71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 2123
House Bill 2009
Sponsored by Representative SIMMONS
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
Raises cap on prizes that may be awarded in bingo or lotto
games from $1,500 to $2,500. Permits bingo licensee to operate
two games per year with $10,000 prize per game. Prohibits
Department of Justice from limiting value of prizes and number or
frequency of raffles that can be run per year. Allows bingo
managers to act as game supervisors for more than one bingo
licensee. Allows bingo and raffle licensees to participate in
Internet bingo games.
Includes expenses of food and beverage concessions in
definition of operating expenses. Excludes expenses of food and
beverage concessions from operating expenses limit as percentage
of annual handle.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to charitable gaming; amending ORS 167.117, 167.118,
464.250, 464.310, 464.380 and 464.390; and repealing ORS
464.340.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 167.117 is amended to read:
167.117. As used in ORS 167.117 to 167.164 and 464.270 to
464.530, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) 'Bingo or lotto' means a game, played with cards bearing
lines of numbers, in which a player covers or uncovers a number
selected from a container, and which is won by a player who is
present during the game and who first covers or uncovers the
selected numbers in a designated combination, sequence or
pattern.
(2) 'Bookmaker' means a person who unlawfully accepts a bet
from a member of the public upon the outcome of a future
contingent event and who charges or accepts a percentage, fee or
vigorish on the wager.
(3) 'Bookmaking' means promoting gambling by unlawfully
accepting bets from members of the public as a business, rather
than in a casual or personal fashion, upon the outcomes of future
contingent events.
(4) 'Casino game' means any of the traditional gambling-based
games commonly known as dice, faro, monte, roulette, fan-tan,
twenty-one, blackjack, Texas hold-'em, seven-and-a-half, big
injun, klondike, craps, poker, chuck-a-luck, Chinese chuck-a-luck
(dai shu), wheel of fortune, chemin de fer, baccarat, pai gow,
beat the banker, panquinqui, red dog, acey-deucey, or any other
gambling-based game similar in form or content.
(5)(a) 'Charitable, fraternal or religious organization ' means
any person that is:
(A) Organized and existing for charitable, benevolent,
eleemosynary, humane, patriotic, religious, philanthropic,
recreational, social, educational, civic, fraternal or other
nonprofit purposes; and
(B) Exempt from payment of federal income taxes because of its
charitable, fraternal or religious purposes.
(b) The fact that contributions to an organization profiting
from a contest of chance do not qualify for a charitable
deduction for tax purposes or that the organization is not
otherwise exempt from payment of federal income taxes pursuant to
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, constitutes prima
facie evidence that the organization is not a bona fide
charitable, fraternal or religious organization.
(6) 'Contest of chance' means any contest, game, gaming scheme
or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material
degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of
the contestants may also be a factor therein.
(7) 'Gambling' means that a person stakes or risks something of
value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future
contingent event not under the control or influence of the
person, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or
someone else will receive something of value in the event of a
certain outcome. 'Gambling' does not include:
(a) Bona fide business transactions valid under the law of
contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities
or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by
the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts
of indemnity or guaranty and life, health or accident insurance.
(b) Engaging in contests of chance under the following
conditions:
(A) The contest is played for some token other than money;
(B) An individual contestant may not purchase more than $100
worth of tokens for use in the contest during any 24-hour period;
(C) The tokens may be exchanged only for property other than
money;
(D) Except when the tokens are exchanged for a beverage or
merchandise to be consumed on the premises, the tokens are not
redeemable on the premises where the contest is conducted or
within 50 miles thereof; and
(E) Except for charitable, fraternal or religious
organizations, no person who conducts the contest as owner, agent
or employee profits in any manner from operation of the contest.
(c) Social games.
(d) Bingo, lotto or raffle games or Monte Carlo events operated
in compliance with ORS 167.118, by a charitable, fraternal or
religious organization licensed pursuant to ORS 167.118, 464.250
to 464.380 and 464.420 to 464.530 to operate such games.
