(W) "Bingo session" means a period that includes both of the | 229 |
following: | 230 |
(1) Not to exceed five continuous hours for the conduct of | 231 |
one or more games described in division (S)(1) of this section, | 232 |
instant bingo, and seal cards; | 233 |
(2) A period for the conduct of instant bingo and seal cards | 234 |
for not more than two hours before and not more than two hours | 235 |
after the period described in division (W)(1) of this section. | 236 |
(X) "Gross receipts" means all money or assets, including | 237 |
admission fees, that a person receives from bingo without the | 238 |
deduction of any amounts for prizes paid out or for the expenses | 239 |
of conducting bingo. "Gross receipts" does not include any money | 240 |
directly taken in from the sale of food or beverages by a | 241 |
charitable organization conducting bingo, or by a bona fide | 242 |
auxiliary unit or society of a charitable organization conducting | 243 |
bingo, provided all of the following apply: | 244 |
(1) The auxiliary unit or society has been in existence as a | 245 |
bona fide auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization | 246 |
for at least two years prior to conducting bingo. | 247 |
(2) The person who purchases the food or beverage receives | 248 |
nothing of value except the food or beverage and items customarily | 249 |
received with the purchase of that food or beverage. | 250 |
(3) The food and beverages are sold at customary and | 251 |
reasonable prices. | 252 |
(Y) "Security personnel" includes any person who either is a | 253 |
sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, township | 254 |
constable, or member of an organized police department of a | 255 |
municipal corporation or has successfully completed a peace | 256 |
officer's training course pursuant to sections 109.71 to 109.79 of | 257 |
the Revised Code and who is hired to provide security for the | 258 |
premises on which bingo is conducted. | 259 |
(Z) "Charitable purpose" means that the net profit of bingo, | 260 |
other than instant bingo, is used by, or is given, donated, or | 261 |
otherwise transferred to, any of the following: | 262 |
(1) Any organization that is described in subsection | 263 |
509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code | 264 |
and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax | 265 |
exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection | 266 |
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; | 267 |
(2) A veteran's organization that is a post, chapter, or | 268 |
organization of veterans, or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a | 269 |
trust or foundation for, any such post, chapter, or organization | 270 |
organized in the United States or any of its possessions, at least | 271 |
seventy-five per cent of the members of which are veterans and | 272 |
substantially all of the other members of which are individuals | 273 |
who are spouses, widows, or widowers of veterans, or such | 274 |
individuals, provided that no part of the net earnings of such | 275 |
post, chapter, or organization inures to the benefit of any | 276 |
private shareholder or individual, and further provided that the | 277 |
net profit is used by the post, chapter, or organization for the | 278 |
charitable purposes set forth in division (B)(12) of section | 279 |
5739.02 of the Revised Code, is used for awarding scholarships to | 280 |
or for attendance at an institution mentioned in division (B)(12) | 281 |
of section 5739.02 of the Revised Code, is donated to a | 282 |
governmental agency, or is used for nonprofit youth activities, | 283 |
the purchase of United States or Ohio flags that are donated to | 284 |
schools, youth groups, or other bona fide nonprofit organizations, | 285 |
promotion of patriotism, or disaster relief; | 286 |
(3) A fraternal organization that has been in continuous | 287 |
existence in this state for fifteen years and that uses the net | 288 |
profit exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, | 289 |
literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of | 290 |
cruelty to children or animals, if contributions for such use | 291 |
would qualify as a deductible charitable contribution under | 292 |
subsection 170 of the Internal Revenue Code; | 293 |
(4) A volunteer firefighter's organization that uses the net | 294 |
profit for the purposes set forth in division (L) of this section. | 295 |
(AA) "Internal Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code | 296 |
of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as now or hereafter | 297 |
amended. | 298 |
(BB) "Youth athletic organization" means any organization, | 299 |
not organized for profit, that is organized and operated | 300 |
exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, | 301 |
athletic activities for persons who are twenty-one years of age or | 302 |
younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating, or | 303 |
contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league, or | 304 |
association. | 305 |
(CC) "Youth athletic park organization" means any | 306 |
organization, not organized for profit, that satisfies both of the | 307 |
following: | 308 |
(1) It owns, operates, and maintains playing fields that | 309 |
satisfy both of the following: | 310 |
(a) The playing fields are used at least one hundred days per | 311 |
year for athletic activities by one or more organizations, not | 312 |
organized for profit, each of which is organized and operated | 313 |
exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, | 314 |
athletic activities for persons who are eighteen years of age or | 315 |
younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating, or | 316 |
contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league, or | 317 |
association. | 318 |
(b) The playing fields are not used for any profit-making | 319 |
activity at any time during the year. | 320 |
(2) It uses the proceeds of bingo it conducts exclusively for | 321 |
the operation, maintenance, and improvement of its playing fields | 322 |
of the type described in division (CC)(1) of this section. | 323 |
(DD) "Amateur athletic organization" means any organization, | 324 |
not organized for profit, that is organized and operated | 325 |
exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, | 326 |
athletic activities for persons who are training for amateur | 327 |
athletic competition that is sanctioned by a national governing | 328 |
body as defined in the "Amateur Sports Act of 1978," 90 Stat. | 329 |
3045, 36 U.S.C.A. 373. | 330 |
(EE) "Bingo supplies" means bingo cards or sheets; instant | 331 |
bingo tickets or cards; electronic bingo aids; raffle tickets; | 332 |
punch boards; seal cards; instant bingo ticket dispensers; and | 333 |
devices for selecting or displaying the combination of bingo | 334 |
letters and numbers or raffle tickets. Items that are "bingo | 335 |
supplies" are not gambling devices if sold or otherwise provided, | 336 |
and used, in accordance with this chapter. For purposes of this | 337 |
chapter, "bingo supplies" are not to be considered equipment used | 338 |
to conduct a bingo game. | 339 |
(FF) "Instant bingo" means a form of bingo that uses folded | 340 |
or banded tickets or paper cards with perforated break-open tabs, | 341 |
a face of which is covered or otherwise hidden from view to | 342 |
conceal a number, letter, or symbol, or set of numbers, letters, | 343 |
or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize | 344 |
winners. "Instant bingo" includes seal cards. "Instant bingo" does | 345 |
not include any device that is activated by the insertion of a | 346 |
coin, currency, token, or an equivalent, and that contains as one | 347 |
of its components a video display monitor that is capable of | 348 |
displaying numbers, letters, symbols, or characters in winning or | 349 |
losing combinations. | 350 |
(GG) "Seal card" means a form of instant bingo that uses | 351 |
instant bingo tickets in conjunction with a board or placard that | 352 |
contains one or more seals that, when removed or opened, reveal | 353 |
predesignated winning numbers, letters, or symbols. | 354 |
(HH) "Raffle" means a form of bingo in which the one or more | 355 |
prizes are won by one or more persons who have purchased a raffle | 356 |
ticket. The one or more winners of the raffle are determined by | 357 |
drawing a ticket stub or other detachable section from a | 358 |
receptacle containing ticket stubs or detachable sections | 359 |
corresponding to all tickets sold for the raffle. "Raffle" does | 360 |
not include the drawing of a ticket stub or other detachable | 361 |
section of a ticket purchased to attend a professional sporting | 362 |
event if both of the following apply: | 363 |
(1) The ticket stub or other detachable section is used to | 364 |
select the winner of a free prize given away at the professional | 365 |
sporting event; and | 366 |
(2) The cost of the ticket is the same as the cost of a | 367 |
ticket to the professional sporting event on days when no free | 368 |
prize is given away. | 369 |
(II) "Punch board" means a board containing a number of holes | 370 |
or receptacles of uniform size in which are placed, mechanically | 371 |
and randomly, serially numbered slips of paper that may be punched | 372 |
or drawn from the hole or receptacle when used in conjunction with | 373 |
instant bingo. A player may punch or draw the numbered slips of | 374 |
paper from the holes or receptacles and obtain the prize | 375 |
established for the game if the number drawn corresponds to a | 376 |
winning number or, if the punch board includes the use of a seal | 377 |
card, a potential winning number. | 378 |
(JJ) "Gross profit" means gross receipts minus the amount | 379 |
actually expended for the payment of prize awards. | 380 |
(KK) "Net profit" means gross profit minus expenses. | 381 |
(LL) "Expenses" means the reasonable amount of gross profit | 382 |
actually expended for all of the following: | 383 |
(1) The purchase or lease of bingo supplies; | 384 |
(2) The annual license fee required under section 2915.08 of | 385 |
the Revised Code; | 386 |
(3) Bank fees and service charges for a bingo session or game | 387 |
account described in section 2915.10 of the Revised Code; | 388 |
(4) Audits and accounting services; | 389 |
(5) Safes; | 390 |
(6) Cash registers; | 391 |
(7) Hiring security personnel; | 392 |
(8) Advertising bingo; | 393 |
(9) Renting premises in which to conduct a bingo session; | 394 |
(10) Tables and chairs; | 395 |
(11) Expenses for maintaining and operating a charitable | 396 |
organization's facilities, including, but not limited to, a post | 397 |
home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen and any grounds | 398 |
attached to the post home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen; | 399 |
(12) Payment of real property taxes and assessments that are | 400 |
levied on a premises on which bingo is conducted; | 401 |
(13) Any other product or service directly related to the | 402 |
conduct of bingo that is authorized in rules adopted by the | 403 |
attorney general under division (B)(1) of section 2915.08 of the | 404 |
Revised Code. | 405 |
(MM) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the | 406 |
Revised Code and includes any firm or any other legal entity, | 407 |
however organized. | 408 |
(NN) "Revoke" means to void permanently all rights and | 409 |
privileges of the holder of a license issued under section | 410 |
2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code or a charitable | 411 |
gaming license issued by another jurisdiction. | 412 |
(OO) "Suspend" means to interrupt temporarily all rights and | 413 |
privileges of the holder of a license issued under section | 414 |
2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 of the Revised Code or a charitable | 415 |
gaming license issued by another jurisdiction. | 416 |
(PP) "Distributor" means any person who purchases or obtains | 417 |
bingo supplies and who does either of the following: | 418 |
(1) Sells, offers for sale, or otherwise provides or offers | 419 |
to provide the bingo supplies to another person for use in this | 420 |
state; | 421 |
(2) Modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from the | 422 |
bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale for use in this | 423 |
state. | 424 |
(QQ) "Manufacturer" means any person who assembles completed | 425 |
bingo supplies from raw materials, other items, or subparts or who | 426 |
modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from bingo supplies | 427 |
to further their promotion or sale. | 428 |
(RR) "Gross annual revenues" means the annual gross receipts | 429 |
derived from the conduct of bingo described in division (S)(1) of | 430 |
this section plus the annual net profit derived from the conduct | 431 |
of bingo described in division (S)(2) of this section. | 432 |
(SS) "Instant bingo ticket dispenser" means a mechanical | 433 |
device that dispenses an instant bingo ticket or card as the sole | 434 |
item of value dispensed and that has the following | 435 |
characteristics: | 436 |
(1) It is activated upon the insertion of United States | 437 |
currency. | 438 |
(2) It performs no gaming functions. | 439 |
(3) It does not contain a video display monitor or generate | 440 |
noise. | 441 |
(4) It is not capable of displaying any numbers, letters, | 442 |
symbols, or characters in winning or losing combinations. | 443 |
(5) It does not simulate or display rolling or spinning | 444 |
reels. | 445 |
(6) It is incapable of determining whether a dispensed bingo | 446 |
ticket or card is a winning or nonwinning ticket or card and | 447 |
requires a winning ticket or card to be paid by a bingo game | 448 |
operator. | 449 |
(7) It may provide accounting and security features to aid in | 450 |
accounting for the instant bingo tickets or cards it dispenses. | 451 |
(8) It is not part of an electronic network and is not | 452 |
interactive. | 453 |
(TT)(1) "Electronic bingo aid" means an electronic device | 454 |
used by a participant to monitor bingo cards or sheets purchased | 455 |
at the time and place of a bingo session and that does all of the | 456 |
following: | 457 |
(a) It provides a means for a participant to input numbers | 458 |
and letters announced by a bingo caller. | 459 |
(b) It compares the numbers and letters entered by the | 460 |
participant to the bingo faces previously stored in the memory of | 461 |
the device. | 462 |
(c) It identifies a winning bingo pattern. | 463 |
(2) "Electronic bingo aid" does not include any device into | 464 |
which a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent is inserted to | 465 |
activate play. | 466 |
(UU) "Deal of instant bingo tickets" means a single game of | 467 |
instant bingo tickets all with the same serial number. | 468 |
(VV)(1) "Slot machine" means either of the following: | 469 |
(a) Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that | 470 |
is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, | 471 |
from or on behalf of a player who gives the thing of value in the | 472 |
hope of gain; | 473 |
(b) Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that | 474 |
is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, | 475 |
from or on behalf of a player to conduct bingo or a scheme or game | 476 |
of chance. | 477 |
(2) "Slot machine" does not include a skill-based amusement | 478 |
machine or an instant bingo ticket dispenser. | 479 |
(WW) "Net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant | 480 |
bingo" means gross profit minus the ordinary, necessary, and | 481 |
reasonable expense expended for the purchase of instant bingo | 482 |
supplies, and in the case of instant bingo conducted by a | 483 |
veteran's, fraternal, or sporting organization, the payment by | 484 |
that organization of real property taxes and assessments levied on | 485 |
the premises in which instant bingo is conducted. | 486 |
(XX) "Charitable instant bingo organization" means an | 487 |
organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under | 488 |
subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the | 489 |
Internal Revenue Code and is a charitable organization as defined | 490 |
in this section. A "charitable instant bingo organization" does | 491 |
not include a charitable organization that is exempt from federal | 492 |
income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in | 493 |
subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is | 494 |
created by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or | 495 |
a sporting organization in regards to bingo conducted or assisted | 496 |
by a veteran's organization, a fraternal organization, or a | 497 |
sporting organization pursuant to section 2915.13 of the Revised | 498 |
Code. | 499 |
(YY) "Game flare" means the board or placard that accompanies | 500 |
each deal of instant bingo tickets and that has printed on or | 501 |
affixed to it the following information for the game: | 502 |
(1) The name of the game; | 503 |
(2) The manufacturer's name or distinctive logo; | 504 |
(3) The form number; | 505 |
(4) The ticket count; | 506 |
(5) The prize structure, including the number of winning | 507 |
instant bingo tickets by denomination and the respective winning | 508 |
symbol or number combinations for the winning instant bingo | 509 |
tickets; | 510 |
(6) The cost per play; | 511 |
(7) The serial number of the game. | 512 |
(ZZ) "Historic railroad educational organization" means an | 513 |
organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under | 514 |
subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the | 515 |
Internal Revenue Code, that owns in fee simple the tracks and the | 516 |
right-of-way of a historic railroad that the organization restores | 517 |
or maintains and on which the organization provides excursions as | 518 |
part of a program to promote tourism and educate visitors | 519 |
regarding the role of railroad transportation in Ohio history, and | 520 |
that received as donations from a charitable organization that | 521 |
holds a license to conduct bingo under this chapter an amount | 522 |
equal to at least fifty per cent of that licensed charitable | 523 |
organization's net proceeds from the conduct of bingo during each | 524 |
of the five years preceding June 30, 2003. "Historic railroad" | 525 |
means all or a portion of the tracks and right-of-way of a | 526 |
railroad that was owned and operated by a for-profit common | 527 |
carrier in this state at any time prior to January 1, 1950. | 528 |
