§ 20-4. Charitable bingo and/or keno session limit, supervision, and penalties.

(a)

The total amount of prizes offered during the conduct of live bingo and/or keno shall not exceed thirty-five hundred dollars ($3,500.00) in value (cash or prizes) per session, except as specifically provided in R.S. 4:707(A)(1) and (5), 4:710, 4:724, 4:725, 4:725.1 and 4:732. The value of any thing offered as a prize shall be calculated using the method established by the state charitable gaming office. This session limit shall not apply to winner-take-all games and early bird and/or intermission special games.

(1)

Organizations may offer one (1) winner-take-all game, which is a bingo game in which all payments made by the players in order to participate in said game are awarded to the winners as prescribed by state law, during each gaming session. Dollar amounts, collected from a winner-take-all game, that exceed forty-five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) total prize payout shall be kept by the organization as proceeds from said game. No organization shall subsidize with its own funds the prize awarded in any winner take-all game.

(2)

Organizations may conduct early bird and/or intermission special games. The total amount of prizes paid shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00). The prize payout(s), type of game(s), and cost per sheet(s) shall be submitted in writing to the department of inspection and code enforcement. Written approval from the department of inspection and code enforcement must be obtained prior to the conduct of this game(s). Prize payouts of regular scheduled games excluding specialty games shall not exceed three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500.00). The total amount of prizes paid including any special games shall not exceed four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) as permitted by state law.

(b)

Investigators from the department of inspection and code enforcement shall conduct periodic compliance inspections of all organizations and locations where games of chance are conducted to ensure compliance with the provisions contained herein. Said investigator shall have the right of entry at all times onto any premises where any games of chance shall be held, operated and conducted for the purpose of inspecting same. He shall have authority to examine the books and records of any person, organization or association which is conducting bingo and/or keno, so far as such books and records may relate to any transactions connected with the holding and conducting of any game of chance, or the proceeds therefrom and, further, to examine any manager, officer, director, agent, member or employee thereof, in relation to the conduct of any such games of chance or the proceeds therefrom, and issue a citation(s) for any violations.

(c)

On bona fide complaint of any person, business or governmental agency, or when there is reason to believe a violation has occurred or is occurring under this section by any entity or establishment, the department of inspection and code enforcement shall conduct an investigation.

(d)

The violation of any provision of this article shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months. In addition to criminal penalties, the provisions of this section may be enforced by appropriate civil proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(e)

Any offender may be cited for the violation of this section by means of a citation, and thereby ordered to appear before the administrative hearing officer of the parish bureau of administrative adjudication.

(Ord. No. 22478, § 9, 4-13-05)