[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose 11-8-1976 by L.L. No. 12-1976.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Arcade games and amusements — See Ch. 112.
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to L.L. No. 1-1976 which established the Code, the provisions of this chapter were originally designated as Ch. 15 and later renumbered as Ch. 102 by L.L. No. 2-1978.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Bingo Licensing Law."
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION
Only bona fide religious, charitable or nonprofit organizations of veterans, volunteer firemen and similar nonprofit organizations.
BINGO OR GAME
A specified game of chance commonly known as "bingo" or "lotto," in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols selected at random.
CONTROL COMMISSION
The Bingo Control Commission of the State of New York and its successor governmental institutions.
LICENSE
A license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
It shall be lawful for any authorized organization, upon obtaining a license therefor, as hereinafter provided, to conduct the game of bingo within the territorial limits of the Village, subject to the provisions of the General Municipal Law and the provisions of the State Lottery Control Law.
The conduct of bingo games authorized by this chapter shall be subject to the following restrictions:
A. 
No person, firm, association, corporation or organization, other than an authorized organization licensed under the provisions of the General Municipal Law, shall be permitted to conduct such games.
B. 
The entire net proceeds of any game shall be exclusively devoted to the lawful purposes of the organization permitted to conduct the same.
C. 
No single prize shall exceed the sum or value of $250.
D. 
No series of prizes on any one occasion shall aggregate more than $1,000.
E. 
No person except a bona fide member of any such organization shall participate in the management or operation of such game.
F. 
No person shall receive any remuneration for participation in the management or operation of any such game.
G. 
No bingo game shall be held, operated or conducted on or within any leased premises if rental under such lease is to be paid, wholly or partly, on the basis of a percentage of the receipts or net profits derived from the operation of such game.
H. 
No authorized organization licensed under the provisions of the General Municipal Law shall purchase or receive any supplies or equipment specifically designed or adapted for use in the conduct of bingo games from other than a supplier licensed under the Bingo Control Law or from another authorized organization.
The unauthorized conduct of a bingo game and any willful violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute and be punishable as a misdemeanor.
A. 
Each applicant for a license shall file with the Clerk of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose a written application therefor in the form prescribed in the rules and regulations of the Control Commission, duly executed and verified, in which shall be stated the following:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant, together with sufficient facts relating to its incorporation and organization so as to enable the governing body of the Village to determine whether or not it is a bona fide authorized organization.
(2) 
The names and addresses of its officers.
(3) 
The specific kinds of games of chance intended to be held, operated and conducted by the applicant and the place or places where such games of chance are intended to be held, operated and conducted by the applicant under the license applied for.
(4) 
The items of expense intended to be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating and conducting of such games of chance and the names and addresses of the persons to whom and the purposes for which they are to be paid.
(5) 
The specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to and in what manner.
(6) 
That no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense will be paid to any person for holding, operating or conducting such game or games of chance or for assisting therein, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(7) 
That no prize or aggregate of prizes will be offered or given under such license for a value in excess of the sum or value authorized to be offered or given by this chapter.
(8) 
A description of all prizes to be offered and given in all such games of chance to be held, operated and conducted under such license.
(9) 
Such other information as may be prescribed by the Control Commission.
B. 
In each application there shall be designated an active member or members of the applicant organization under whom the game or games of chance described in the application are to be held, operated or conducted, and to the application shall be appended a statement, executed by the applicant and by the member or members so designated, that he or they will be responsible for the holding, operation and conduct of such games of chance in accordance with the terms of the license and the provisions of the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct of such games of chance and in accordance with the terms of the General Municipal Law, if such license is granted.
C. 
In the event that any premises upon which any such game of chance is to be held, operated or conducted or which is to be used for any other purpose in connection with the holding, operation or conducting thereof is to be leased from any person, persons or corporation, a written statement shall accompany the application, signed and verified under oath by such person or persons or executed and verified under oath on behalf of such corporation, stating his or its address and the amount of rent which will be paid for such premises and that such lessor or lessors or, if a corporation, all of its officers and each of its stockholders who hold 10% or more of its stock issued and outstanding, are of good moral character and have not been convicted of crime.
[Amended 12-9-1996 by L.L. No. 3-1996]
Each applicant for a license for the holding, operation and conduct of the specific kinds of games of chance applied for shall pay a license fee in the amount established by the Board of Trustees, by duly adopted resolution, for each occasion upon which any games of chance are to be conducted under such license.
All of the provisions of Article 14-H of the General Municipal Law and all of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Control Commission are hereby adopted as a part of this chapter as though specifically set forth herein.