(AAA)(1) "Skill-based amusement machine" means a mechanical, | 529 |
video, digital, or electronic device that rewards the player or | 530 |
players, if at all, only with merchandise prizes or with | 531 |
redeemable vouchers redeemable only for merchandise prizes, | 532 |
provided that with respect to rewards for playing the game all of | 533 |
the following apply: | 534 |
(a) The wholesale value of a merchandise prize awarded as a | 535 |
result of the single play of a machine does not exceed ten | 536 |
dollars; | 537 |
(b) Redeemable vouchers awarded for any single play of a | 538 |
machine are not redeemable for a merchandise prize with a | 539 |
wholesale value of more than ten dollars; | 540 |
(c) Redeemable vouchers are not redeemable for a merchandise | 541 |
prize that has a wholesale value of more than ten dollars times | 542 |
the fewest number of single plays necessary to accrue the | 543 |
redeemable vouchers required to obtain that prize; and | 544 |
(d) Any redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes are | 545 |
distributed at the site of the skill-based amusement machine at | 546 |
the time of play. | 547 |
(2) A device shall not be considered a skill-based amusement | 548 |
machine and shall be considered a slot machine if it pays cash or | 549 |
one or more of the following apply: | 550 |
(a) The ability of a player to succeed at the game is | 551 |
impacted by the number or ratio of prior wins to prior losses of | 552 |
players playing the game. | 553 |
(b) Any reward of redeemable vouchers is not based solely on | 554 |
the player achieving the object of the game or the player's score; | 555 |
(c) The outcome of the game, or the value of the redeemable | 556 |
voucher or merchandise prize awarded for winning the game, can be | 557 |
controlled by a source other than any player playing the game. | 558 |
(d) The success of any player is or may be determined by a | 559 |
chance event that cannot be altered by player actions. | 560 |
(e) The ability of any player to succeed at the game is | 561 |
determined by game features not visible or known to the player. | 562 |
(f) The ability of the player to succeed at the game is | 563 |
impacted by the exercise of a skill that no reasonable player | 564 |
could exercise. | 565 |
(3) All of the following apply to any machine that is | 566 |
operated as described in division (AAA)(1) of this section: | 567 |
(a) As used in this section, "game" and "play" mean one event | 568 |
from the initial activation of the machine until the results of | 569 |
play are determined without payment of additional consideration. | 570 |
An individual utilizing a machine that involves a single game, | 571 |
play, contest, competition, or tournament may be awarded | 572 |
redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes based on the results of | 573 |
play. | 574 |
(b) Advance play for a single game, play, contest, | 575 |
competition, or tournament participation may be purchased. The | 576 |
cost of the contest, competition, or tournament participation may | 577 |
be greater than a single noncontest, competition, or tournament | 578 |
play. | 579 |
(c) To the extent that the machine is used in a contest, | 580 |
competition, or tournament, that contest, competition, or | 581 |
tournament has a defined starting and ending date and is open to | 582 |
participants in competition for scoring and ranking results toward | 583 |
the awarding of redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes that are | 584 |
stated prior to the start of the contest, competition, or | 585 |
tournament. | 586 |
(4) For purposes of division (AAA)(1) of this section, the | 587 |
mere presence of a device, such as a pin-setting, ball-releasing, | 588 |
or scoring mechanism, that does not contribute to or affect the | 589 |
outcome of the play of the game does not make the device a | 590 |
skill-based amusement machine. | 591 |
(BBB) "Merchandise prize" means any item of value, but shall | 592 |
not include any of the following: | 593 |
(1) Cash, gift cards, or any equivalent thereof; | 594 |
(2) Plays on games of chance, state lottery tickets, bingo, | 595 |
or instant bingo; | 596 |
(3) Firearms, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages; or | 597 |
(4) A redeemable voucher that is redeemable for any of the | 598 |
items listed in division (BBB)(1), (2), or (3) of this section. | 599 |
(CCC) "Redeemable voucher" means any ticket, token, coupon, | 600 |
receipt, or other noncash representation of value. | 601 |
(DDD) "Pool not conducted for profit" means a scheme in which | 602 |
a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a | 603 |
prize and the total amount of consideration wagered is distributed | 604 |
to a participant or participants. | 605 |
(EEE) "Sporting organization" means a hunting, fishing, or | 606 |
trapping organization, other than a college or high school | 607 |
fraternity or sorority, that is not organized for profit, that is | 608 |
affiliated with a state or national sporting organization, | 609 |
including but not limited to, the Ohio league of sportsmen, and | 610 |
that has been in continuous existence in this state for a period | 611 |
of three years. | 612 |
(FFF) "Community action agency" has the same meaning as in | 613 |
section 122.66 of the Revised Code. | 614 |
(GGG)(1) "Sweepstakes terminal device" means a mechanical, | 615 |
video, digital, or electronic machine or device, that is owned, | 616 |
leased, or otherwise possessed by any person conducting a | 617 |
sweepstakes, or by that person's partners, affiliates, | 618 |
subsidiaries, or contractors, that is intended to be used by a | 619 |
sweepstakes participant, and that is capable of displaying | 620 |
information on a screen or other mechanism. A device is a | 621 |
sweepstakes terminal device whether or not any of the following | 622 |
apply: | 623 |
(a) The device is server-based. | 624 |
(b) The device uses a simulated game terminal as a | 625 |
representation of the prizes associated with the results of the | 626 |
sweepstakes entries. | 627 |
(c) The device utilizes software such that the simulated game | 628 |
influences or determines the winning of or value of the prize. | 629 |
(d) The device selects prizes from a predetermined finite | 630 |
pool of entries. | 631 |
(e) The device utilizes a mechanism that reveals the content | 632 |
of a predetermined sweepstakes entry. | 633 |
(f) The device predetermines the prize results and stores | 634 |
those results for delivery at the time the sweepstakes entry | 635 |
results are revealed. | 636 |
(g) The device utilizes software to create a game result. | 637 |
(h) The device requires deposit of any money, coin, or token, | 638 |
or the use of any credit card, debit card, prepaid card, or any | 639 |
other method of payment to activate the electronic machine or | 640 |
device. | 641 |
(i) The device requires direct payment into the device, or | 642 |
remote activation of the device. | 643 |
(j) The device requires purchase of a related product. | 644 |
(k) Any related product of which purchase is required has | 645 |
legitimate value. | 646 |
(l) The device reveals the prize incrementally, even though | 647 |
the device does not influence the awarding of prize or the value | 648 |
of any prize awarded. | 649 |
(m) The device determines and associates the prize with an | 650 |
entry or entries at the time the sweepstakes is entered. | 651 |
(n) The device is a slot machine or other form of electrical, | 652 |
mechanical, or computer game. | 653 |
(2) As used in this division: | 654 |
(a) "Enter" or "entry" means the act or process by which a | 655 |
person becomes eligible to receive any prize offered in a | 656 |
sweepstakes. | 657 |
(b) "Prize" means any gift, award, gratuity, good, service, | 658 |
credit, reward, or any other thing of value, which may be | 659 |
transferred to a person, whether possession of the prize is | 660 |
actually transferred, or placed on an account or other record as | 661 |
evidence of the intent to transfer the prize. | 662 |
(c) "Sweepstakes" means any game, contest, advertising scheme | 663 |
or plan, or other promotion, but does not include bingo, whether | 664 |
or not consideration is required for a person to enter to win or | 665 |
become eligible to receive any prize, the determination of which | 666 |
is based upon chance. | 667 |
Sec. 2915.03. (A) No person, being the owner or lessee, or | 668 |
having custody, control, or supervision of premises, shall: | 669 |
(1) Use or occupy such premises | 670 |
section 2915.02, 2915.06, 2915.062, or 2915.063 of the Revised | 671 |
Code; | 672 |
(2) Recklessly permit such premises to be used or occupied | 673 |
674 | |
or 2915.063 of the Revised Code. | 675 |
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a | 676 |
gambling house, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender | 677 |
previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, operating a | 678 |
gambling house is a felony of the fifth degree. | 679 |
(C) Premises used or occupied in violation of this section | 680 |
constitute a nuisance subject to abatement pursuant to sections | 681 |
3767.01 to 3767.99 of the Revised Code. | 682 |
Sec. 2915.06. (A) No person shall give to another person any | 683 |
item described in division (BBB)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of section | 684 |
2915.01 of the Revised Code in exchange for a noncash prize, toy, | 685 |
or novelty received as a reward for playing or operating a | 686 |
skill-based amusement machine or for a free or reduced-price game | 687 |
won on a skill-based amusement machine. | 688 |
(B) No person shall conduct a skill-based amusement machine | 689 |
without first obtaining a license under Chapter 3772. of the | 690 |
Revised Code. | 691 |
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty | 692 |
of skill-based amusement machine prohibited conduct. A violation | 693 |
of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first | 694 |
degree for each redemption of a prize that is involved in the | 695 |
violation. If the offender previously has been convicted of a | 696 |
violation of division (A) of this section, a violation of that | 697 |
division is a felony of the fifth degree for each redemption of a | 698 |
prize that is involved in the violation. The maximum fine | 699 |
authorized to be imposed for a felony of the fifth degree shall be | 700 |
imposed upon the offender. | 701 |
(D) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty | 702 |
of conducting an illegal skill-based amusement machine, a felony | 703 |
of the fourth degree. | 704 |
Sec. 2915.061. Any regulation of skill-based amusement | 705 |
machines shall be governed by this chapter and Chapter 3772. and | 706 |
not by Chapter 1345. of the Revised Code. | 707 |
Sec. 2915.062. (A) No person conducting a sweepstakes with | 708 |
the use of a sweepstakes terminal device, including the entry | 709 |
process or the reveal of a prize, shall do either of the | 710 |
following: | 711 |
(1) Give to another person any item or voucher redeemable for | 712 |
any item described in division (BBB)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of | 713 |
section 2915.01 of the Revised Code as a prize for playing or | 714 |
participating in a sweepstakes; | 715 |
(2) Conduct a sweepstakes through the use of a sweepstakes | 716 |
terminal device without first obtaining a license under Chapter | 717 |
3772. of the Revised Code. | 718 |
(B) Whoever violates division (A)(1) or (2) of this section | 719 |
is guilty of sweepstakes terminal device prohibited conduct. A | 720 |
violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of | 721 |
the first degree for each redemption of a prize that is involved | 722 |
in the violation. If the offender previously has been convicted of | 723 |
a violation of division (A)(1) of this section, a violation of | 724 |
that division is a felony of the fifth degree for each redemption | 725 |
of a prize that is involved in the violation. The maximum fine | 726 |
authorized to be imposed for a felony of the fifth degree shall be | 727 |
imposed upon the offender. | 728 |
(C) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is | 729 |
guilty of conducting an illegal sweepstakes, a felony of the | 730 |
fourth degree. | 731 |
Sec. 2915.063. (A) No person shall conduct a slot machine | 732 |
without first obtaining a license pursuant to Chapter 3772. of the | 733 |
Revised Code. | 734 |
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of conducting | 735 |
slot machine prohibited conduct. A violation of this section is a | 736 |
felony of the fourth degree. | 737 |
Sec. 2915.064. A legislative authority of a municipal | 738 |
corporation or an unincorporated area of a township may adopt an | 739 |
ordinance or resolution to prohibit the operation of sweepstakes | 740 |
terminal devices. | 741 |
Sec. 2915.08. (A)(1) Annually before the first day of | 742 |
January, a charitable organization that desires to conduct bingo, | 743 |
instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a | 744 |
bingo session shall make out, upon a form to be furnished by the | 745 |
attorney general for that purpose, an application for a license to | 746 |
conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo | 747 |
other than at a bingo session and deliver that application to the | 748 |
attorney general together with a license fee as follows: | 749 |
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, for a | 750 |
license for the conduct of bingo, two hundred dollars; | 751 |
(b) For a license for the conduct of instant bingo at a bingo | 752 |
session or instant bingo other than at a bingo session for a | 753 |
charitable organization that previously has not been licensed | 754 |
under this chapter to conduct instant bingo at a bingo session or | 755 |
instant bingo other than at a bingo session, a license fee of five | 756 |
hundred dollars, and for any other charitable organization, a | 757 |
license fee that is based upon the gross profits received by the | 758 |
charitable organization from the operation of instant bingo at a | 759 |
bingo session or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, | 760 |
during the one-year period ending on the thirty-first day of | 761 |
October of the year immediately preceding the year for which the | 762 |
license is sought, and that is one of the following: | 763 |
(i) Five hundred dollars, if the total is fifty thousand | 764 |
dollars or less; | 765 |
(ii) One thousand two hundred fifty dollars plus one-fourth | 766 |
per cent of the gross profit, if the total is more than fifty | 767 |
thousand dollars but less than two hundred fifty thousand one | 768 |
dollars; | 769 |
(iii) Two thousand two hundred fifty dollars plus one-half | 770 |
per cent of the gross profit, if the total is more than two | 771 |
hundred fifty thousand dollars but less than five hundred thousand | 772 |
one dollars; | 773 |
(iv) Three thousand five hundred dollars plus one per cent of | 774 |
the gross profit, if the total is more than five hundred thousand | 775 |
dollars but less than one million one dollars; | 776 |
(v) Five thousand dollars plus one per cent of the gross | 777 |
profit, if the total is one million one dollars or more; | 778 |
(c) A reduced license fee established by the attorney general | 779 |
pursuant to division (G) of this section. | 780 |
(d) For a license to conduct bingo for a charitable | 781 |
organization that prior to | 782 |
July 1, 2003, has not been licensed under this chapter to conduct | 783 |
bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other | 784 |
than at a bingo session, a license fee established by rule by the | 785 |
attorney general in accordance with division (H) of this section. | 786 |
(2) The application shall be in the form prescribed by the | 787 |
attorney general, shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant, | 788 |
and shall contain all of the following: | 789 |
(a) The name and post-office address of the applicant; | 790 |
(b) A statement that the applicant is a charitable | 791 |
organization and that it has been in continuous existence as a | 792 |
charitable organization in this state for two years immediately | 793 |
preceding the making of the application or for five years in the | 794 |
case of a fraternal organization or a nonprofit medical | 795 |
organization; | 796 |
(c) The location at which the organization will conduct | 797 |
bingo, which location shall be within the county in which the | 798 |
principal place of business of the applicant is located, the days | 799 |
of the week and the times on each of those days when bingo will be | 800 |
conducted, whether the organization owns, leases, or subleases the | 801 |
premises, and a copy of the rental agreement if it leases or | 802 |
subleases the premises; | 803 |
(d) A statement of the applicant's previous history, record, | 804 |
and association that is sufficient to establish that the applicant | 805 |
is a charitable organization, and a copy of a determination letter | 806 |
that is issued by the Internal Revenue Service and states that the | 807 |
organization is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and described | 808 |
in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), | 809 |
501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code; | 810 |
(e) A statement as to whether the applicant has ever had any | 811 |
previous application refused, whether it previously has had a | 812 |
license revoked or suspended, and the reason stated by the | 813 |
attorney general for the refusal, revocation, or suspension; | 814 |
(f) A statement of the charitable purposes for which the net | 815 |
profit derived from bingo, other than instant bingo, will be used, | 816 |
and a statement of how the net profit derived from instant bingo | 817 |
will be distributed in accordance with section 2915.101 of the | 818 |
Revised Code; | 819 |
(g) Other necessary and reasonable information that the | 820 |
attorney general may require by rule adopted pursuant to section | 821 |
111.15 of the Revised Code; | 822 |
(h) If the applicant is a charitable trust as defined in | 823 |
section 109.23 of the Revised Code, a statement as to whether it | 824 |
has registered with the attorney general pursuant to section | 825 |
109.26 of the Revised Code or filed annual reports pursuant to | 826 |
section 109.31 of the Revised Code, and, if it is not required to | 827 |
do either, the exemption in section 109.26 or 109.31 of the | 828 |
Revised Code that applies to it; | 829 |
(i) If the applicant is a charitable organization as defined | 830 |
