TITLE 28

Sports and Amusements

CHAPTER 15. Delaware Board Of Charitable Gaming

Subchapter V. Bingo

§ 1524. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Bingo” means a game of chance played for prizes with cards bearing numbers or other designations, 5 or more in 1 line, the holder covering numbers as objects similarly numbered are drawn from a receptacle and the game being won by the person who first covers a previously designated arrangement of numbers on such a card.

(2) “Instant or sealed game” means any pull-tab game.

28 Del. C. 1953, §  1102;  51 Del. Laws, c. 65, §  164 Del. Laws, c. 100, §§  2, 3, 665 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  167 Del. Laws, c. 16, §§  1, 2, 878 Del. Laws, c. 102, §§  1-379 Del. Laws, c. 199, §  480 Del. Laws, c. 416, § 3

§ 1525. Prize limits.

(a) In bingo, no prize will be offered or given in excess of the sum of $350 in any single game and the aggregate of all prizes offered or given in all of such games conducted on a single occasion shall not exceed the sum or value of $3,000. For purposes of this subsection, the value of any promotional giveaways, which value shall be no more than $500 per annum to be distributed at an organizational anniversary date and no more than 3 holiday dates per year, shall not be counted towards the dollar amounts described herein.

(b) A licensed operator of a bingo event may offer inducements, including but not limited to cookie-jar bingo games that do not exceed the amount set by the Board per game per night, free refreshments and free transportation of players to and from bingo events, to attract bingo players to the bingo event; provided, that the total fair market value of inducements is limited to 15% of the total amount of all other prizes offered or given during the bingo event. Any amounts in any cookie-jar bingo games shall not be included in these limitations or in any prize money limitations.

(c) The value of prizes offered shall be prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Board.

79 Del. Laws, c. 199, §  4

§ 1526. Limitations.

(a) The number of games which an applicant may conduct in any 1 calendar month shall be set by the rules and regulations of the Board, provided that no bingo permit holder or licensee issued a permit or license prior to July 14, 1998, shall conduct more than 10 bingo events in any calendar month and no bingo permit holder or licensee issued a permit or license after July 14, 1998, shall conduct more than 1 bingo event per week. For purposes of this subsection, a bingo permit holder or licensee prior to July 14, 1998, whose permit or license lapses for 6 months or more due to nonrenewal or suspension or any other reason shall, upon issuance thereafter, be considered a permit holder or licensee after July 14, 1998.

(b) No games shall be conducted in any room or area where alcoholic beverages are sold or served during the progress of the game.

(c) (1) A permitted or licensed sponsoring organization may charge an admission fee to a game event in any room or area in which a game is to be conducted. The admission fee shall entitle the game player:

a. To a card enabling the player to participate without additional charge in all regular games to be played under license at the event; or

b. To free refreshments.

The permitted or licensed sponsoring organization may charge an additional fee to a game player for a single opportunity to participate in a special game to be played under license at the event.

(2) Unless a bingo permit holder or licensee has been issued a permit or license prior to July 14, 1998, only 1 licensed organization may hold bingo games in a licensed organization’s building during any given week.

(d) No person under the age of 18 may participate in a bingo game. Persons between the ages of 16 through 18 may conduct or assist in conducting the bingo game and persons over the age of 14 may serve as waiters and waitresses in the handling of food and drinks at an event where a licensee or permittee conducts bingo.

79 Del. Laws, c. 199, §  4