(8) 'Gambling device' means any device, machine, paraphernalia
or equipment that is used or usable in the playing phases of
unlawful gambling, whether it consists of gambling between
persons or gambling by a person involving the playing of a
machine. Lottery tickets, policy slips and other items used in
the playing phases of lottery and policy schemes are not gambling
devices within this definition. Amusement devices other than gray
machines, that do not return to the operator or player thereof
anything but free additional games or plays, shall not be
considered to be gambling devices.
(9)(a) 'Gray machine' means any electrical or
electro-mechanical device, whether or not it is in working order
or some act of manipulation, repair, adjustment or modification
is required to render it operational, that:
(A) Awards credits or contains or is readily adaptable to
contain, a circuit, meter or switch capable of removing or
recording the removal of credits earned by a player, other than
removal during the course of continuous play; or
(B) Plays, emulates or simulates a casino game, bingo or keno.
(b) A device is no less a gray machine because, apart from its
use or adaptability as such, it may also sell or deliver
something of value on the basis other than chance.
(c) 'Gray machine' does not include:
(A) Any device commonly known as a personal computer, including
any device designed and marketed solely for home entertainment,
when used privately and not for a fee and not used to facilitate
any form of gambling;
(B) Any device operated under the authority of the Oregon State
Lottery;
(C) Any device manufactured or serviced but not operated in
Oregon by a manufacturer who has been approved under rules
adopted by the Oregon State Lottery Commission;
(D) A slot machine; or
(E) Any device authorized by the Oregon State Lottery
Commission for:
(i) Display and demonstration purposes only at trade shows; or
(ii) Training and testing purposes by the Department of State
Police.
(10) 'Handle' means the total amount of money and other things
of value bet on the bingo, lotto or raffle games, the value of
raffle chances sold or the total amount collected from the sale
of imitation money during Monte Carlo events.
(11) 'Lottery' or 'policy' means an unlawful gambling scheme in
which:
(a) The players pay or agree to pay something of value for
chances, represented and differentiated by numbers or by
combinations of numbers or by some other medium, one or more of
which chances are to be designated the winning ones; and
(b) The winning chances are to be determined by a drawing or by
some other method; and
(c) The holders of the winning chances are to receive something
of value.
(12) 'Monte Carlo event' means a gambling event at which wagers
are placed with imitation money upon contests of chance in which
players compete against the house. As used in this subsection,
'imitation money' includes imitation currency, chips or tokens.
(13) 'Numbers scheme or enterprise' means a form of lottery in
which the winning chances or plays are not determined upon the
basis of a drawing or other act on the part of persons conducting
or connected with the scheme, but upon the basis of the outcome
of a future contingent event otherwise unrelated to the
particular scheme.
(14) 'Operating expenses' means those expenses incurred in the
operation of a bingo, lotto or raffle game { - and related
concessions - } , including only the following:
(a) Salaries, employee benefits, workers' compensation coverage
and state and federal employee taxes;
(b) Security services;
(c) Legal and accounting services;
(d) Supplies and inventory;
(e) Rent, repairs, utilities, water, sewer and garbage;
(f) Insurance;
(g) Equipment;
(h) Printing and promotions;
(i) Postage and shipping;
(j) Janitorial services and supplies; { - and - }
(k) Leasehold improvements { - . - } { + ; and
(L) Food and beverage concessions. + }
(15) 'Player' means a person who engages in any form of
gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or
becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than
personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any
material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of
the particular gambling activity. A person who gambles at a
social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants
therein is a person who does not otherwise render material
assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation thereof by
performing, without fee or remuneration, acts directed toward the
arrangement or facilitation of the game, such as inviting persons
to play, permitting the use of premises therefor and supplying
cards or other equipment used therein. A person who engages in
bookmaking is not a player.