in section 1716.01 of the Revised Code, a statement as to whether | 831 |
it has filed with the attorney general a registration statement | 832 |
pursuant to section 1716.02 of the Revised Code and a financial | 833 |
report pursuant to section 1716.04 of the Revised Code, and, if it | 834 |
is not required to do both, the exemption in section 1716.03 of | 835 |
the Revised Code that applies to it; | 836 |
(j) In the case of an applicant seeking to qualify as a youth | 837 |
athletic park organization, a statement issued by a board or body | 838 |
vested with authority under Chapter 755. of the Revised Code for | 839 |
the supervision and maintenance of recreation facilities in the | 840 |
territory in which the organization is located, certifying that | 841 |
the playing fields owned by the organization were used for at | 842 |
least one hundred days during the year in which the statement is | 843 |
issued, and were open for use to all residents of that territory, | 844 |
regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national | 845 |
origin, for athletic activities by youth athletic organizations | 846 |
that do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, | 847 |
religion, sex, or national origin, and that the fields were not | 848 |
used for any profit-making activity at any time during the year. | 849 |
That type of board or body is authorized to issue the statement | 850 |
upon request and shall issue the statement if it finds that the | 851 |
applicant's playing fields were so used. | 852 |
(3) The attorney general, within thirty days after receiving | 853 |
a timely filed application from a charitable organization that has | 854 |
been issued a license under this section that has not expired and | 855 |
has not been revoked or suspended, shall send a temporary permit | 856 |
to the applicant specifying the date on which the application was | 857 |
filed with the attorney general and stating that, pursuant to | 858 |
section 119.06 of the Revised Code, the applicant may continue to | 859 |
conduct bingo until a new license is granted or, if the | 860 |
application is rejected, until fifteen days after notice of the | 861 |
rejection is mailed to the applicant. The temporary permit does | 862 |
not affect the validity of the applicant's application and does | 863 |
not grant any rights to the applicant except those rights | 864 |
specifically granted in section 119.06 of the Revised Code. The | 865 |
issuance of a temporary permit by the attorney general pursuant to | 866 |
this division does not prohibit the attorney general from | 867 |
rejecting the applicant's application because of acts that the | 868 |
applicant committed, or actions that the applicant failed to take, | 869 |
before or after the issuance of the temporary permit. | 870 |
(4) Within thirty days after receiving an initial license | 871 |
application from a charitable organization to conduct bingo, | 872 |
instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other than at a | 873 |
bingo session, the attorney general shall conduct a preliminary | 874 |
review of the application and notify the applicant regarding any | 875 |
deficiencies. Once an application is deemed complete, or beginning | 876 |
on the thirtieth day after the application is filed, if the | 877 |
attorney general failed to notify the applicant of any | 878 |
deficiencies, the attorney general shall have an additional sixty | 879 |
days to conduct an investigation and either grant or deny the | 880 |
application based on findings established and communicated in | 881 |
accordance with divisions (B) and (E) of this section. As an | 882 |
option to granting or denying an initial license application, the | 883 |
attorney general may grant a temporary license and request | 884 |
additional time to conduct the investigation if the attorney | 885 |
general has cause to believe that additional time is necessary to | 886 |
complete the investigation and has notified the applicant in | 887 |
writing about the specific concerns raised during the | 888 |
investigation. | 889 |
(B)(1) The attorney general shall adopt rules to enforce | 890 |
sections 2915.01, 2915.02, and 2915.07 to 2915.13 of the Revised | 891 |
Code to ensure that bingo or instant bingo is conducted in | 892 |
accordance with those sections and to maintain proper control over | 893 |
the conduct of bingo or instant bingo. The rules, except rules | 894 |
adopted pursuant to divisions (A)(2)(g) and (G) of this section, | 895 |
shall be adopted pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The | 896 |
attorney general shall license charitable organizations to conduct | 897 |
bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant bingo other | 898 |
than at a bingo session in conformance with this chapter and with | 899 |
the licensing provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. | 900 |
(2) The attorney general may refuse to grant a license to any | 901 |
organization, or revoke or suspend the license of any | 902 |
organization, that does any of the following or to which any of | 903 |
the following applies: | 904 |
(a) Fails or has failed at any time to meet any requirement | 905 |
of section 109.26, 109.31, or 1716.02, or sections 2915.07 to | 906 |
2915.11 of the Revised Code, or violates or has violated any | 907 |
provision of sections 2915.02 | 908 |
Code or any rule adopted by the attorney general pursuant to this | 909 |
section; | 910 |
(b) Makes or has made an incorrect or false statement that is | 911 |
material to the granting of the license in an application filed | 912 |
pursuant to division (A) of this section; | 913 |
(c) Submits or has submitted any incorrect or false | 914 |
information relating to an application if the information is | 915 |
material to the granting of the license; | 916 |
(d) Maintains or has maintained any incorrect or false | 917 |
information that is material to the granting of the license in the | 918 |
records required to be kept pursuant to divisions (A) and (C) of | 919 |
section 2915.10 of the Revised Code, if applicable; | 920 |
(e) The attorney general has good cause to believe that the | 921 |
organization will not conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo | 922 |
session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session in | 923 |
accordance with sections 2915.07 to 2915.13 of the Revised Code or | 924 |
with any rule adopted by the attorney general pursuant to this | 925 |
section. | 926 |
(3) For the purposes of division (B) of this section, any | 927 |
action of an officer, trustee, agent, representative, or bingo | 928 |
game operator of an organization is an action of the organization. | 929 |
(C) The attorney general may grant licenses to charitable | 930 |
organizations that are branches, lodges, or chapters of national | 931 |
charitable organizations. | 932 |
(D) The attorney general shall send notice in writing to the | 933 |
prosecuting attorney and sheriff of the county in which the | 934 |
organization will conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, | 935 |
or instant bingo other than at a bingo session, as stated in its | 936 |
application for a license or amended license, and to any other law | 937 |
enforcement agency in that county that so requests, of all of the | 938 |
following: | 939 |
(1) The issuance of the license; | 940 |
(2) The issuance of the amended license; | 941 |
(3) The rejection of an application for and refusal to grant | 942 |
a license; | 943 |
(4) The revocation of any license previously issued; | 944 |
(5) The suspension of any license previously issued. | 945 |
(E) A license issued by the attorney general shall set forth | 946 |
the information contained on the application of the charitable | 947 |
organization that the attorney general determines is relevant, | 948 |
including, but not limited to, the location at which the | 949 |
organization will conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, | 950 |
or instant bingo other than at a bingo session and the days of the | 951 |
week and the times on each of those days when bingo will be | 952 |
conducted. If the attorney general refuses to grant or revokes or | 953 |
suspends a license, the attorney general shall notify the | 954 |
applicant in writing and specifically identify the reason for the | 955 |
refusal, revocation, or suspension in narrative form and, if | 956 |
applicable, by identifying the section of the Revised Code | 957 |
violated. The failure of the attorney general to give the written | 958 |
notice of the reasons for the refusal, revocation, or suspension | 959 |
or a mistake in the written notice does not affect the validity of | 960 |
the attorney general's refusal to grant, or the revocation or | 961 |
suspension of, a license. If the attorney general fails to give | 962 |
the written notice or if there is a mistake in the written notice, | 963 |
the applicant may bring an action to compel the attorney general | 964 |
to comply with this division or to correct the mistake, but the | 965 |
attorney general's order refusing to grant, or revoking or | 966 |
suspending, a license shall not be enjoined during the pendency of | 967 |
the action. | 968 |
(F) A charitable organization that has been issued a license | 969 |
pursuant to division (B) of this section but that cannot conduct | 970 |
bingo or instant bingo at the location, or on the day of the week | 971 |
or at the time, specified on the license due to circumstances that | 972 |
make it impractical to do so may apply in writing, together with | 973 |
an application fee of two hundred fifty dollars, to the attorney | 974 |
general, at least thirty days prior to a change in location, day | 975 |
of the week, or time, and request an amended license. The | 976 |
application shall describe the causes making it impractical for | 977 |
the organization to conduct bingo or instant bingo in conformity | 978 |
with its license and shall indicate the location, days of the | 979 |
week, and times on each of those days when it desires to conduct | 980 |
bingo or instant bingo. Except as otherwise provided in this | 981 |
division, the attorney general shall issue the amended license in | 982 |
accordance with division (E) of this section, and the organization | 983 |
shall surrender its original license to the attorney general. The | 984 |
attorney general may refuse to grant an amended license according | 985 |
to the terms of division (B) of this section. | 986 |
(G) The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section | 987 |
111.15 of the Revised Code, shall establish a schedule of reduced | 988 |
license fees for charitable organizations that desire to conduct | 989 |
bingo or instant bingo during fewer than twenty-six weeks in any | 990 |
calendar year. | 991 |
(H) The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section | 992 |
111.15 of the Revised Code, shall establish license fees for the | 993 |
conduct of bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, or instant | 994 |
bingo other than at a bingo session for charitable organizations | 995 |
that prior to | 996 |
have not been licensed to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo | 997 |
session, or instant bingo other than at a bingo session under this | 998 |
chapter. | 999 |
(I) The attorney general may enter into a written contract | 1000 |
with any other state agency to delegate to that state agency the | 1001 |
powers prescribed to the attorney general under Chapter 2915. of | 1002 |
the Revised Code. | 1003 |
(J) The attorney general, by rule adopted pursuant to section | 1004 |
111.15 of the Revised Code, may adopt rules to determine the | 1005 |
requirements for a charitable organization that is exempt from | 1006 |
federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in | 1007 |
subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to be in good | 1008 |
standing in the state. | 1009 |
Sec. 2915.09. (A) No charitable organization that conducts | 1010 |
bingo shall fail to do any of the following: | 1011 |
(1) Own all of the equipment used to conduct bingo or lease | 1012 |
that equipment from a charitable organization that is licensed to | 1013 |
conduct bingo, or from the landlord of a premises where bingo is | 1014 |
conducted, for a rental rate that is not more than is customary | 1015 |
and reasonable for that equipment; | 1016 |
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(3) of this | 1017 |
section, use all of the gross receipts from bingo for paying | 1018 |
prizes, for reimbursement of expenses for or for renting premises | 1019 |
in which to conduct a bingo session, for reimbursement of expenses | 1020 |
for or for purchasing or leasing bingo supplies used in conducting | 1021 |
bingo, for reimbursement of expenses for or for hiring security | 1022 |
personnel, for reimbursement of expenses for or for advertising | 1023 |
bingo, or for reimbursement of other expenses or for other | 1024 |
expenses listed in division (LL) of section 2915.01 of the Revised | 1025 |
Code, provided that the amount of the receipts so spent is not | 1026 |
more than is customary and reasonable for a similar purchase, | 1027 |
lease, hiring, advertising, or expense. If the building in which | 1028 |
bingo is conducted is owned by the charitable organization | 1029 |
conducting bingo and the bingo conducted includes a form of bingo | 1030 |
described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised | 1031 |
Code, the charitable organization may deduct from the total amount | 1032 |
of the gross receipts from each session a sum equal to the lesser | 1033 |
of six hundred dollars or forty-five per cent of the gross | 1034 |
receipts from the bingo described in that division as | 1035 |
consideration for the use of the premises. | 1036 |
(3) Use, or give, donate, or otherwise transfer, all of the | 1037 |
net profit derived from bingo, other than instant bingo, for a | 1038 |
charitable purpose listed in its license application and described | 1039 |
in division (Z) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code, or | 1040 |
distribute all of the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of | 1041 |
instant bingo as stated in its license application and in | 1042 |
accordance with section 2915.101 of the Revised Code. | 1043 |
(B) No charitable organization that conducts a bingo game | 1044 |
described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised | 1045 |
Code shall fail to do any of the following: | 1046 |
(1) Conduct the bingo game on premises that are owned by the | 1047 |
charitable organization, on premises that are owned by another | 1048 |
charitable organization and leased from that charitable | 1049 |
organization for a rental rate not in excess of the lesser of six | 1050 |
hundred dollars per bingo session or forty-five per cent of the | 1051 |
gross receipts of the bingo session, on premises that are leased | 1052 |
from a person other than a charitable organization for a rental | 1053 |
rate that is not more than is customary and reasonable for | 1054 |
premises that are similar in location, size, and quality but not | 1055 |
in excess of four hundred fifty dollars per bingo session, or on | 1056 |
premises that are owned by a person other than a charitable | 1057 |
organization, that are leased from that person by another | 1058 |
charitable organization, and that are subleased from that other | 1059 |
charitable organization by the charitable organization for a | 1060 |
rental rate not in excess of four hundred fifty dollars per bingo | 1061 |
session. No charitable organization is required to pay property | 1062 |
taxes or assessments on premises that the charitable organization | 1063 |
leases from another person to conduct bingo. If the charitable | 1064 |
organization leases from a person other than a charitable | 1065 |
organization the premises on which it conducts bingo sessions, the | 1066 |
lessor of the premises shall provide the premises to the | 1067 |
organization and shall not provide the organization with bingo | 1068 |
game operators, security personnel, concessions or concession | 1069 |
operators, bingo supplies, or any other type of service. A | 1070 |
charitable organization shall not lease or sublease premises that | 1071 |
it owns or leases to more than one other charitable organization | 1072 |
per calendar week for the purpose of conducting bingo sessions on | 1073 |
the premises. A person that is not a charitable organization shall | 1074 |
not lease premises that it owns, leases, or otherwise is empowered | 1075 |
to lease to more than three charitable organizations per calendar | 1076 |
week for conducting bingo sessions on the premises. In no case | 1077 |
shall more than nine bingo sessions be conducted on any premises | 1078 |
in any calendar week. | 1079 |
(2) Display its license conspicuously at the premises where | 1080 |
the bingo session is conducted; | 1081 |
(3) Conduct the bingo session in accordance with the | 1082 |
definition of bingo set forth in division (S)(1) of section | 1083 |
2915.01 of the Revised Code. | 1084 |
(C) No charitable organization that conducts a bingo game | 1085 |
described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised | 1086 |
Code shall do any of the following: | 1087 |
(1) Pay any compensation to a bingo game operator for | 1088 |
operating a bingo session that is conducted by the charitable | 1089 |
organization or for preparing, selling, or serving food or | 1090 |
beverages at the site of the bingo session, permit any auxiliary | 1091 |
unit or society of the charitable organization to pay compensation | 1092 |
to any bingo game operator who prepares, sells, or serves food or | 1093 |
beverages at a bingo session conducted by the charitable | 1094 |
organization, or permit any auxiliary unit or society of the | 1095 |
charitable organization to prepare, sell, or serve food or | 1096 |
beverages at a bingo session conducted by the charitable | 1097 |
organization, if the auxiliary unit or society pays any | 1098 |
compensation to the bingo game operators who prepare, sell, or | 1099 |
serve the food or beverages; | 1100 |
(2) Pay consulting fees to any person for any services | 1101 |
performed in relation to the bingo session; | 1102 |
(3) Pay concession fees to any person who provides | 1103 |
refreshments to the participants in the bingo session; | 1104 |
(4) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(4) of this | 1105 |
section, conduct more than three bingo sessions in any seven-day | 1106 |
period. A volunteer firefighter's organization or a volunteer | 1107 |
rescue service organization that conducts not more than five bingo | 1108 |
