Connecticut Charitable Gaming Laws

§ 7-169. Bingo

(a) Definitions. The term “bingo ” is defined as the name of a game in which each player receives a card containing several rows of numbers and, as numbers are drawn or otherwise obtained by chance and publicly announced, the player first having a specified number of announced numbers appearing on his card in a continuous straight line or covering a previously designated arrangement of numbers on such card is declared the winner. The word “person” or “applicant”, as used in this section, means the officer or representative of the sponsoring organization or the organization itself. The term “session” means a series of games played in one day. “Executive director” means the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue within the Department of Revenue Services who shall be responsible for the administration and regulation of bingo in the state.

(b) Vote of Municipality. Upon a written petition of five per cent or more of the electors of any municipality requesting the selectmen, common council or other governing body of such municipality to vote upon the question of permitting the playing of bingo within such municipality, such governing body shall vote upon such question and, if the vote is in the affirmative, it shall be permitted, subject to the restrictions herein set forth, and if the vote is in the negative, bingo shall not be permitted to be played in such municipality. When the selectmen, common council or other governing body of any municipality have voted favorably upon the question of permitting the playing of bingo within such municipality, the playing of such game shall be permitted in such municipality indefinitely thereafter, without further petition or action by such governing body, unless such governing body has forbidden the playing of said game upon a similar written petition of five per cent or more of the electors of such municipality, whereupon bingo shall not be permitted to be played after such negative vote.

(c) Regulations. The executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, with the advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board, shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, [FN1] such regulations as are necessary effectively to carry out the provisions of this section and section 7-169a in order to prevent fraud and protect the public, which regulations shall have the effect of law.

(d) Sponsorship. No bingo game or series of bingo games shall be promoted, operated or played unless the same is sponsored and conducted exclusively by a charitable, civic, educational, fraternal, veterans’ or religious organization, volunteer fire department or grange. Any such organization or group shall have been organized for not less than two years prior to its application for a bingo permit under the terms of this section. The promotion and operation of said game or games shall be confined solely to the qualified members of the sponsoring organization, except that the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue may permit any qualified member of a sponsoring organization who has registered with the executive director, on a form prepared by him for such purpose, to assist in the operation of a game sponsored by another organization. The executive director may revoke such registration for cause.

(e) Application for permit. Any eligible organization desiring to operate bingo games in any municipality in which the governing body has voted to permit the playing thereof shall make application to the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, which application shall contain a statement of the name and address of the applicant, the location of the place at which the games are to be played and the seating capacity of such place, the date or dates for which a permit is sought, the class of permit sought and any other information which the executive director reasonably requires for the protection of the public, and, upon payment of the fee hereinafter provided for, the executive director is authorized to issue such permit, provided such eligible organization has been registered by him as provided in section 7-169a.

(f) Bingo permits. Permits shall be known as “Class A” which shall be annual one-day-per-week permits and shall permit the conduct of not more than forty and not less than fifteen bingo games on such day, and “Class B” which shall permit not more than forty and not less than fifteen bingo games per day for a maximum of ten successive days, and “Class C” which shall be annual one-day- per-month permits and shall permit the conduct of not more than forty and not less than fifteen bingo games on such day. “Class A” permits shall allow the playing of bingo no more than one day weekly. Not more than two “Class B” permits shall be issued to any one organization within any twelve-month period. “Class C” permits shall allow the playing of bingo no more than one day per month.

(g) Permit fees. Permit fees shall be remitted to the state as follows: “Class A”, seventy-five dollars; “Class B”, five dollars per day; “Class C”, fifty dollars.

(h) Records of receipts and disbursements. Each person who operates bingo games shall keep accurate records of receipts and disbursements, which shall be available for inspection by the executive director. Any information acquired by the executive director pursuant to this subsection shall be available to the Commissioner of Public Safety upon request.

(i) Prizes. Prizes offered for the winning of bingo games may consist of cash, merchandise, tickets for any lottery conducted under chapter 226, [FN2] the value of which shall be the purchase price printed on such tickets, or other personal property. No permittee may offer a prize which exceeds fifty dollars in value, except that (1) a permittee may offer a prize or prizes on any one day of not less than fifty-one dollars or more than two hundred dollars in value, provided the total value of such prizes on any one day does not exceed six hundred dollars, (2) a permittee may offer one or two winner-take-all games or series of games played on any day on which the permittee is allowed to conduct bingo, provided ninety per cent of all receipts from the sale of bingo cards for such winner-take-all game or series of games shall be awarded as prizes and provided each prize awarded does not exceed five hundred dollars in value, (3) the holder of a Class A permit may offer two additional prizes on a weekly basis not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars each as a special grand prize and in the event such a special grand prize is not won, the money reserved for such prize shall be added to the money reserved for the next week’s special grand prize, provided no such special grand prize may accumulate for more than sixteen weeks or exceed a total of two thousand dollars, and (4) a permittee may award door prizes the aggregate value of which shall not exceed two hundred dollars in value. When more than one player wins on the call of the same number, the designated prize shall be divided equally to the next nearest dollar. If a permittee elects, no winner may receive a prize which amounts to less than ten per cent of the announced prize and in such case the total of such multiple prizes may exceed the statutory limit of such game.