(16) 'Profits from unlawful gambling' means that a person,
acting other than solely as a player, accepts or receives money
or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with
another person whereby the person participates or is to
participate in the proceeds of unlawful gambling.
(17) 'Promotes unlawful gambling' means that a person, acting
other than solely as a player, engages in conduct that materially
aids any form of unlawful gambling. Conduct of this nature
includes, but is not limited to, conduct directed toward the
creation or establishment of the particular game, contest,
scheme, device or activity involved, toward the acquisition or
maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus
therefor, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to
participate therein, toward the conduct of the playing phases
thereof, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or
recording phases or toward any other phase of its operation. A
person promotes unlawful gambling if, having control or right of
control over premises being used with the knowledge of the person
for purposes of unlawful gambling, the person permits the
unlawful gambling to occur or continue or makes no effort to
prevent its occurrence or continuation.
(18) 'Raffle' means a lottery operated by a charitable,
fraternal or religious organization wherein the players pay
something of value for chances, represented by numbers or
combinations thereof or by some other medium, one or more of
which chances are to be designated the winning ones or determined
by a drawing and the player holding the winning chance is to
receive something of value.
(19)(a) 'Slot machine' means a gambling device that as a result
of the insertion of a coin or other object operates, either
completely automatically, or with the aid of some physical act by
the player, in such a manner that, depending upon elements of
chance, it may eject something of value or otherwise entitle the
player to something of value. A device so constructed or readily
adaptable or convertible to such use is no less a slot machine
because it is not in working order or because some mechanical act
of manipulation or repair is required to accomplish its
adaptation, conversion or workability. Nor is it any less a slot
machine because apart from its use or adaptability as such it may
also sell or deliver something of value on the basis other than
chance.
(b) 'Slot machine' does not include any device authorized by
the Oregon State Lottery Commission for:
(A) Display and demonstration purposes only at trade shows; or
(B) Training and testing purposes by the Department of State
Police.
(20) 'Social game' means:
(a) A game, other than a lottery, between players in a private
home where no house player, house bank or house odds exist and
there is no house income from the operation of the social game;
and
(b) If authorized pursuant to ORS 167.121, a game, other than a
lottery, between players in a private business, private club or
place of public accommodation where no house player, house bank
or house odds exist and there is no house income from the
operation of the social game.
(21) 'Something of value' means any money or property, any
token, object or article exchangeable for money or property, or
any form of credit or promise directly or indirectly
contemplating transfer of money or property or of any interest
therein.
(22) 'Trade show' means an exhibit of products and services
that is:
(a) Not open to the public; and
(b) Of limited duration.
(23) 'Unlawful' means not specifically authorized by law.
SECTION 2. ORS 167.118 is amended to read:
167.118. (1) When a charitable, fraternal or religious
organization is licensed by the Department of Justice to conduct
bingo, lotto or raffle games or Monte Carlo events, only the
organization itself or an employee thereof authorized by the
department shall receive money or property or otherwise directly
profit from the operation of the games, except that:
(a) The organization operating the games may present a prize of
money or other property to any player not involved in the
administration or management of the games; { - and - } { +
(b) An organization licensed to conduct bingo games may employ
for profit a bingo manager to act as game supervisor; and + }
{ - (b) - } { + (c) + } An organization licensed to conduct
Monte Carlo events may contract with a licensed supplier of Monte
Carlo event equipment to operate the event, including the
provision of equipment, supplies and personnel, provided that the
licensed supplier is paid a fixed fee to conduct the event and
the imitation money is sold to players by employees or volunteers
of the licensed charitable, fraternal or religious organization.
{ + (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall
prohibit a bingo or raffle licensee from participating in bingo
games on the Internet. + }
{ - (2) - } { + (3) + } A charitable, fraternal or
religious organization shall not operate bingo, lotto or raffle
games or Monte Carlo events except at such locations and upon
such days and for such periods of time as the department
authorizes pursuant to this section and ORS 464.250 to 464.380,
464.420 and 464.450 to 464.530.