sessions in a calendar year may conduct more than three bingo | 1109 |
sessions in a seven-day period after notifying the attorney | 1110 |
general when it will conduct the sessions. | 1111 |
(5) Pay out more than six thousand dollars in prizes for | 1112 |
bingo games described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the | 1113 |
Revised Code during any bingo session that is conducted by the | 1114 |
charitable organization. "Prizes" does not include awards from the | 1115 |
conduct of instant bingo. | 1116 |
(6) Conduct a bingo session at any time during the ten-hour | 1117 |
period between midnight and ten a.m., at any time during, or | 1118 |
within ten hours of, a bingo game conducted for amusement only | 1119 |
pursuant to section 2915.12 of the Revised Code, at any premises | 1120 |
not specified on its license, or on any day of the week or during | 1121 |
any time period not specified on its license. Division (A)(6) of | 1122 |
this section does not prohibit the sale of instant bingo tickets | 1123 |
beginning at nine a.m. for a bingo session that begins at ten a.m. | 1124 |
If circumstances make it impractical for the charitable | 1125 |
organization to conduct a bingo session at the premises, or on the | 1126 |
day of the week or at the time, specified on its license or if a | 1127 |
charitable organization wants to conduct bingo sessions on a day | 1128 |
of the week or at a time other than the day or time specified on | 1129 |
its license, the charitable organization may apply in writing to | 1130 |
the attorney general for an amended license pursuant to division | 1131 |
(F) of section 2915.08 of the Revised Code. A charitable | 1132 |
organization may apply twice in each calendar year for an amended | 1133 |
license to conduct bingo sessions on a day of the week or at a | 1134 |
time other than the day or time specified on its license. If the | 1135 |
amended license is granted, the organization may conduct bingo | 1136 |
sessions at the premises, on the day of the week, and at the time | 1137 |
specified on its amended license. | 1138 |
(7) Permit any person whom the charitable organization knows, | 1139 |
or should have known, is under the age of eighteen to work as a | 1140 |
bingo game operator; | 1141 |
(8) Permit any person whom the charitable organization knows, | 1142 |
or should have known, has been convicted of a felony or gambling | 1143 |
offense in any jurisdiction to be a bingo game operator; | 1144 |
(9) Permit the lessor of the premises on which the bingo | 1145 |
session is conducted, if the lessor is not a charitable | 1146 |
organization, to provide the charitable organization with bingo | 1147 |
game operators, security personnel, concessions, bingo supplies, | 1148 |
or any other type of service; | 1149 |
(10) Purchase or lease bingo supplies from any person except | 1150 |
a distributor issued a license under section 2915.081 of the | 1151 |
Revised Code; | 1152 |
(11)(a) Use or permit the use of electronic bingo aids except | 1153 |
under the following circumstances: | 1154 |
(i) For any single participant, not more than ninety bingo | 1155 |
faces can be played using an electronic bingo aid or aids. | 1156 |
(ii) The charitable organization shall provide a participant | 1157 |
using an electronic bingo aid with corresponding paper bingo cards | 1158 |
or sheets. | 1159 |
(iii) The total price of bingo faces played with an | 1160 |
electronic bingo aid shall be equal to the total price of the same | 1161 |
number of bingo faces played with a paper bingo card or sheet sold | 1162 |
at the same bingo session but without an electronic bingo aid. | 1163 |
(iv) An electronic bingo aid cannot be part of an electronic | 1164 |
network other than a network that includes only bingo aids and | 1165 |
devices that are located on the premises at which the bingo is | 1166 |
being conducted or be interactive with any device not located on | 1167 |
the premises at which the bingo is being conducted. | 1168 |
(v) An electronic bingo aid cannot be used to participate in | 1169 |
bingo that is conducted at a location other than the location at | 1170 |
which the bingo session is conducted and at which the electronic | 1171 |
bingo aid is used. | 1172 |
(vi) An electronic bingo aid cannot be used to provide for | 1173 |
the input of numbers and letters announced by a bingo caller other | 1174 |
than the bingo caller who physically calls the numbers and letters | 1175 |
at the location at which the bingo session is conducted and at | 1176 |
which the electronic bingo aid is used. | 1177 |
(b) The attorney general may adopt rules in accordance with | 1178 |
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that govern the use of electronic | 1179 |
bingo aids. The rules may include a requirement that an electronic | 1180 |
bingo aid be capable of being audited by the attorney general to | 1181 |
verify the number of bingo cards or sheets played during each | 1182 |
bingo session. | 1183 |
(12) Permit any person the charitable organization knows, or | 1184 |
should have known, to be under eighteen years of age to play bingo | 1185 |
described in division (S)(1) of section 2915.01 of the Revised | 1186 |
Code. | 1187 |
(D)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(3) of | 1188 |
this section, no charitable organization shall provide to a bingo | 1189 |
game operator, and no bingo game operator shall receive or accept, | 1190 |
any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity, or | 1191 |
other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, regardless of | 1192 |
the source, for conducting bingo or providing other work or labor | 1193 |
at the site of bingo during a bingo session. | 1194 |
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(3) of this | 1195 |
section, no charitable organization shall provide to a bingo game | 1196 |
operator any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donation, | 1197 |
gratuity, or other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, | 1198 |
regardless of the source, for conducting instant bingo other than | 1199 |
at a bingo session at the site of instant bingo other than at a | 1200 |
bingo session. | 1201 |
(3) Nothing in division (D) of this section prohibits an | 1202 |
employee of a fraternal organization, veteran's organization, or | 1203 |
sporting organization from selling instant bingo tickets or cards | 1204 |
to the organization's members or invited guests, as long as no | 1205 |
portion of the employee's compensation is paid from any receipts | 1206 |
of bingo. | 1207 |
(E) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, a | 1208 |
charitable organization that, prior to December 6, 1977, has | 1209 |
entered into written agreements for the lease of premises it owns | 1210 |
to another charitable organization or other charitable | 1211 |
organizations for the conducting of bingo sessions so that more | 1212 |
than two bingo sessions are conducted per calendar week on the | 1213 |
premises, and a person that is not a charitable organization and | 1214 |
that, prior to December 6, 1977, has entered into written | 1215 |
agreements for the lease of premises it owns to charitable | 1216 |
organizations for the conducting of more than two bingo sessions | 1217 |
per calendar week on the premises, may continue to lease the | 1218 |
premises to those charitable organizations, provided that no more | 1219 |
than four sessions are conducted per calendar week, that the | 1220 |
lessor organization or person has notified the attorney general in | 1221 |
writing of the organizations that will conduct the sessions and | 1222 |
the days of the week and the times of the day on which the | 1223 |
sessions will be conducted, that the initial lease entered into | 1224 |
with each organization that will conduct the sessions was filed | 1225 |
with the attorney general prior to December 6, 1977, and that each | 1226 |
organization that will conduct the sessions was issued a license | 1227 |
to conduct bingo games by the attorney general prior to December | 1228 |
6, 1977. | 1229 |
(F) This section does not prohibit a bingo licensed | 1230 |
charitable organization or a game operator from giving any person | 1231 |
an instant bingo ticket as a prize. | 1232 |
(G) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is | 1233 |
guilty of illegally conducting a bingo game, a felony of the | 1234 |
fourth degree. Except as otherwise provided in this division, | 1235 |
whoever violates division (A)(1) or (3), (B)(1), (2), or (3), | 1236 |
(C)(1) to (12), or (D) of this section is guilty of a minor | 1237 |
misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of a | 1238 |
violation of division (A)(1) or (3), (B)(1), (2), or (3), (C)(1) | 1239 |
to (11), or (D) of this section, a violation of division (A)(1) or | 1240 |
(3), (B)(1), (2), or (3), (C), or (D) of this section is a | 1241 |
misdemeanor of the first degree. Whoever violates division (C)(12) | 1242 |
of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, if | 1243 |
the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of | 1244 |
division (C)(12) of this section, a felony of the fourth degree. | 1245 |
Sec. 3772.01. As used in this chapter: | 1246 |
(A) "Applicant" means any person who applies to the | 1247 |
commission for a license under this chapter. | 1248 |
(B) "Casino control commission fund" means the casino control | 1249 |
commission fund described in Section 6(C)(3)(d) of Article XV, | 1250 |
Ohio Constitution, the money in which shall be used to fund the | 1251 |
commission and its related affairs. | 1252 |
(C) "Casino facility" means a casino facility as defined in | 1253 |
Section 6(C)(9) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution. | 1254 |
(D) "Casino gaming" means any type of slot machine or table | 1255 |
game wagering, using money, casino credit, or any representative | 1256 |
of value, authorized in any of the states of Indiana, Michigan, | 1257 |
Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as of January 1, 2009, and | 1258 |
includes slot machine and table game wagering subsequently | 1259 |
authorized by, but shall not be limited by, subsequent | 1260 |
restrictions placed on such wagering in such states. "Casino | 1261 |
gaming" does not include bingo, as authorized in Section 6 of | 1262 |
Article XV, Ohio Constitution and conducted as of January 1, 2009, | 1263 |
or horse racing where the pari-mutuel system of wagering is | 1264 |
conducted, as authorized under the laws of this state as of | 1265 |
January 1, 2009. | 1266 |
(E) "Casino gaming employee" means any employee of a casino | 1267 |
operator or management company, but not a key employee, and as | 1268 |
further defined in section 3772.131 of the Revised Code. | 1269 |
(F) "Casino operator" means any person, trust, corporation, | 1270 |
partnership, limited partnership, association, limited liability | 1271 |
company, or other business enterprise that directly or indirectly | 1272 |
holds an ownership or leasehold interest in a casino facility. | 1273 |
"Casino operator" does not include an agency of the state, any | 1274 |
political subdivision of the state, any person, trust, | 1275 |
corporation, partnership, limited partnership, association, | 1276 |
limited liability company, or other business enterprise that may | 1277 |
have an interest in a casino facility, but who is legally or | 1278 |
contractually restricted from conducting casino gaming. | 1279 |
(G) "Central system" means a computer system that provides | 1280 |
the following functions related to casino gaming equipment used in | 1281 |
connection with casino gaming authorized under this chapter: | 1282 |
security, auditing, data and information retrieval, and other | 1283 |
purposes deemed necessary and authorized by the commission. | 1284 |
(H) "Commission" means the Ohio casino control commission. | 1285 |
(I) "Conduct" means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry | 1286 |
on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of casino gaming, | 1287 |
skill-based amusement machine operations, or sweepstakes terminal | 1288 |
device operations. | 1289 |
(J) "Gaming agent" means a peace officer employed by the | 1290 |
commission that is vested with duties to enforce this chapter and | 1291 |
conduct other investigations into the conduct of the casino gaming | 1292 |
and the maintenance of the equipment that the commission considers | 1293 |
necessary and proper and is in compliance with section 109.77 of | 1294 |
the Revised Code. | 1295 |
| 1296 |
partnership, corporation, association, trust, or any other group | 1297 |
of individuals, however organized, who supplies gaming-related | 1298 |
equipment, goods, or services to a casino operator or management | 1299 |
company, that are directly related to or affect casino gaming | 1300 |
authorized under this chapter, including, but not limited to, the | 1301 |
manufacture, sale, distribution, or repair of slot machines and | 1302 |
table game equipment. | 1303 |
| 1304 |
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, | 1305 |
trust, or other form of business organization not a natural person | 1306 |
which directly or indirectly owns, has the power or right to | 1307 |
control, or holds with power to vote, any part of an applicant, | 1308 |
casino operator, management company, or gaming-related vendor | 1309 |
license. | 1310 |
| 1311 |
demolition, engineering, architecture, design, site preparation, | 1312 |
construction, infrastructure improvements, land acquisition, | 1313 |
fixtures and equipment, insurance related to construction, and | 1314 |
leasehold improvements. | 1315 |
| 1316 |
entities owning one per cent or less, or a percentage between one | 1317 |
and ten per cent as approved by the commission through a waiver on | 1318 |
a case-by-case basis, ownership interest in a casino facility, | 1319 |
casino operator, management company, or holding company: a | 1320 |
corporation, bank, insurance company, pension fund or pension fund | 1321 |
trust, retirement fund, including funds administered by a public | 1322 |
agency, employees' profit-sharing fund or employees' | 1323 |
profit-sharing trust, any association engaged, as a substantial | 1324 |
part of its business or operations, in purchasing or holding | 1325 |
securities, or any trust in respect of which a bank is trustee or | 1326 |
cotrustee, investment company registered under the "Investment | 1327 |
Company Act of 1940," 15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq., collective | 1328 |
investment trust organized by banks under Part Nine of the Rules | 1329 |
of the Comptroller of the Currency, closed-end investment trust, | 1330 |
chartered or licensed life insurance company or property and | 1331 |
casualty insurance company, investment advisor registered under | 1332 |
the "Investment Advisors Act of 1940," 15 U.S.C. 80 b-1 et seq., | 1333 |
and such other persons as the commission may reasonably determine | 1334 |
to qualify as an institutional investor for reasons consistent | 1335 |
with this chapter. | 1336 |
| 1337 |
of a casino operator or management company licensee having the | 1338 |
power to exercise significant influence over decisions concerning | 1339 |
any part of the operation of such licensee, including: | 1340 |
(1) An officer, director, trustee, or partner of a person | 1341 |
that has applied for or holds a casino operator, management | 1342 |
company, or gaming-related vendor license or of a holding company | 1343 |
that has control of a person that has applied for or holds a | 1344 |
casino operator, management company, or gaming-related vendor | 1345 |
license; | 1346 |
(2) A person that holds a direct or indirect ownership | 1347 |
interest of more than one per cent in a person that has applied | 1348 |
for or holds a casino operator, management company, or | 1349 |
gaming-related vendor license or holding company that has control | 1350 |
of a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator, | 1351 |
management company, or gaming-related vendor license; | 1352 |
(3) A managerial employee of a person that has applied for or | 1353 |
holds a casino operator or gaming-related vendor license in Ohio, | 1354 |
or a managerial employee of a holding company that has control of | 1355 |
a person that has applied for or holds a casino operator or | 1356 |
gaming-related vendor license in Ohio, who performs the function | 1357 |
of principal executive officer, principal operating officer, | 1358 |
principal accounting officer, or an equivalent officer or other | 1359 |
person the commission determines to have the power to exercise | 1360 |
significant influence over decisions concerning any part of the | 1361 |
operation of such licensee. | 1362 |
The commission shall determine whether an individual whose | 1363 |
duties or status varies from those described in this division also | 1364 |
is considered a key employee. | 1365 |
| 1366 |
that has been issued a license by the commission and that has been | 1367 |
certified annually by the commission to have paid all applicable | 1368 |
fees, taxes, and debts to the state. | 1369 |
| 1370 |
casino facility, as the case may be, means ownership of more than | 1371 |
fifty per cent of such license or casino facility, as the case may | 1372 |
be. For purposes of the foregoing, whether a majority ownership | 1373 |
interest is held in a license or in a casino facility, as the case | 1374 |
may be, shall be determined under the rules for constructive | 1375 |
ownership of stock provided in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(5)(iii) as | 1376 |
in effect on January 1, 2009. | 1377 |
| 1378 |
a casino operator to manage a casino facility and provide services | 1379 |
such as accounting, general administration, maintenance, | 1380 |
recruitment, and other operational services. | 1381 |
| 1382 |
law enforcement training fund described in Section 6(C)(3)(f) of | 1383 |
Article XV, Ohio Constitution, the money in which shall be used to | 1384 |
enhance public safety by providing additional training | 1385 |
opportunities to the law enforcement community. | 1386 |
| 1387 |
individual or a combination of individuals; a sole proprietorship, | 1388 |
a firm, a company, a joint venture, a partnership of any type, a | 1389 |
joint-stock company, a corporation of any type, a corporate | 1390 |
subsidiary of any type, a limited liability company, a business | 1391 |
trust, or any other business entity or organization; an assignee; | 1392 |
a receiver; a trustee in bankruptcy; an unincorporated | 1393 |
association, club, society, or other unincorporated entity or | 1394 |
