§724. Use of electronic or video bingo games

A. Electronic or video machines, hereafter termed "electronic bingo machines", for public playing of bingo may be made available at any location licensed under this Chapter for charitable bingo, provided that all requirements of this Chapter not in conflict with the provisions of this Section are met.

B. Any such electronic bingo machine shall be subject to the following requirements and restrictions concerning its operation and use:

(1) The cost of each game play shall be not less than twenty-five cents nor more than one dollar.

(2) Payout shall be not less than eighty percent and not more than ninety-four percent of the total amount wagered.

(3) The maximum prize awarded shall be not more than one thousand dollars.

(4) A machine shall dispense no cash, only tickets verifiable as valid indicating the prize amount.

(5) A machine shall play and display only the game of bingo as described in R.S. 4:707(A)(2), except that a random number generator in the machine shall replace the drawing of numbered objects from a receptacle, and may play "cover-all bingo" in which all numbers of the card must be covered. An electronic video bingo machine shall not contain entertainment display features simulating slot reels or card games.

(6) A machine shall allow the player a choice of cards on which to play and must show a "BINGO" at the end of play.

(7) A machine shall allow only a linear-based payout in which the amount of the payout follows a straight line progression in direct proportion to the amount wagered.

(8) A machine shall provide for an electronic readout giving, at a minimum, a summary of total wagers, total plays, total payout, and current prize allotment since the last date of summary or the last date of reset of the machine.

(9) No person under the age of eighteen shall assist in the holding, operation, or conducting of electronic or video bingo games.

C. An electronic bingo machine may be leased by any holder of a bingo license issued pursuant to this Chapter. However, in no case shall any lease agreement entered into authorize the lessor to receive a percentage of the receipts from the machine.

D. Only cash prizes may be awarded winners of games on an electronic bingo machine.

E. At least forty-five percent of the net win from the machine must be paid to the licensee owning or leasing it.

F. The office may adopt, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 4:705(10)(b), additional rules and regulations governing the use of electronic bingo machines and may establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and lessors authorized to provide electronic bingo machines or a list of acceptable models of the machines, or acceptable serial numbers on such models or manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, or lessors.

G. The office may assess whatever fees may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Subsection F.

H. Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit a distributor of electronic bingo machines from having a representative present during the operation of their machines.

I. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to restrict the authority of local governments to restrict or prohibit the conducting of electronic video bingo.

J.(1) Any person who is licensed as a distributor shall be permitted to operate electronic video bingo machines which are not in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 4:724(B)(5) if either of the following occurs:

(a) The licensed distributor has purchased or has entered into a lease agreement approved by the office for the total number of electronic video bingo machines to be placed at a specific location and the electronic video bingo machines have been permitted by the office and placed at a location which has been approved by the office on or prior to August 15, 2008; or

(b) The licensed distributor has delivered to the office or has sent by certified mail an application with the required fees to have electronic video bingo machines permitted, which application has been received, but not approved by the office on or prior to August 15, 2008, and the application includes one of the following:

(i) Proof of purchase for the total number of video bingo machines to be placed at a specific location.

(ii) A nonrefundable deposit of a minimum of twenty-five percent of the fair market value of the wholesale purchase price of the total number of machines to be placed at a specific location.

(iii) A nonrefundable deposit on a lease agreement which is equivalent in value to a minimum of twenty-five percent of the fair market value of the wholesale purchase price of the total number of machines to be placed at a specific location.

(2) Electronic video bingo machines authorized by the provisions of this Subsection shall only be placed at one of the following locations:

(a) A location which has been approved by the office on or prior to August 15, 2008; or

(b) A location for which a completed application with the required fees for the licensing to conduct charitable gaming at a specific location has been received by the office on or prior to August 15, 2008. However, locations which have not been approved by the office prior to August 15, 2008, but for which an application has been timely filed as provided by this Subparagraph, shall have received final approval from the office and must be occupied by August 15, 2009, in order to operate electronic video bingo machines which are not in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 4:724(B)(5).

K. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, any electronic video bingo machine authorized pursuant to Subsection J of this Section which is destroyed or rendered inoperable in any manner may be replaced by an electronic video bingo machine of a similar make and model which is not in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 4:724(B)(5) even if such replacement electronic video bingo machine was purchased after August 15, 2008.

Acts 1999, No. 568, §3, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 602, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 614, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 373, §1; Acts 2008, No. 630, §1, eff. July 1, 2008.