{ - (3) - } { + (4)(a) + } An organization licensed by the
department to operate bingo or lotto games shall not award a
prize exceeding
{ - $1,500 - } { + $2,500 + } in value in any one game. An
organization licensed by the department to operate a Monte Carlo
event may not present any prize of money, or a cash equivalent,
to any player.
{ + (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the
contrary, a bingo licensee may operate two games per year with a
prize not to exceed $10,000 per game.
(c) Beginning December 31, 2002, the department shall adjust
the prize limitations specified in this subsection every two
years to reflect the rate of inflation since December 31, 2000.
The department may round the prize limitation to the nearest
$100. + }
{ - (4) - } { + (5) + } Each charitable, fraternal or
religious organization that maintains, conducts or operates any
bingo, lotto or raffle game or Monte Carlo event under license of
the department must operate such games in accordance with rules
adopted by the department.
{ - (5) - } { + (6) + } It is unlawful for a licensee to
permit the operating expenses of the games to exceed 18 percent
of the annual handle of its bingo, lotto and raffle operation.
{ + Expenses of food and beverage concessions shall not be
included in operating expenses under this subsection. + }
{ - (6) - } { + (7) + } It is unlawful for a charitable,
fraternal or religious organization licensed by the department to
operate bingo, lotto or raffle games if:
(a) The handle of the games and events exceeds $250,000 in a
year; and
(b) The games and events do not generate for the organization's
purposes, after the cost of prizes and operating expenses are
deducted from the handle, an amount that equals or exceeds five
percent of the handle.
SECTION 3. ORS 464.310 is amended to read:
464.310. (1) A licensee of the Department of Justice under ORS
167.117 and 167.118 and this chapter, or an applicant for a
license under ORS 167.118, 464.250 to 464.380, 464.420 and
464.450 to 464.530, without approval of the department, shall not
knowingly permit any person to participate in the management or
operation of any bingo, lotto or raffle game or Monte Carlo event
for which a license from the department is required if that
person:
(a) Has been convicted of or forfeited bond upon, or has been
granted diversion upon a charge involving forgery, theft, willful
failure to make required payments or reports to a government
agency at any level, or filing false reports to such an agency,
or of any similar offense, or of bribing or otherwise unlawfully
influencing a public official or employee of any state or the
United States, or of any crime, whether a felony or a
misdemeanor, involving any gambling activity or physical injury
to any person, or involving moral turpitude; or
(b) Has violated, failed to comply with, or refused to comply
with provisions, requirements, conditions, limitations or duties
imposed by ORS 167.118, 464.250 to 464.380, 464.420 and 464.450
to 464.530 or the rules of the department.
(2) No person other than a member or employee of a licensed
organization, or any other person authorized under the rules of
the Department of Justice, may participate in the management or
operation of a licensed bingo, lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo event
operation. { - No person who participates in the management or
operation of any such bingo, lotto, raffle, Monte Carlo event,
concession or related operation may concurrently participate in
the management or operation of any other operation unless such
participation is approved by the department. - } { + A bingo
manager may act as game supervisor for more than one licensee
within the same facility, or as a temporary manager for a second
licensee. + }
SECTION 4. ORS 464.380 is amended to read:
464.380. (1) In adopting rules for the licensing of bingo,
lotto { - , raffle - } or Monte Carlo event operations, the
Department of Justice may impose, to the extent it finds
practicable, more or fewer requirements upon such operations on
the basis of the number of games { + , + } { - or - } the
frequency of { - raffles or - } Monte Carlo events or the
gross income of the operation.
{ + (2) The department may not impose limits on the number or
frequency of raffles that can be conducted annually by a raffle
licensee or on the cash value of prizes that can be awarded on a
raffle. + }
{ - (2) - } { + (3) + } As used in subsection (1) of this
section, 'gross income' means the total amount of money or other
thing of value bet, less a deduction therefrom of the amount
returned to players as prizes.