organization; entities that are disregarded for federal income tax | 1395 |
purposes; and any other nongovernmental, artificial, legal entity | 1396 |
that is capable of engaging in business. | 1397 |
| 1398 |
the state problem gambling and addictions fund described in | 1399 |
Section 6(C)(3)(g) of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, the money in | 1400 |
which shall be used for treatment of problem gambling and | 1401 |
substance abuse, and for related research. | 1402 |
| 1403 |
as in Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. | 1404 |
(W) "Skill-based amusement machine distributor" means any | 1405 |
person who purchases or obtains skill-based amusement machines and | 1406 |
who does any of the following: | 1407 |
(1) Sells, offers for sale, leases, or otherwise provides or | 1408 |
offers to provide skill-based amusement machines to another person | 1409 |
for use in this state; | 1410 |
(2) Modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from | 1411 |
skill-based amusement machines to further their promotion or sale | 1412 |
for use in this state; or | 1413 |
(3) Assembles completed skill-based amusement machines from | 1414 |
raw materials, other items, or subparts. | 1415 |
(X) "Skill-based amusement machine operator" means a person | 1416 |
that provides skill-based amusement machines to a player or | 1417 |
participant. | 1418 |
(Y) "Slot machine" means any mechanical, electrical, or other | 1419 |
device or machine which, upon insertion of a coin, token, ticket, | 1420 |
or similar object, or upon payment of any consideration, is | 1421 |
available to play or operate, the play or operation of which, | 1422 |
whether by reason of the skill of the operator or application of | 1423 |
the element of chance, or both, makes individual prize | 1424 |
determinations for individual participants in cash, premiums, | 1425 |
merchandise, tokens, or any thing of value, whether the payoff is | 1426 |
made automatically from the machine or in any other manner. | 1427 |
| 1428 |
in Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. | 1429 |
(AA) "Sweepstakes terminal device distributor" means any | 1430 |
person who purchases or obtains sweepstakes terminal devices and | 1431 |
who does any of the following: | 1432 |
(1) Sells, offers for sale, leases, or otherwise provides or | 1433 |
offers to provide sweepstakes terminal devices to another person | 1434 |
for use in this state; | 1435 |
(2) Modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from | 1436 |
sweepstakes terminal devices to further their promotion or sale | 1437 |
for use in this state; or | 1438 |
(3) Assembles completed sweepstakes terminal devices from raw | 1439 |
materials, other items, or subparts. | 1440 |
(BB) "Sweepstakes terminal device operator" means a person | 1441 |
that provides sweepstakes terminal devices to a sweepstakes | 1442 |
entrant. | 1443 |
(CC) "Table game" means any game played with cards, dice, or | 1444 |
any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device or machine | 1445 |
for money, casino credit, or any representative of value. "Table | 1446 |
game" does not include slot machines. | 1447 |
| 1448 |
issued to a casino operator. | 1449 |
| 1450 |
provided by the commission that allows persons to voluntarily | 1451 |
exclude themselves from the gaming areas of facilities under the | 1452 |
jurisdiction of the commission by placing their name on a | 1453 |
voluntary exclusion list and following the procedures set forth by | 1454 |
the commission. | 1455 |
Sec. 3772.02. (A) There is hereby created the Ohio casino | 1456 |
control commission described in Section 6(C)(1) of Article XV, | 1457 |
Ohio Constitution. | 1458 |
(B) The commission shall consist of seven members appointed | 1459 |
within one month of | 1460 |
10, 2010, by the governor with the advice and consent of the | 1461 |
senate. The governor shall forward all appointments to the senate | 1462 |
within twenty-four hours. | 1463 |
(1) Each commission member is eligible for reappointment at | 1464 |
the discretion of the governor. No commission member shall be | 1465 |
appointed for more than three terms in total. | 1466 |
(2) Each commission member shall be a resident of Ohio. | 1467 |
(3) At least one commission member shall be experienced in | 1468 |
law enforcement and criminal investigation. | 1469 |
(4) At least one commission member shall be a certified | 1470 |
public accountant experienced in accounting and auditing. | 1471 |
(5) At least one commission member shall be an attorney | 1472 |
admitted to the practice of law in Ohio. | 1473 |
(6) At least one commission member shall be a resident of a | 1474 |
county where one of the casino facilities is located. | 1475 |
(7) Not more than four commission members shall be of the | 1476 |
same political party. | 1477 |
(8) No commission member shall have any affiliation with an | 1478 |
Ohio casino operator or facility. | 1479 |
(C) Commission members shall serve four-year terms, except | 1480 |
that when the governor makes initial appointments to the | 1481 |
commission under this chapter, the governor shall appoint three | 1482 |
members to serve four-year terms with not more than two such | 1483 |
members from the same political party, two members to serve | 1484 |
three-year terms with such members not being from the same | 1485 |
political party, and two members to serve two-year terms with such | 1486 |
members not being from the same political party. | 1487 |
(D) Each commission member shall hold office from the date of | 1488 |
appointment until the end of the term for which the member was | 1489 |
appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before | 1490 |
the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was | 1491 |
appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired | 1492 |
term. Any member shall continue in office after the expiration | 1493 |
date of the member's term until the member's successor takes | 1494 |
office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever | 1495 |
occurs first. A vacancy in the commission membership shall be | 1496 |
filled in the same manner as the original appointment. | 1497 |
(E) The governor shall select one member to serve as | 1498 |
chairperson and the commission members shall select one member | 1499 |
from a different party than the chairperson to serve as | 1500 |
vice-chairperson. The governor may remove and replace the | 1501 |
chairperson at any time. No such member shall serve as chairperson | 1502 |
for more than six successive years. The vice-chairperson shall | 1503 |
assume the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the | 1504 |
chairperson. The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall perform | 1505 |
but shall not be limited to additional duties as are prescribed by | 1506 |
commission rule. | 1507 |
(F) A commission member is not required to devote the | 1508 |
member's full time to membership on the commission. Each member of | 1509 |
the commission shall receive compensation of sixty thousand | 1510 |
dollars per year, payable in monthly installments for the first | 1511 |
four years of the commission's existence. Each member shall | 1512 |
receive the member's actual and necessary expenses incurred in the | 1513 |
discharge of the member's official duties. | 1514 |
(G) The governor shall not appoint an individual to the | 1515 |
commission, and an individual shall not serve on the commission, | 1516 |
if the individual has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no | 1517 |
contest to a disqualifying offense as defined in section 3772.07 | 1518 |
of the Revised Code. Members coming under indictment or bill of | 1519 |
information of a disqualifying offense shall resign from the | 1520 |
commission immediately upon indictment. | 1521 |
(H) At least five commission members shall be present for the | 1522 |
commission to meet. The concurrence of four members is necessary | 1523 |
for the commission to take any action. All members shall vote on | 1524 |
the adoption of rules, and the approval of, and the suspension or | 1525 |
revocation of, the licenses | 1526 |
1527 | |
leave of absence filed with and approved by the chairperson. | 1528 |
(I) A commission member may be removed or suspended from | 1529 |
office in accordance with section 3.04 of the Revised Code. | 1530 |
(J) Each commission member, before entering upon the | 1531 |
discharge of the member's official duties, shall make an oath to | 1532 |
uphold the Ohio Constitution and laws of the state of Ohio and | 1533 |
shall give a bond, payable by the commission, to the treasurer of | 1534 |
state, in the sum of ten thousand dollars with sufficient sureties | 1535 |
to be approved by the treasurer of state, which bond shall be | 1536 |
filed with the secretary of state. | 1537 |
(K) The commission shall hold one regular meeting each month | 1538 |
and shall convene other meetings at the request of the chairperson | 1539 |
or a majority of the members. A member who fails to attend at | 1540 |
least three-fifths of the regular and special meetings of the | 1541 |
commission during any two-year period forfeits membership on the | 1542 |
commission. All meetings of the commission shall be open meetings | 1543 |
under section 121.22 of the Revised Code except as otherwise | 1544 |
allowed by law. | 1545 |
Sec. 3772.03. (A) To ensure the integrity of casino gaming, | 1546 |
the commission shall have authority to complete the functions of | 1547 |
licensing, regulating, investigating, and penalizing casino | 1548 |
operators, management companies, holding companies, key employees, | 1549 |
casino gaming employees, and gaming-related vendors. The | 1550 |
commission also shall have jurisdiction over all persons | 1551 |
participating in casino gaming authorized by Section 6(C) of | 1552 |
Article XV, Ohio Constitution, and this chapter. | 1553 |
(B) To ensure the integrity of skill-based amusement machines | 1554 |
and sweepstakes terminal devices, the commission shall have the | 1555 |
authority to complete the functions of licensing, regulating, | 1556 |
investigating, and penalizing skill-based amusement machine | 1557 |
distributors and operators and sweepstakes terminal device | 1558 |
distributors and operators. | 1559 |
(C) All rules adopted by the commission under this chapter | 1560 |
shall be adopted under procedures established in Chapter 119. of | 1561 |
the Revised Code. The commission may contract for the services of | 1562 |
experts and consultants to assist the commission in carrying out | 1563 |
its duties under this section. | 1564 |
| 1565 |
1566 | |
rules as are necessary for completing the functions stated in | 1567 |
1568 | |
the subjects enumerated in division | 1569 |
| 1570 |
necessary shall amend or repeal, rules that include all of the | 1571 |
following: | 1572 |
(1) The prevention of practices detrimental to the public | 1573 |
interest; | 1574 |
(2) Prescribing the method of applying, and the form of | 1575 |
application, that an applicant for a license under this chapter | 1576 |
must follow as otherwise described in this chapter; | 1577 |
(3) Prescribing the information to be furnished by an | 1578 |
applicant or licensee as described in | 1579 |
1580 |
(4) Describing the certification standards and duties of the | 1581 |
following: an independent testing laboratory certified under | 1582 |
section 3772.31 of the Revised Code and the relationship between | 1583 |
the commission, the laboratory, the gaming-related vendor, and the | 1584 |
casino operator; a skill-based amusement machine distributor; a | 1585 |
skill-based amusement machine operator; a sweepstakes terminal | 1586 |
device distributor; and a sweepstakes terminal device operator; | 1587 |
(5) The minimum amount of insurance that must be maintained | 1588 |
by a casino operator, management company, holding company, | 1589 |
gaming-related vendor, skill-based amusement machine distributor, | 1590 |
skill-based amusement machine operator, sweepstakes terminal | 1591 |
device distributor, or sweepstakes terminal device operator; | 1592 |
(6) The approval process for a significant change in | 1593 |
ownership or transfer of control of a licensee as provided in | 1594 |
section 3772.091 of the Revised Code; | 1595 |
(7) The design of gaming supplies, devices, and equipment to | 1596 |
be distributed by gaming-related vendors, skill-based amusement | 1597 |
machine distributors, skill-based amusement machine operators, | 1598 |
sweepstakes terminal device distributors, and sweepstakes terminal | 1599 |
device operators; | 1600 |
(8) | 1601 |
machine gaming, and sweepstakes terminal device gaming that is | 1602 |
licensed by the commission: | 1603 |
(a) Identifying the | 1604 |
1605 |
(b) Identifying the gaming supplies, devices, and equipment, | 1606 |
that are permitted | 1607 |
(c) Defining the area in which the permitted casino gaming | 1608 |
may be conducted | 1609 |
(d) Specifying the method of operation according to which the | 1610 |
permitted | 1611 |
1612 |
(e) Requiring gaming devices and equipment to meet the | 1613 |
standards of this state; | 1614 |
(9) Tournament play in any casino facility; | 1615 |
(10) Establishing and implementing a voluntary exclusion | 1616 |
program that provides all of the following: | 1617 |
(a) Except as provided by commission rule, a person who | 1618 |
participates in the program shall agree to refrain from entering a | 1619 |
casino facility. | 1620 |
(b) The name of a person participating in the program shall | 1621 |
be included on a list of persons excluded from all casino | 1622 |
facilities. | 1623 |
(c) Except as provided by commission rule, no person who | 1624 |
participates in the program shall petition the commission for | 1625 |
admittance into a casino facility. | 1626 |
(d) The list of persons participating in the program and the | 1627 |
personal information of those persons shall be confidential and | 1628 |
shall only be disseminated by the commission to a casino operator | 1629 |
and the agents and employees of the casino operator for purposes | 1630 |
of enforcement and to other entities, upon request of the | 1631 |
participant and agreement by the commission. | 1632 |
(e) A casino operator shall make all reasonable attempts as | 1633 |
determined by the commission to cease all direct marketing efforts | 1634 |
to a person participating in the program. | 1635 |
(f) A casino operator shall not cash the check of a person | 1636 |
participating in the program or extend credit to the person in any | 1637 |
manner. However, the program shall not exclude a casino operator | 1638 |
from seeking the payment of a debt accrued by a person before | 1639 |
participating in the program. | 1640 |
(g) Any and all locations at which a person may register as a | 1641 |
participant in the program shall be published. | 1642 |
(11) Requiring the commission to adopt standards regarding | 1643 |
the marketing materials of a licensed casino operator, a | 1644 |
skill-based amusement machine distributor, a skill-based amusement | 1645 |
machine operator, a sweepstakes terminal device distributor, and a | 1646 |
sweepstakes terminal device operator, including allowing the | 1647 |
commission to prohibit marketing materials that are contrary to | 1648 |
the adopted standards; | 1649 |
(12) Requiring that the records, including financial | 1650 |
statements, of any casino operator, management company, holding | 1651 |
company, | 1652 |
distributor, skill-based amusement machine operator, sweepstakes | 1653 |
terminal device distributor, and sweepstakes terminal device | 1654 |
operator be maintained in the manner prescribed by the commission | 1655 |
and made available for inspection upon demand by the commission, | 1656 |
but shall be subject to section 3772.16 of the Revised Code; | 1657 |
(13) Permitting a licensed casino operator, management | 1658 |
company, key employee, | 1659 |
amusement machine distributor, skill-based amusement machine | 1660 |
operator, sweepstakes terminal device distributor, or sweepstakes | 1661 |
terminal device operator to question a person suspected of | 1662 |
violating this chapter; | 1663 |
(14) The chips, tokens, tickets, electronic cards, or similar | 1664 |
objects that may be purchased by means of an agreement under which | 1665 |
credit is extended to a wagerer by a casino operator; | 1666 |
(15) Establishing standards for provisional key employee | 1667 |
licenses for a person who is required to be licensed as a key | 1668 |
employee and is in exigent circumstances and standards for | 1669 |
provisional licenses for casino gaming employees who submit | 1670 |
complete applications and are compliant under an instant | 1671 |
background check. A provisional license shall be valid not longer | 1672 |
than three months. A provisional license may be renewed one time, | 1673 |
at the commission's discretion, for an additional three months. In | 1674 |
establishing standards with regard to instant background checks | 1675 |
the commission shall take notice of criminal records checks as | 1676 |
they are conducted under section 311.41 of the Revised Code using | 1677 |
electronic fingerprint reading devices. | 1678 |
(16) Establishing approval procedures for third-party | 1679 |
engineering or accounting firms, as described in section 3772.09 | 1680 |
of the Revised Code; | 1681 |
(17) Prescribing the manner in which winnings, compensation | 1682 |
from casino gaming, and gross revenue must be computed and | 1683 |
reported by a licensee as described in Chapter 5753. of the | 1684 |
Revised Code; | 1685 |
(18) Prescribing the manner in which winnings or compensation | 1686 |
from skill-based amusement devices or sweepstakes terminal devices | 1687 |
must be computed and reported by a licensee under this chapter; | 1688 |
(19) Prescribing conditions under which a licensee's license | 1689 |
may be suspended or revoked as described in section 3772.04 of the | 1690 |
Revised Code; | 1691 |
| 1692 |
to be conducted by the commission or by any hearing examiner; | 1693 |
| 1694 |
that are to be met by security and surveillance equipment that is | 1695 |
used at and standards and requirements to be met by personnel who | 1696 |
are employed at casino facilities and skill-based amusement | 1697 |
machine operator's and sweepstakes terminal device operator's | 1698 |
facilities, and standards and requirements for the provision of | 1699 |
security at and surveillance of casino facilities and skill-based | 1700 |
amusement machine operator's and sweepstakes terminal device | 1701 |
operator's facilities; | 1702 |
| 1703 |
provide unarmed security services at a casino facility by licensed | 1704 |
