(a)    In this section, “veterans’ organization” means an organization that is tax exempt and organized as a veterans’ organization under § 501(c)(19) or § 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b)    Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, in accordance with the regulations of the Agency and this subtitle, the Director shall issue licenses to the persons and governmental units that will best serve the public convenience and promote the sale of State lottery tickets or shares.

(c)    Before issuing a license to an applicant, the Director shall consider such factors as:

(1)    the financial responsibility and security of the applicant and the business or activity of the applicant;

(2)    the accessibility of the place of business or activity to the public;

(3)    the sufficiency of existing licenses to serve the public convenience; and

(4)    the volume of expected sales.

(d)    (1)    This subsection does not apply in:

(i)    Caroline County;

(ii)    Cecil County;

(iii)    Dorchester County;

(iv)    Kent County;

(v)    Queen Anne’s County;

(vi)    Somerset County;

(vii)    Talbot County;

(viii)    Wicomico County; and

(ix)    Worcester County.

(2)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Director may issue a license under this subtitle for not more than five instant ticket lottery machines to an applicant that is a veterans’ organization.

(ii)    A veterans’ organization that is issued a license under this subsection shall locate and operate its instant ticket lottery machines at its principal meeting hall in the county in which the veterans’ organization is located.

(3)    After deduction of any commission and validation prize payout as provided under § 9–117 of this subtitle, a veterans’ organization issued a license under this subsection shall credit the remaining receipts from the sale of tickets from instant ticket lottery machines to the State Lottery Fund established under § 9–118 of this subtitle.

(4)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a veterans’ organization issued a license under this subsection shall purchase or lease the instant ticket lottery machines to be used by the veterans’ organization.

(ii)    An organization may not use receipts from the sale of tickets from instant ticket lottery machines that would otherwise be credited to the State Lottery Fund for the costs of purchasing or leasing instant ticket lottery machines.

(5)    The Director may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this subsection that include restricting the location of instant ticket lottery machines in areas of a veterans’ organization’s public meeting hall that is accessible to the public.

(6)    The Agency shall ensure that the element of chance in the conduct of the gaming through the instant ticket lottery machines established under this subsection is consistent with the holding in the case of Chesapeake Amusements Inc. v. Riddle, 363 Md. 16 (2001), in that the element of chance must be wholly within the pre–printed instant lottery ticket, and that player enhancements in an instant ticket lottery machine may not affect the element of chance being wholly within the pre–printed instant lottery ticket.

(e)    The Director may not issue a license to:

(1)    a person or governmental unit to engage in business primarily as a licensed agent; or

(2)    an individual who is under the age of 21 years.

(f)    The Commission may hear and decide an appeal of a denial of a license.