SECTION 5. ORS 464.250 is amended to read:
464.250. (1) The Department of Justice shall have the following
powers and duties relating to the regulation of bingo, lotto or
raffle games or Monte Carlo events:
(a) To authorize and regulate the operation of bingo, lotto and
raffle games and Monte Carlo events permitted under ORS 167.117
and to adopt rules in accordance with applicable provisions of
ORS 183.310 to 183.550 for the performance of the department's
duties.
(b) To issue and renew licenses and permits for operation of
bingo, lotto and raffle games and Monte Carlo events, including
the suppliers of equipment and supplies necessary for the
operation of such activities, and to adopt license and permit
fees. Licenses and permits shall be valid for a period of one
year unless renewed. The department shall set fees at an amount
sufficient to cover all costs incurred by the department in its
activities. License fees shall consist of an initial payment,
which shall be in an amount established by rule, prior to
issuance or renewal of the license, together with a monthly
payment constituting a percentage of the licensee's monthly gross
income from the operation each month thereafter. An applicant for
a license or a permit shall submit with the application a sum
adequate to pay the required initial fee payment. If the
application is later withdrawn by the applicant or if it is
denied by the department, the department shall retain such
portion of the amount submitted to it as will pay the reasonable
costs expended for processing and investigating the application.
In a particular case, if the fee adopted by the department is
less than the actual expenses of the department to investigate
that particular application, the department may charge to that
particular applicant an additional fee to repay the department
for those costs. The department may refuse to proceed with its
investigation or to issue a license until the department has been
fully paid for those costs. The department shall create at least
two classes of licenses for each activity regulated under this
section. The licensing and operational requirements for licensees
and the extent to which background checks are conducted under
paragraph (d)(B) of this subsection shall be commensurate with
the size of the licensee's bingo, lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo
event operations. The department shall adopt rules exempting from
licensing any organization that would otherwise qualify for a
license and that is engaged in minimal bingo, lotto, raffle or
Monte Carlo event activity.
(c) To prescribe the manner and method of payment of all moneys
to be paid to or collected by the department.
(d) To adopt requirements as to what information an applicant
must provide to the department. However, each license applicant
must provide, and the department shall require, the names and
addresses of all persons having a management or ownership
interest in the bingo, lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo event
operation or in the premises on which the operation is conducted
and the names and addresses of all officers and directors of the
applicant organization. The department shall also require the
names and addresses of all persons employed in bingo, lotto,
raffle or Monte Carlo event operations. The following apply to
applications under this paragraph:
(A) An applicant shall certify, under oath, that the persons
named on the application are all of the persons known by the
applicant to have an interest in the bingo, lotto, raffle or
Monte Carlo event operation or the premises on which the
operation is conducted including all officers and directors of
the applicant organization.
(B) The department may require fingerprints, a photograph, a
handwriting sample and background checks on any person seeking a
license from it or any person holding an interest in any bingo,
lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo event operation or in the premises
on which it is conducted. The department may also require
fingerprints or background checks of any manager or other
employee of such a bingo, lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo event
operation.
(e) To adopt record keeping requirements for licensees of the
department and the submission of reports to the department as the
department determines necessary. The department may require
licensees to record and report income from bingo, lotto, raffle,
Monte Carlo events, concessions and other related operations, the
amounts received from each player, the costs and expenses of
operations, the nature and value of prizes and the fact of
distribution of such prizes to the winners thereof. The
department may adopt internal financial and inventory control
requirements under this paragraph that are based on and
commensurate with the size of a licensee's bingo, lotto, raffle
or Monte Carlo event operations.
(f) To regulate and establish maximum limits on income derived
by licensees from bingo, lotto, raffles or Monte Carlo events.
However, in establishing limits, the department shall take into
account:
(A) The nature, character and scope of the activities of the
licensee;
(B) The sources of other income to the licensee; and
(C) The percentage or extent to which income derived from
bingo, lotto, raffles or Monte Carlo events is used for
charitable purposes, as distinguished from nonprofit purposes
other than charity.