casino employees, and the training that shall be completed by | 1705 |
these employees; | 1706 |
| 1707 |
operators shall keep accounts and standards according to which | 1708 |
casino accounts shall be audited, and establish means of assisting | 1709 |
the tax commissioner in levying and collecting the gross casino | 1710 |
revenue tax levied under section 5753.02 of the Revised Code; | 1711 |
| 1712 |
amusement machine distributors, skill-based amusement machine | 1713 |
operators, sweepstakes terminal device distributors, and | 1714 |
sweepstakes terminal device operators shall keep accounts, | 1715 |
standards to audit such accounts and establishing means to assist | 1716 |
the tax commissioner in levying and collecting all applicable | 1717 |
taxes; | 1718 |
(25) Defining penalties for violation of commission rules and | 1719 |
a process for imposing such penalties subject to the review of the | 1720 |
joint committee on gaming and wagering; | 1721 |
| 1722 |
that violate statutes or rules of this state or the federal | 1723 |
government; | 1724 |
| 1725 |
gaming equipment, skill-based amusement machines, and sweepstakes | 1726 |
terminal devices; | 1727 |
| 1728 |
operators, management companies, and holding companies are | 1729 |
compliant with the compulsive and problem gambling plan submitted | 1730 |
under section 3772.18 of the Revised Code; | 1731 |
| 1732 |
for successful and efficient regulation of casino gaming, | 1733 |
skill-based amusement machines, and sweepstakes terminal devices | 1734 |
under this chapter. | 1735 |
| 1736 |
as necessary to assist the commission in carrying out the duties | 1737 |
of this chapter. In order to maintain employment as a gaming | 1738 |
agent, the gaming agent shall successfully complete all continuing | 1739 |
training programs required by the commission and shall not have | 1740 |
been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a | 1741 |
disqualifying offense as defined in section 3772.07 of the Revised | 1742 |
Code. | 1743 |
| 1744 |
authority with regard to the detection and investigation of, the | 1745 |
seizure of evidence allegedly relating to, and the apprehension | 1746 |
and arrest of persons allegedly committing gaming offenses, and | 1747 |
shall have access to | 1748 |
the requirements of this chapter. | 1749 |
| 1750 |
ejection or exclusion of and a gaming agent may eject a person | 1751 |
from a casino facility, a skill-based amusement machine facility, | 1752 |
and a sweepstakes terminal device facility for any of the | 1753 |
following reasons: | 1754 |
(1) The person's name is on the list of persons voluntarily | 1755 |
excluding themselves from all casinos in a program established | 1756 |
according to rules adopted by the commission; | 1757 |
(2) The person violates or conspires to violate this chapter | 1758 |
or a rule adopted thereunder; or | 1759 |
(3) The commission determines that the person's conduct or | 1760 |
reputation is such that the person's presence within such a | 1761 |
facility may call into question the honesty and integrity of the | 1762 |
1763 | |
conduct of the | 1764 |
| 1765 |
voluntary exclusion program, may petition the commission for a | 1766 |
public hearing on the person's ejection or exclusion under this | 1767 |
chapter. | 1768 |
| 1769 |
same authority to eject or exclude a person from the management | 1770 |
company's casino facilities as authorized in division (G) of this | 1771 |
section. The licensee shall immediately notify the commission of | 1772 |
an ejection or exclusion. | 1773 |
| 1774 |
with the governor, president and minority leader of the senate, | 1775 |
speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, and | 1776 |
joint committee on gaming and wagering before the first day of | 1777 |
September each year. The annual report shall include a statement | 1778 |
describing the receipts and disbursements of the commission, | 1779 |
relevant financial data regarding casino gaming, including gross | 1780 |
revenues and disbursements made under this chapter, actions taken | 1781 |
by the commission, an update on casino operators', management | 1782 |
companies', and holding companies' compulsive and problem gambling | 1783 |
plans and the voluntary exclusion program and list, and any | 1784 |
additional information that the commission considers useful or | 1785 |
that the governor, president or minority leader of the senate, | 1786 |
speaker or minority leader of the house of representatives, or | 1787 |
joint committee on gaming and wagering requests. | 1788 |
| 1789 |
July 1, 2011, the commission shall assume jurisdiction over and | 1790 |
oversee the regulation of skill-based amusement machines and | 1791 |
sweepstakes terminal devices as is provided in the law of this | 1792 |
state. | 1793 |
Sec. 3772.032. (A) The permanent joint committee on gaming | 1794 |
and wagering is established. The committee consists of six | 1795 |
members. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint | 1796 |
to the committee three members of the house of representatives and | 1797 |
the president of the senate shall appoint to the committee three | 1798 |
members of the senate. Not more than two members appointed from | 1799 |
each chamber may be members of the same political party. The | 1800 |
chairperson shall be from the opposite party as the chairperson of | 1801 |
the joint committee on agency rule review. If the chairperson is | 1802 |
to be from the house of representatives, the speaker of the house | 1803 |
of representatives shall designate a member as the chairperson and | 1804 |
the president of the senate shall designate a member as the | 1805 |
vice-chairperson. If the chairperson is to be from the senate, the | 1806 |
president of the senate shall designate a member as the | 1807 |
chairperson and the speaker of the house of representatives shall | 1808 |
designate a member as the vice-chairperson. | 1809 |
(B) The committee shall: | 1810 |
(1) Review all constitutional amendments, laws, and rules | 1811 |
governing the operation and administration of | 1812 |
gaming and all authorized | 1813 |
activities and recommend to the general assembly and commission | 1814 |
any changes it may find desirable with respect to the language, | 1815 |
structure, and organization of those amendments, laws, or rules; | 1816 |
(2) Make an annual report to the governor and to the general | 1817 |
assembly with respect of the operation and administration of | 1818 |
1819 |
(3) Review all changes of fees and penalties as provided in | 1820 |
this chapter and rules adopted thereunder; and | 1821 |
(4) Study all proposed changes to the constitution and laws | 1822 |
of this state and to the rules adopted by the commission governing | 1823 |
the operation and administration of | 1824 |
report to the general assembly on their adequacy and desirability | 1825 |
as a matter of public policy. | 1826 |
(C) Any study, or any expense incurred, in furtherance of the | 1827 |
committee's objectives shall be paid for from, or out of, the | 1828 |
casino control commission fund or other appropriation provided by | 1829 |
law. The members shall receive no additional compensation, but | 1830 |
shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in | 1831 |
the performance of their official duties. | 1832 |
Sec. 3772.033. In carrying out the responsibilities vested in | 1833 |
the commission by this chapter, the commission may do all the | 1834 |
following and may designate any such responsibilities to the | 1835 |
executive director, to the commission's employees, or to the | 1836 |
gaming agents: | 1837 |
(A) Inspect and examine all premises where | 1838 |
gaming is conducted under this chapter or where gaming supplies, | 1839 |
devices, or equipment are manufactured, sold, or distributed; | 1840 |
(B) Inspect all gaming supplies, devices, and equipment in or | 1841 |
about a | 1842 |
(C) Summarily impound and seize and remove from the | 1843 |
licensed facility premises gaming supplies, devices, and equipment | 1844 |
for the purpose of examination and inspection; | 1845 |
(D) Determine any facts, or any conditions, practices, or | 1846 |
other matters, as the commission considers necessary or proper to | 1847 |
aid in the enforcement of this chapter or of a rule adopted | 1848 |
thereunder; | 1849 |
(E) Audit licensed gaming operations, including those that | 1850 |
have ceased operation; | 1851 |
(F) Investigate, for the purpose of prosecution, any | 1852 |
suspected violation of this chapter or rules adopted thereunder; | 1853 |
(G) Investigate as appropriate to aid the commission and to | 1854 |
seek the executive director's advice in adopting rules; | 1855 |
(H) Secure information as is necessary to provide a basis for | 1856 |
recommending legislation for the improvement of this chapter; | 1857 |
(I) Make, execute, and otherwise effectuate all contracts and | 1858 |
other agreements, including contracts for necessary purchases of | 1859 |
goods and services. Except for any contract entered into with | 1860 |
independent testing laboratories under section 3772.31 of the | 1861 |
Revised Code, the commission shall ensure use of Ohio products or | 1862 |
services in compliance with sections 125.09 and 125.11 of the | 1863 |
Revised Code and all rules adopted thereunder. | 1864 |
(J) Employ the services of persons the commission considers | 1865 |
necessary for the purposes of consultation or investigation, and | 1866 |
fix the salaries of, or contract for the services of, legal, with | 1867 |
the consent of the attorney general, accounting, technical, | 1868 |
operational, and other personnel and consultants | 1869 |
general shall serve as the chief legal representative for the | 1870 |
commission. Under section 109.07 of the Revised Code, the attorney | 1871 |
general may appoint special counsel to assist in representation of | 1872 |
the commission. | 1873 |
(K) Secure, by agreement, information and services as the | 1874 |
commission considers necessary from any state agency or other unit | 1875 |
of state government; | 1876 |
(L) Acquire furnishings, equipment, supplies, stationery, | 1877 |
books, and all other things the commission considers necessary or | 1878 |
desirable to successfully and efficiently carry out the | 1879 |
commission's duties and functions; | 1880 |
(M) Take any other necessary and reasonable action to | 1881 |
determine if a violation of any provision of sections 2915.01 to | 1882 |
2915.13 and Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code has occurred; | 1883 |
(N) Perform all other things the commission considers | 1884 |
necessary to effectuate the intents and purposes of this chapter. | 1885 |
This section shall not prohibit the commission from imposing | 1886 |
administrative discipline, including fines and suspension or | 1887 |
revocation of licenses, on licensees under this chapter if the | 1888 |
licensee is found to be in violation of the commission's rules. | 1889 |
Sec. 3772.04. (A)(1) If, as the result of an investigation, | 1890 |
the commission concludes that a license or finding required by | 1891 |
this chapter should be limited, conditioned, or restricted, or | 1892 |
suspended or revoked, the commission shall conduct an adjudication | 1893 |
under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. | 1894 |
(2) The commission shall appoint a hearing examiner to | 1895 |
conduct the hearing in the adjudication. A party to the | 1896 |
adjudication may file written objections to the hearing examiner's | 1897 |
report and recommendations not later than the thirtieth day after | 1898 |
they are served upon the party or the party's attorney or other | 1899 |
representative of record. The commission shall not take up the | 1900 |
hearing examiner's report and recommendations earlier than the | 1901 |
thirtieth day after the hearing examiner's report and | 1902 |
recommendations were submitted to the commission. | 1903 |
(3) If the commission finds that a person has violated this | 1904 |
chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code or a rule adopted | 1905 |
thereunder, the commission may issue an order: | 1906 |
(a) Limiting, conditioning, or restricting, or suspending or | 1907 |
revoking, a license issued under this chapter; | 1908 |
(b) Limiting, conditioning, or restricting, or suspending or | 1909 |
revoking, a finding made under this chapter; | 1910 |
(c) Requiring a casino facility to exclude a licensee from | 1911 |
the casino facility or requiring a casino facility not to pay to | 1912 |
the licensee any remuneration for services or any share of | 1913 |
profits, income, or accruals on the licensee's investment in the | 1914 |
casino facility; or | 1915 |
(d) Fining a licensee or other person according to the | 1916 |
penalties adopted by the commission. | 1917 |
(4) An order may be judicially reviewed under section 119.12 | 1918 |
of the Revised Code. | 1919 |
(B) For the purpose of conducting any study or investigation, | 1920 |
the commission may direct that public hearings be held at a time | 1921 |
and place, prescribed by the commission, in accordance with | 1922 |
section 121.22 of the Revised Code. The commission shall give | 1923 |
notice of all public hearings in such manner as will give actual | 1924 |
notice to all interested parties. | 1925 |
(C) In the discharge of any duties imposed by this chapter, | 1926 |
the commission may require that testimony be given under oath and | 1927 |
administer such oath, issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of | 1928 |
witnesses and the production of any papers, books, and accounts, | 1929 |
and cause the deposition of any witness. In the event of the | 1930 |
refusal of any person without good cause to comply with the terms | 1931 |
of a subpoena issued by the commission or refusal to testify on | 1932 |
matters about which the person may lawfully be questioned, the | 1933 |
prosecuting attorney of the county in which such person resides, | 1934 |
upon the petition of the commission, may bring a proceeding for | 1935 |
contempt against such person in the court of common pleas of that | 1936 |
county. | 1937 |
(D) When conducting a public hearing, the commission shall | 1938 |
not limit the number of speakers who may testify. However, the | 1939 |
commission may set reasonable time limits on the length of an | 1940 |
individual's testimony or the total amount of time allotted to | 1941 |
proponents and opponents of an issue before the commission. | 1942 |
(E) An administrative law judge appointed by the commission | 1943 |
may conduct a hearing under this chapter and recommend findings of | 1944 |
fact and decisions to the commission. | 1945 |
(F) The commission may rely, in whole or in part, upon | 1946 |
investigations, conclusions, or findings of other casino gaming | 1947 |
commissions or other government regulatory bodies in connection | 1948 |
with licensing, investigations, or other matters relating to an | 1949 |
applicant or licensee under this chapter. | 1950 |
Sec. 3772.06. (A)(1) The commission shall appoint an | 1951 |
executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of the | 1952 |
commission. The executive director is in the unclassified service, | 1953 |
shall devote full time to the duties of the office, and shall hold | 1954 |
no other office or employment. The executive director shall, by | 1955 |
experience and training, possess management skills that equip the | 1956 |
executive director to administer an enterprise of the nature of | 1957 |
the commission. The executive director shall not have a pecuniary | 1958 |
interest in any business organization that holds a license under | 1959 |
this chapter, or that does business with any person licensed under | 1960 |
this chapter. A member of the general assembly, a person who holds | 1961 |
an elective office, or an office holder of a political party is | 1962 |
ineligible to be appointed executive director at the same time as | 1963 |
being such a member or holding such an office. The executive | 1964 |
director shall receive an annual salary in accordance with pay | 1965 |
range 48 of section 124.152 of the Revised Code. | 1966 |
(2) The executive director, before entering upon the | 1967 |
discharge of the executive director's official duties, shall give, | 1968 |
and thereafter shall maintain, bond in the amount of twenty-five | 1969 |
thousand dollars, payable to the state, conditioned upon the | 1970 |
executive director's faithful and proper performance of the | 1971 |
executive director's official duties. The bond shall be issued by | 1972 |
a surety authorized to do business in this state and shall be | 1973 |
filed with the secretary of state. The bond may be an individual | 1974 |
bond or a schedule or blanket bond. | 1975 |
(B)(1) The executive director or a deputy designated in | 1976 |
writing by the executive director shall attend all meetings of the | 1977 |
commission and shall act as its secretary. The executive director | 1978 |
shall keep a record of all commission proceedings and shall keep | 1979 |
the commission's records, files, and documents at the commission's | 1980 |
principal office. | 1981 |
(2) The executive director shall be the chief executive | 1982 |
officer and shall be responsible for keeping all commission | 1983 |
records and supervising and administering | 1984 |
in accordance with this chapter, and enforcing all commission | 1985 |
rules adopted under this chapter. | 1986 |
(3) The executive director shall hire staff, including an | 1987 |
assistant director or deputy directors, as necessary to assist the | 1988 |
executive director in the executive director's duties under this | 1989 |
chapter. In appointing employees, the executive director is | 1990 |
subject to section 3772.061 of the Revised Code. The executive | 1991 |
director may employ employees as necessary, unless the commission | 1992 |
determines otherwise. Except as otherwise provided in this | 1993 |
chapter, all costs of administration incurred by the executive | 1994 |
director and the executive director's employees shall be paid out | 1995 |
of the casino control commission fund. | 1996 |
(C) A state agency or other unit of state government shall | 1997 |
cooperate with the commission, and shall provide the commission | 1998 |
with information and services the commission considers necessary | 1999 |
to carry out the commission's duties and functions under this | 2000 |
chapter. | 2001 |
(D) The executive director shall confer at least once each | 2002 |
month with the commission, at which time the executive director | 2003 |
shall advise it regarding the operation and administration of the | 2004 |
commission and | 2005 |
shall make available at the request of the commission all | 2006 |
documents, files, and other records pertaining to the operation | 2007 |
and administration of the commission and | 2008 |
The executive director shall prepare and make available to the | 2009 |
commission each month a complete and accurate accounting of gross | 2010 |
casino gaming revenues and other licensed gaming revenues, and all | 2011 |
other relevant financial information, including an accounting of | 2012 |
all transfers made from the casino control commission fund. | 2013 |
Sec. 3772.07. The following appointing or licensing | 2014 |
authorities shall obtain a criminal records check of the person | 2015 |
who is to be appointed or licensed: | 2016 |
(A) The governor, before appointing an individual as a member | 2017 |
of the commission; | 2018 |
(B) The commission, before appointing an individual as | 2019 |
executive director or a gaming agent; | 2020 |
(C) The commission, before issuing a license for a key | 2021 |
employee or casino gaming employee, and before issuing a license | 2022 |
for each investor, except an institutional investor, for a casino | 2023 |
operator, management company, holding company, or gaming-related | 2024 |
vendor; | 2025 |
(D) The commission, before issuing a license for a | 2026 |
skill-based amusement machine distributor, a skill-based amusement | 2027 |
machine operator, a sweepstakes terminal device distributor, or a | 2028 |
sweepstakes terminal device operator; | 2029 |
(E) The executive director, before appointing an individual | 2030 |
as a professional, technical, or clerical employee of the | 2031 |
commission. | 2032 |
Thereafter, such an appointing or licensing authority shall | 2033 |
obtain a criminal records check of the same individual at | 2034 |
three-year intervals. | 2035 |
The appointing or licensing authority shall provide to each | 2036 |
person of whom a criminal records check is required a copy of the | 2037 |
form and the standard fingerprint impression sheet prescribed | 2038 |
under divisions (C)(1) and (2) of section 109.572 of the Revised | 2039 |
Code. The person shall complete the form and impression sheet and | 2040 |
return them to the appointing or licensing authority. If a person | 2041 |
fails to complete and return the form and impression sheet within | 2042 |
a reasonable time, the person is ineligible to be appointed or | 2043 |
licensed or to continue in the appointment or licensure. | 2044 |
The appointing or licensing authority shall forward the | 2045 |
completed form and impression sheet to the superintendent of the | 2046 |
bureau of criminal identification and investigation. The | 2047 |
appointing or licensing authority shall request the superintendent | 2048 |
also to obtain information from the federal bureau of | 2049 |
investigation, including fingerprint-based checks of the national | 2050 |
crime information databases, and from other states and the federal | 2051 |
government under the national crime prevention and privacy compact | 2052 |
as part of the criminal records check. | 2053 |
The commission shall pay the fee the bureau of criminal | 2054 |
identification and investigation charges for all criminal records | 2055 |
checks conducted under this section. An applicant for a casino | 2056 |
operator, management company, holding company, | 2057 |
vendor, skill-based amusement machine distributor, skill-based | 2058 |
amusement machine operator, sweepstakes terminal device | 2059 |
distributor, or sweepstakes terminal device operator license shall | 2060 |
reimburse the commission for the amount of the fee paid on the | 2061 |
applicant's behalf. An applicant for a key employee or casino | 2062 |
gaming employee license shall reimburse the commission for the | 2063 |
amount of the fee paid on the applicant's behalf, unless the | 2064 |
applicant is applying at the request of a casino operator or | 2065 |
management company, in which case the casino operator or | 2066 |
management company shall reimburse the commission. | 2067 |
The appointing or licensing authority shall review the | 2068 |
results of a criminal records check. An appointee for a commission | 2069 |
member shall forward the results of the criminal records check to | 2070 |
the president of the senate before the senate advises and consents | 2071 |
to the appointment of the commission member. The appointing or | 2072 |
licensing authority shall not appoint or license or retain the | 2073 |
appointment or licensure of a person a criminal records check | 2074 |
discloses has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty or no | 2075 |
contest to a disqualifying offense. A "disqualifying offense" | 2076 |
means any gambling offense, any theft offense, any offense having | 2077 |
an element of fraud or misrepresentation, any offense having an | 2078 |
element of moral turpitude, and any felony not otherwise included | 2079 |
in the foregoing list | 2080 |
2081 |
The report of a criminal records check is not a public record | 2082 |
that is open to public inspection and copying. The commission | 2083 |
shall not make the report available to any person other than the | 2084 |
person who was the subject of the criminal records check; an | 2085 |
appointing or licensing authority; a member, the executive | 2086 |
director, or an employee of the commission; or any court or | 2087 |
agency, including a hearing examiner, in a judicial or | 2088 |
administrative proceeding relating to the person's employment with | 2089 |
the entity requesting the criminal records check in which the | 2090 |
criminal records check is relevant. | 2091 |
Sec. 3772.10. (A) In determining whether to grant or maintain | 2092 |
the privilege of a | 2093 |
2094 | |
2095 | |
commission shall consider all of the following, as applicable: | 2096 |
(1) The reputation, experience, and financial integrity of | 2097 |
the applicant, its holding company, if applicable, and any other | 2098 |
person that directly or indirectly controls the applicant; | 2099 |
(2) The financial ability of the applicant to purchase and | 2100 |
maintain adequate liability and casualty insurance and to provide | 2101 |
an adequate surety bond; | 2102 |
(3) The past and present compliance of the applicant and its | 2103 |
affiliates or affiliated companies with casino-related licensing | 2104 |
requirements in this state or any other jurisdiction, including | 2105 |
whether the applicant has a history of noncompliance with the | 2106 |
casino licensing requirements of any jurisdiction; | 2107 |
(4) If the applicant has been indicted, convicted, pleaded | 2108 |
guilty or no contest, or forfeited bail concerning any criminal | 2109 |
offense under the laws of any jurisdiction, either felony or | 2110 |
misdemeanor, not including traffic violations; | 2111 |
(5) If the applicant has filed, or had filed against it a | 2112 |
proceeding for bankruptcy or has ever been involved in any formal | 2113 |
process to adjust, defer, suspend, or otherwise work out the | 2114 |
payment of any debt; | 2115 |
(6) If the applicant has been served with a complaint or | 2116 |
other notice filed with any public body regarding a payment of any | 2117 |
tax required under federal, state, or local law that has been | 2118 |
delinquent for one or more years; | 2119 |
(7) If the applicant is or has been a defendant in litigation | 2120 |
involving its business practices; | 2121 |
(8) If awarding a license would undermine the public's | 2122 |
confidence in the casino gaming industry in this state; | 2123 |
(9) If the applicant meets other standards for the issuance | 2124 |
of a license that the commission adopts by rule, which shall not | 2125 |
be arbitrary, capricious, or contradictory to the expressed | 2126 |
provisions of this chapter. | 2127 |
(B) All applicants for a license under this chapter shall | 2128 |
establish their suitability for a license by clear and convincing | 2129 |
evidence. If the commission determines that a person is eligible | 2130 |
under this chapter to be issued a license | 2131 |
2132 | |
2133 | |
such license for not more than three years, as determined by | 2134 |
commission rule, if all other requirements of this chapter have | 2135 |
been satisfied. | 2136 |
(C) The commission shall not issue a | 2137 |
2138 | |
2139 | |
an applicant if: | 2140 |
(1) The applicant has been convicted of a disqualifying | 2141 |
offense, as defined in section 3772.07 of the Revised Code. | 2142 |
(2) The applicant has submitted an application for license | 2143 |
under this chapter that contains false information. | 2144 |
(3) The applicant is a commission member. | 2145 |
(4) The applicant owns an ownership interest that is unlawful | 2146 |
under this chapter, unless waived by the commission. | 2147 |
(5) The applicant violates specific rules adopted by the | 2148 |
commission related to denial of licensure. | 2149 |
(6) The applicant is a member of or employed by a gaming | 2150 |
regulatory body of a governmental unit in this state, another | 2151 |
state, or the federal government, or is employed by a governmental | 2152 |
unit of this state. This division does not prohibit a casino | 2153 |
operator from hiring special duty law enforcement officers if the | 2154 |
officers are not specifically involved in gaming-related | 2155 |
regulatory functions. | 2156 |
(7) The commission otherwise determines the applicant is | 2157 |
ineligible for the license. | 2158 |
(D)(1) The commission shall investigate the qualifications of | 2159 |
each applicant under this chapter before any license is issued and | 2160 |
before any finding with regard to acts or transactions for which | 2161 |
commission approval is required is made. The commission shall | 2162 |
continue to observe the conduct of all licensees and all other | 2163 |
persons having a material involvement directly or indirectly with | 2164 |
a | 2165 |
to ensure that licenses are not issued to or held by, or that | 2166 |
there is not any material involvement with a | 2167 |
2168 | |
unqualified, disqualified, or unsuitable person or a person whose | 2169 |
operations are conducted in an unsuitable manner or in unsuitable | 2170 |
or prohibited places or locations. | 2171 |
(2) The executive director may recommend to the commission | 2172 |
that it deny any application, or limit, condition, or restrict, or | 2173 |
suspend or revoke, any license or finding, or impose any fine upon | 2174 |
any licensee or other person according to this chapter and the | 2175 |
rules adopted thereunder. | 2176 |
(3) A license issued under this chapter is a revocable | 2177 |
privilege. No licensee has a vested right in or under any license | 2178 |
issued under this chapter. The initial determination of the | 2179 |
commission to deny, or to limit, condition, or restrict, a license | 2180 |
may be appealed under section 2505.03 of the Revised Code. | 2181 |
(E)(1) An institutional investor otherwise required to be | 2182 |
found suitable or qualified under this chapter and the rules | 2183 |
adopted under this chapter shall be presumed suitable or qualified | 2184 |
upon submitting documentation sufficient to establish | 2185 |
qualifications as an institutional investor and upon certifying | 2186 |
all of the following: | 2187 |
(a) The institutional investor owns, holds, or controls | 2188 |
publicly traded securities issued by a licensee or holding, | 2189 |
intermediate, or parent company of a licensee or in the ordinary | 2190 |
course of business for investment purposes only. | 2191 |
(b) The institutional investor does not exercise influence | 2192 |
over the affairs of the issuer of such securities nor over any | 2193 |
licensed subsidiary of the issuer of such securities. | 2194 |
(c) The institutional investor does not intend to exercise | 2195 |
influence over the affairs of the issuer of such securities, nor | 2196 |
over any licensed subsidiary of the issuer of such securities, in | 2197 |
the future, and that it agrees to notify the commission in writing | 2198 |
within thirty days if such intent changes. | 2199 |
(2) The exercise of voting privileges with regard to publicly | 2200 |
traded securities shall not be deemed to constitute the exercise | 2201 |
of influence over the affairs of a licensee. | 2202 |
(3) The commission shall rescind the presumption of | 2203 |
suitability for an institutional investor at any time if the | 2204 |
institutional investor exercises or intends to exercise influence | 2205 |
or control over the affairs of the licensee. | 2206 |
(4) This division shall not be construed to preclude the | 2207 |
commission from investigating the suitability or qualifications of | 2208 |
an institutional investor if the commission becomes aware of facts | 2209 |
or information that may result in the institutional investor being | 2210 |
found unsuitable or disqualified. | 2211 |
(F) Information provided on the application shall be used as | 2212 |
a basis for a thorough background investigation of each applicant. | 2213 |
A false or incomplete application is cause for denial of a license | 2214 |
by the commission. All applicants and licensees shall consent to | 2215 |
inspections, searches, and seizures and to the disclosure to the | 2216 |
commission and its agents of confidential records, including tax | 2217 |
records, held by any federal, state, or local agency, credit | 2218 |
bureau, or financial institution and to provide handwriting | 2219 |
exemplars, photographs, fingerprints, and information as | 2220 |
authorized in this chapter and in rules adopted by the commission. | 2221 |
Sec. 3772.17. (A) The upfront license fee to obtain a license | 2222 |
as a casino operator shall be fifty million dollars per casino | 2223 |
facility, which shall be deposited into the economic development | 2224 |
programs fund, which is created in the state treasury. New casino | 2225 |
operator, management company, and holding company license and | 2226 |
renewal license fees shall be set by rule, subject to the review | 2227 |
of the joint committee on gaming and wagering. | 2228 |
(B) The fee to obtain an application for a casino operator, | 2229 |
management company, or holding company license shall be one | 2230 |
million five hundred thousand dollars per application. The | 2231 |
application fee shall be deposited into the casino control | 2232 |
commission fund. The application fee is nonrefundable. | 2233 |
(C) The license fees for a gaming-related vendor shall be set | 2234 |
by rule, subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming | 2235 |
and wagering. Additionally, the commission may assess an applicant | 2236 |
a reasonable fee in the amount necessary to process a | 2237 |
gaming-related vendor license application. | 2238 |
(D) The license fees for a key employee shall be set by rule, | 2239 |
subject to the review of the joint committee on gaming and | 2240 |
wagering. Additionally, the commission may assess an applicant a | 2241 |
reasonable fee in the amount necessary to process a key employee | 2242 |
license application. If the license is being sought at the request | 2243 |
of a casino operator, such fees shall be paid by the casino | 2244 |
operator. | 2245 |
(E) The license fees for a casino gaming employee shall be | 2246 |
set by rule, subject to the review of the joint committee on | 2247 |
gaming and wagering. If the license is being sought at the request | 2248 |
of a casino operator, the fee shall be paid by the casino | 2249 |
operator. | 2250 |
(F) The license fees for a skill-based amusement machine | 2251 |
distributor shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the | 2252 |
joint committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the | 2253 |
commission may assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount | 2254 |
necessary to process a skill-based amusement machine distributor | 2255 |
license application. | 2256 |
(G) The license fees for a skill-based amusement machine | 2257 |
operator shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the joint | 2258 |
committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the commission may | 2259 |
assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount necessary to | 2260 |
process a skill-based amusement machine operator license | 2261 |
application. | 2262 |
(H) The license fees for a sweepstakes terminal device | 2263 |
distributor shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the | 2264 |
joint committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the | 2265 |
commission may assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount | 2266 |
necessary to process a sweepstakes terminal device distributor | 2267 |
license application. | 2268 |
(I) The license fees for a sweepstakes terminal device | 2269 |
operator shall be set by rule, subject to the review of the joint | 2270 |
committee on gaming and wagering. Additionally, the commission may | 2271 |
assess an applicant a reasonable fee in the amount necessary to | 2272 |
process a sweepstakes terminal device operator license | 2273 |
application. | 2274 |
Sec. 3772.21. (A) Casino gaming equipment and supplies | 2275 |
customarily used in conducting casino gaming shall be purchased or | 2276 |
leased only from gaming-related vendors licensed under this | 2277 |
chapter. A management company owning casino gaming devices, | 2278 |
supplies, and equipment shall be licensed as a gaming-related | 2279 |
vendor under this chapter. | 2280 |
(B) Annually, a gaming-related vendor shall furnish to the | 2281 |
commission a list of all equipment, devices, and supplies offered | 2282 |
for sale or lease in connection with casino gaming authorized | 2283 |
under this chapter. | 2284 |
(C) A gaming-related vendor shall keep books and records for | 2285 |
the furnishing of equipment, devices, and supplies to gaming | 2286 |
operations separate from books and records of any other business | 2287 |
operated by the gaming-related vendor. A gaming-related vendor | 2288 |
shall file a quarterly return with the commission listing all | 2289 |
sales and leases. A gaming-related vendor shall permanently affix | 2290 |
the gaming-related vendor's name to all of the gaming-related | 2291 |
vendor's equipment, devices, and supplies for casino gaming | 2292 |
operations. | 2293 |
(D) A gaming-related vendor's equipment, devices, or supplies | 2294 |
that are used by a person in an unauthorized casino gaming | 2295 |
operation shall be forfeited to the commission. | 2296 |
(E) A skill-based amusement machine distributor shall only | 2297 |
provide skill-based amusement machines that have been approved by | 2298 |