(g) To regulate the manner of operation of bingo, lotto and
raffle games and Monte Carlo events conducted by licensees,
including the approval of which games may be played and the
equipment to be used. The department shall regulate the types of
equipment, rules and methods of play to ensure the integrity and
fairness of the games.
(h) To cooperate with state and local law enforcement agencies
in investigating matters within the scope of the department's
duties and responsibilities.
(i) To establish maximum limits on compensation paid to persons
employed by charitable, fraternal or religious licensees, for the
purpose of conducting licensed games, not to exceed 200 percent
of the federal minimum wage standard, { - or in the case of a
person who supervises a bingo, lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo event
operation for a charitable, fraternal or religious organization
and is subject to the limitations of ORS 464.340, 300 percent of
the federal minimum wage standard, - } and to establish maximum
limits for other expenses connected with such operations. In
establishing these limits, the department shall consider the
amount of income received, or expected to be received, by the
organization from the bingo, lotto, raffle, Monte Carlo events,
concessions and other related operations and the amount of money
the operation could generate for the organization's purposes
absent such expenses. The department may also take into account
other factors, including but not limited to whether charitable
purposes are benefited by the activities.
(2) The department shall not require persons working as
volunteers in a bingo, lotto, raffle or Monte Carlo event
operation conducted by a bona fide charitable, fraternal or
religious organization to obtain permits for such work if the
persons do not receive compensation of any kind from the
organization other than reimbursement for actual or reasonable
expenses, or have any managerial or supervisory responsibility in
connection with it. The department may require that bingo, lotto,
raffle and Monte Carlo event operators employing unlicensed
volunteers submit to the department periodically the names,
addresses and dates of birth of the volunteers. The department
may adopt reasonable character standards for volunteers, and if a
volunteer does not meet the standards, the department may require
that the licensee not allow the volunteer to work for the
licensee.
(3) Subject to ORS 167.118, the department by rule may
establish value limits for prizes awarded at bingo, lotto or
raffle games or Monte Carlo events and may regulate or prohibit
the giving to patrons any other thing of value to promote
attendance at the games.
(4) The department by rule may establish a maximum amount that
a person may wager at a Monte Carlo event.
SECTION 6. ORS 464.390 is amended to read:
464.390. (1) When the Department of Justice determines that
there is a compelling community need for the charitable
activities funded by a bingo operation, and that funding will be
seriously reduced by the operation of ORS 167.117 and 167.118 and
this chapter, then the department may grant exceptions to ORS
464.250 (1)(i) { - , 464.340 - } and 464.350 for any bingo
licensee that was operating a bingo game in January 1987.
(2) The department shall review the exceptions granted under
this section not less than once per year, unless the department
determines that there has been a material change of circumstances
since the time the exceptions were granted to the licensee, in
which case the department shall initiate an immediate review of
the license.
(3) The department may not continue an exception to a licensee
that otherwise meets the requirements of this section if there
has been a material change of circumstances since the time when
the licensee was granted the exception.
(4) For purposes of this section, 'a material change of
circumstances' includes:
(a) Failure of the licensee to conduct a bingo game for six
consecutive months in accordance with the exceptions previously
granted by the department; or
(b) Operation by the licensee of its bingo game in a county
other than the county in which it operated its bingo game in
January 1987.
(5)(a) Subject to this section, a bingo licensee may continue
to operate a bingo game under the terms of an exception that was
granted under this section prior to October 4, 1997, including
but not limited to any limitation on the annual handle imposed or
applicable under the terms of the exception.
(b) On written notice to the department, a licensee may elect
to operate a bingo game under ORS 167.118 without a limitation on
the annual handle of the licensee.
(c) A licensee that elects to operate a bingo game without a
limitation on the annual handle of the licensee shall comply with
ORS 464.350.
SECTION 7. { + ORS 464.340 is repealed. + }
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