the commission to skill-based amusement machine operators who have | 2299 |
received a skill-based amusement machine operator's license from | 2300 |
the commission. The skill-based amusement machine distributor | 2301 |
shall accept payment only by check or electronic funds transfer as | 2302 |
approved by the commission for offering skill-based amusement | 2303 |
machines in this state. | 2304 |
(F) At least once a year, as determined by the commission, a | 2305 |
skill-based amusement machine distributor shall furnish to the | 2306 |
commission a list of all equipment, devices, and supplies offered | 2307 |
for sale or lease by that distributor in this state. | 2308 |
(G) A sweepstakes terminal device distributor shall only | 2309 |
provide sweepstakes terminal devices that have been approved by | 2310 |
the commission to sweepstakes terminal device operators who have | 2311 |
received a sweepstakes terminal device operator's license from the | 2312 |
commission. The sweepstakes terminal device distributor shall | 2313 |
accept payment only by check or electronic funds transfer as | 2314 |
approved by the commission for offering sweepstakes terminal | 2315 |
devices in this state. | 2316 |
(H) At least once a year, as determined by the commission, a | 2317 |
sweepstakes terminal device distributor shall furnish to the | 2318 |
commission a list of all equipment, devices, and supplies offered | 2319 |
for sale or lease by that distributor in this state. | 2320 |
(I) Each skill-based amusement machine distributor and | 2321 |
sweepstakes terminal device distributor shall keep books and | 2322 |
records for the furnishing of equipment, devices, and supplies to | 2323 |
gaming operations separate from books and records of any other | 2324 |
business operated by the distributor. Each skill-based amusement | 2325 |
machine distributor and sweepstakes terminal device distributor | 2326 |
shall file a quarterly return with the commission listing all | 2327 |
sales and leases. A skill-based amusement machine distributor and | 2328 |
a sweepstakes terminal device distributor shall permanently affix | 2329 |
the distributor's name, as filed with the commission, to all of | 2330 |
the distributor's gaming-related equipment, devices, and supplies | 2331 |
used or offered for sale in this state. | 2332 |
Sec. 3772.23. (A) All tokens, chips, or electronic cards that | 2333 |
are used to make wagers shall be purchased from the casino | 2334 |
operator or management company while at a casino facility that has | 2335 |
been approved by the commission. Chips, tokens, tickets, | 2336 |
electronic cards, or similar objects may be used while at the | 2337 |
casino facility only for the purpose of making wagers on casino | 2338 |
games. | 2339 |
(B) Casino operators | 2340 |
amusement machine distributors, skill-based amusement machine | 2341 |
operators, sweepstakes terminal device distributors, and | 2342 |
sweepstakes terminal device operators shall not do any of the | 2343 |
following: | 2344 |
(1) Obtain a license to operate a check-cashing business | 2345 |
under sections 1315.01 to 1315.30 of the Revised Code; | 2346 |
(2) Obtain a license to provide loans under sections 1321.01 | 2347 |
to 1321.19 of the Revised Code; | 2348 |
(3) Obtain a license to provide loans under sections 1321.35 | 2349 |
to 1321.48 of the Revised Code. | 2350 |
Sec. 3772.30. (A) If any person violates this chapter or a | 2351 |
rule adopted thereunder, the attorney general has a cause of | 2352 |
action to restrain the violation. Such an action is a civil | 2353 |
action, governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Upon receiving a | 2354 |
request from the commission or the executive director, the | 2355 |
attorney general | 2356 |
to completion. The court shall give priority to such an action | 2357 |
over all other civil actions. Such an action does not preclude an | 2358 |
administrative or criminal proceeding on the same facts. | 2359 |
(B) The attorney general may enter into agreements with any | 2360 |
state or local law enforcement agency to carry out its duties. | 2361 |
(C) A sheriff, chief of police, and prosecuting attorney | 2362 |
shall furnish to the commission, on prescribed forms, all | 2363 |
information obtained during the course of any substantial | 2364 |
investigation or prosecution if it appears a violation of this | 2365 |
chapter has occurred. Any such information is not a public record, | 2366 |
as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code, until such | 2367 |
information would otherwise become a public record. | 2368 |
Sec. 3772.31. (A) The commission, by and through the | 2369 |
executive director of the commission and as required under section | 2370 |
125.05 of the Revised Code, may enter into contracts necessary to | 2371 |
ensure the proper operation and reporting of all | 2372 |
gaming authorized under this chapter. The commission may determine | 2373 |
it to be necessary and adopt rules to authorize a central system. | 2374 |
The system shall be operated by or under the commission's control. | 2375 |
If the commission determines that a central system is necessary | 2376 |
and adopts rules authorizing a central system, casino operators | 2377 |
shall be responsible for the costs of the central system as it | 2378 |
relates to casino facilities. Skill-based amusement machine | 2379 |
operators and sweepstakes terminal device operators shall be | 2380 |
responsible for the costs of the central system if the system is | 2381 |
only for skill-based amusement machine gaming and sweepstakes | 2382 |
terminal device gaming as authorized under this chapter. | 2383 |
(B) The commission shall certify independent testing | 2384 |
laboratories to scientifically test and technically evaluate all | 2385 |
slot machines, mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic table | 2386 |
games, slot accounting systems, and other electronic gaming | 2387 |
equipment for compliance with this chapter. The certified | 2388 |
independent testing laboratories shall be accredited by a national | 2389 |
accreditation body. The commission shall certify an independent | 2390 |
testing laboratory if it is competent and qualified to | 2391 |
scientifically test and evaluate electronic gaming equipment for | 2392 |
compliance with this chapter and to otherwise perform the | 2393 |
functions assigned to an independent testing laboratory under this | 2394 |
chapter. An independent testing laboratory shall not be owned or | 2395 |
controlled by, or have any interest in, a gaming-related vendor of | 2396 |
electronic gaming equipment. The commission shall prepare a list | 2397 |
of certified independent testing laboratories from which | 2398 |
independent testing laboratories shall be chosen for all purposes | 2399 |
under this chapter. | 2400 |
Sec. 3772.34. (A) In carrying out the responsibilities | 2401 |
delegated in section 3772.03 of the Revised Code, the commission | 2402 |
may issue a sweepstakes terminal device distributor license if the | 2403 |
applicant meets all requirements under this chapter and any rule | 2404 |
adopted by the commission, and meets all requirements under | 2405 |
Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. | 2406 |
(B) A person may apply for a sweepstakes terminal device | 2407 |
distributor license. The application shall be made under oath on a | 2408 |
form provided by the commission, and shall contain information as | 2409 |
prescribed by rule including, but not limited to, any information | 2410 |
required by the commission to determine if the applicant is | 2411 |
compliant with the Revised Code and all rules adopted by the | 2412 |
commission. The application shall be accompanied by a license fee | 2413 |
as determined by commission rule, and a nonrefundable license | 2414 |
application fee as described in section 3772.17 of the Revised | 2415 |
Code, which shall cover all actual costs generated by each | 2416 |
applicant and all background checks. | 2417 |
(C) Before a sweepstakes terminal device distributor license | 2418 |
is issued, the applicant shall have all sweepstakes terminal | 2419 |
devices examined and approved by a certified independent testing | 2420 |
laboratory under section 3772.31 of the Revised Code. | 2421 |
(D) The commission may limit, place conditions on, restrict, | 2422 |
suspend, or revoke a license issued under this chapter for any | 2423 |
violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter | 2424 |
or for any violation of Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. | 2425 |
Sec. 3772.35. (A) In carrying out the responsibilities | 2426 |
delegated in section 3772.03 of the Revised Code, the commission | 2427 |
may issue a sweepstakes terminal device operator license if the | 2428 |
applicant meets all requirements under this chapter and any rule | 2429 |
adopted by the commission, and meets all requirements under | 2430 |
Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. | 2431 |
(B) A sweepstakes terminal device operator licensee shall | 2432 |
have the following restrictions: | 2433 |
(1) There shall be not more than five sweepstakes terminal | 2434 |
devices in any licensed location. | 2435 |
(2) No beer or intoxicating liquor shall be served or | 2436 |
consumed in any licensed location. | 2437 |
(3) A sweepstakes terminal device operator, including that | 2438 |
operator's partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, and contractors, | 2439 |
shall operate not more than two licensed locations. | 2440 |
(C) The commission shall limit the number of sweepstakes | 2441 |
terminal device licenses in each county based on the following: | 2442 |
(1) If the county has a population of fifty thousand or less, | 2443 |
the commission shall issue not more than four licenses. | 2444 |
(2) If the county has a population greater than fifty | 2445 |
thousand, but less than one hundred thousand, the commission shall | 2446 |
issue not more than eight licenses. | 2447 |
(3) If the county has a population of one hundred thousand or | 2448 |
greater, but less than two hundred thousand, the commission shall | 2449 |
issue not more than sixteen licenses. | 2450 |
(4) If the county has a population of two hundred thousand or | 2451 |
greater, but less than five hundred thousand, the commission shall | 2452 |
issue not more than thirty-two licenses. | 2453 |
(5) If the county has a population of five hundred thousand | 2454 |
or greater, the commission shall issue not more than sixty-four | 2455 |
licenses. | 2456 |
(D) A person may apply for a sweepstakes terminal device | 2457 |
operator license. The application shall be made under oath on a | 2458 |
form provided by the commission and shall contain information as | 2459 |
prescribed by rule including, but not limited to, any information | 2460 |
required by the commission to determine if the location is | 2461 |
compliant with the Revised Code and all rules adopted by the | 2462 |
commission. The application shall be accompanied by a license fee | 2463 |
as determined by commission rule, and a nonrefundable license | 2464 |
application fee as described in section 3772.17 of the Revised | 2465 |
Code, which shall cover all actual costs generated by each | 2466 |
applicant and all background checks. | 2467 |
(E) The commission may limit, place conditions on, restrict, | 2468 |
suspend, or revoke a license issued under this chapter for any | 2469 |
violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter | 2470 |
or for any violation of Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. | 2471 |
Sec. 3772.99. (A) The commission shall levy and collect | 2472 |
penalties for noncriminal violations of this chapter. Moneys | 2473 |
collected from such penalty levies shall be credited to the | 2474 |
general revenue fund. | 2475 |
(B) If a | 2476 |
2477 | |
violates this chapter or engages in a fraudulent act, the | 2478 |
commission may suspend or revoke the license and may do either or | 2479 |
both of the following: | 2480 |
(1) Suspend, revoke, or restrict the casino gaming operations | 2481 |
of a casino operator; | 2482 |
(2) Require the removal of a management company, key | 2483 |
employee, or discontinuance of services from a gaming-related | 2484 |
vendor; | 2485 |
(3) Suspend, revoke, or restrict the operations of any | 2486 |
licensee. | 2487 |
(C) The commission shall impose civil penalties against a | 2488 |
person who violates this chapter under the penalties adopted by | 2489 |
commission rule and reviewed by the joint committee on gaming and | 2490 |
wagering. | 2491 |
(D) A person who knowingly or intentionally does any of the | 2492 |
following commits a misdemeanor of the first degree on the first | 2493 |
offense and a felony of the fifth degree for a subsequent offense: | 2494 |
(1) Makes a false statement on an application submitted under | 2495 |
this chapter; | 2496 |
(2) Permits a person less than twenty-one years of age to | 2497 |
make a wager; | 2498 |
(3) Aids, induces, or causes a person less than twenty-one | 2499 |
years of age who is not an employee of the casino gaming operation | 2500 |
to enter or attempt to enter a casino facility; | 2501 |
(4) Enters or attempts to enter a casino facility while under | 2502 |
twenty-one years of age, unless the person enters a designated | 2503 |
area as described in section 3772.24 of the Revised Code; | 2504 |
(5) Wagers or accepts a wager at a location other than a | 2505 |
casino facility; | 2506 |
(6) Is a casino operator or employee and participates in | 2507 |
casino gaming other than as part of operation or employment. | 2508 |
(E) A person who knowingly or intentionally does any of the | 2509 |
following commits a felony of the fifth degree on a first offense | 2510 |
and a felony of the fourth degree for a subsequent offense. If the | 2511 |
person is a licensee under this chapter, the commission shall | 2512 |
revoke the person's license after the first offense. | 2513 |
(1) Offers, promises, or gives anything of value or benefit | 2514 |
to a person who is connected with | 2515 |
2516 | |
including their officers and employees, under an agreement to | 2517 |
influence or with the intent to influence the actions of the | 2518 |
person to whom the offer, promise, or gift was made in order to | 2519 |
affect or attempt to affect the outcome of | 2520 |
operations or an official action of a commission member; | 2521 |
(2) Solicits, accepts, or receives a promise of anything of | 2522 |
value or benefit while the person is connected with a casino, | 2523 |
including an officer or employee of a | 2524 |
2525 | |
influence or with the intent to influence the actions of the | 2526 |
person to affect or attempt to affect the outcome of | 2527 |
licensee operations or an official action of a commission member; | 2528 |
(3) Uses or possesses with the intent to use a device to | 2529 |
assist in projecting the outcome of the game, keeping track of the | 2530 |
cards played, analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an | 2531 |
event relating to the casino game, or analyzing the strategy for | 2532 |
playing or betting to be used in the game, except as permitted by | 2533 |
the commission; | 2534 |
(4) Cheats at a | 2535 |
(5) Manufactures, sells, or distributes any cards, chips, | 2536 |
dice, game, or device that is intended to be used to violate this | 2537 |
chapter; | 2538 |
(6) Alters or misrepresents the outcome of a | 2539 |
licensee on which wagers have been made after the outcome is made | 2540 |
sure but before the outcome is revealed to the players; | 2541 |
(7) Places a wager on the outcome of a | 2542 |
licensee after acquiring knowledge that is not available to all | 2543 |
players and concerns the outcome of the | 2544 |
subject of the wager; | 2545 |
(8) Aids a person in acquiring the knowledge described in | 2546 |
division (E)(7) of this section for the purpose of placing a wager | 2547 |
contingent on the outcome of a | 2548 |
(9) Claims, collects, takes, or attempts to claim, collect, | 2549 |
or take money or anything of value in or from a | 2550 |
licensee with the intent to defraud or without having made a wager | 2551 |
contingent on winning a | 2552 |
(10) Claims, collects, or takes an amount of money or thing | 2553 |
of value of greater value than the amount won in a | 2554 |
a licensee; | 2555 |
(11) Uses or possesses counterfeit chips or tokens in or for | 2556 |
use in a | 2557 |
(12) Possesses a key or device designed for opening, | 2558 |
entering, or affecting the operation of a | 2559 |
licensee, drop box, or an electronic or a mechanical device | 2560 |
connected with the | 2561 |
or other contents of a
| 2562 |
to a | 2563 |
licensee or their agents and employees in the course of agency or | 2564 |
employment. | 2565 |
(13) Possesses materials used to manufacture a slug or device | 2566 |
intended to be used in a manner that violates this chapter; | 2567 |
(14) Operates a | 2568 |
conducted or is to be conducted in a manner other than the manner | 2569 |
required under this chapter. | 2570 |
(F) The possession of more than one of the devices described | 2571 |
in division (E)(11), (12), or (13) of this section creates a | 2572 |
rebuttable presumption that the possessor intended to use the | 2573 |
devices for cheating. | 2574 |
(G) A person who is convicted of a felony described in this | 2575 |
chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code may be barred for | 2576 |
life from entering a | 2577 |
(H) A person who is convicted of a criminal offense described | 2578 |
in this chapter or Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code may be barred | 2579 |
for a period of up to five years from entering a licensed location | 2580 |
by the commission. | 2581 |
Section 2. That existing sections 2915.01, 2915.03, 2915.06, | 2582 |
2915.061, 2915.08, 2915.09, 3772.01, 3772.02, 3772.03, 3772.032, | 2583 |
3772.033, 3772.04, 3772.06, 3772.07, 3772.10, 3772.17, 3772.21, | 2584 |
3772.23, 3772.30, 3772.31, and 3772.99 of the Revised Code are | 2585 |
hereby repealed. | 2586 |
Section 3. Beginning six months after the effective date of | 2587 |
the rules adopted by the Ohio Casino Control Commission under | 2588 |
section 3772.03 of the Revised Code, as amended by this act, any | 2589 |
person who conducts a skill-based amusement machine or sweepstakes | 2590 |
terminal device without a license issued by the Commission is | 2591 |
considered to be in violation of division (B) of section 2915.06 | 2592 |
of the Revised Code in the case of skill-based amusement machines | 2593 |
or division (A)(2) of section 2915.062 of the Revised Code in the | 2594 |
case of sweepstakes terminal devices. | 2595 |