(j) Imposition of regulation fee. Any organization operating or conducting a bingo game shall file a return with the executive director, on a form prepared by him, within ten days after such game is held or within such further time as the executive director may allow, and pay to the state a fee of five per cent of the gross receipts, less the prizes awarded including prizes reserved for special grand prize games, derived from such games at each bingo session. All such returns shall be public records. The executive director shall pay each municipality in which bingo games are conducted, one-quarter of one per cent of the total money wagered less prizes awarded on such games conducted. He shall make such payment at least once a year and not more than four times a year from the fee imposed pursuant to this subsection.

(k) Suspension or revocation of permit. Cease and desist order. Notice. Hearing. Appeals. Penalty. (1) Whenever it appears to the executive director after an investigation that any person is violating or is about to violate any provision of this section or section 7-169a or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto, the executive director may in his discretion, to protect the public welfare, order that any permit issued pursuant to this section be immediately suspended or revoked and that the person cease and desist from the actions constituting such violation or which would constitute such violation. After such an order is issued, the person named therein may, within fourteen days after receipt of the order, file a written request for a hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

(2) Whenever the executive director finds as the result of an investigation that any person has violated any provision of this section or section 7-169a or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto or made any false statement in any application for a permit or in any report required by this section or section 7-169a or by the executive director, the executive director may send a notice to such person by certified mail, return receipt requested. Any such notice shall include (A) a reference to the section or regulation alleged to have been violated or the application or report in which an alleged false statement was made, (B) a short and plain statement of the matter asserted or charged, (C) the fact that any permit issued pursuant to this section may be suspended or revoked for such violation or false statement and the maximum penalty that may be imposed for such violation or false statement, and (D) the time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than fourteen days after the notice is mailed.

(3) The executive director shall hold a hearing upon the charges made unless such person fails to appear at the hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. If such person fails to appear at the hearing or if, after the hearing, the executive director finds that such person committed such a violation or made such a false statement, the executive director may, in his discretion, suspend or revoke such permit and order that a civil penalty of not more than two hundred dollars be imposed upon such person for such violation or false statement. The executive director shall send a copy of any order issued pursuant to this subdivision by certified mail, return receipt requested, to any person named in such order. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the executive director under this subdivision shall have a right of appeal to the Gaming Policy Board for a hearing. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Gaming Policy Board shall have a right of appeal pursuant to section 4-183.

(4) Whenever the executive director revokes a permit issued pursuant to this section, he shall not issue any permit to such permittee for one year after the date of such revocation.

(5) Any person who promotes or operates any bingo game without a permit therefor, or who violates any provision of this section or section 7-169a or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto, or who makes any false statement in any application for a permit or in any report required by this section or section 7-169a or by the executive director shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than sixty days or both.

§ 7-169a. Registration with executive director of Division of Special Revenue

Every organization desiring to apply for a permit under subsection (e) of section 7-169 to operate bingo games shall, before making any such application, register with the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue on forms furnished by him and secure an identification number. All applications for permits, amendment of permits, reports and any other papers relating to games of bingo shall bear the identification number of the organization involved. Neither registration nor the assignment of an identification number, which may be revoked for cause, shall constitute, or be any evidence of, the eligibility of any organization to receive a permit for or to conduct any game of bingo.

§ 7-169c. Recreational bingo for senior citizens. Registration. Records. Regulations

(a) Any organization whose membership consists of persons sixty years of age or over may operate and conduct bingo games on and after January 1, 1989, for the amusement and recreation of its members without a permit as required by section 7-169 provided (1) such organization has registered with and applied for and received an identification number from the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, (2) such organization does not charge an admission fee in excess of one dollar, (3) the prize or prizes awarded do not exceed twenty dollars in value, either in cash or merchandise, and (4) only active members of such organization assist in the operation of the bingo games without compensation. The executive director may revoke any such registration for cause.

(b) Each such organization which operates bingo games shall keep accurate records of receipts and disbursements, which shall be available for inspection by the executive director.

(c) Each such organization shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 7-169 and 7-169a.

(d) The executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, with the advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board, shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 [FN1], such regulations as are necessary effectively to carry out the provisions of this section in order to prevent fraud and protect the public, which regulations shall have the effect of law.

7-169h. Sealed tickets. Definitions. Permits to sell. Fees. Regulations. Suspension or revocation of permit. Cease and desist order. Notice. Hearing. Appeals. Penalty

(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Executive director ” means the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue within the Department of Revenue Services who shall be responsible for the regulation of the distribution and sale of sealed tickets in the state;

(2) “Division ” means the Division of Special Revenue within the Department of Revenue Services;

(3) “Sealed ticket ” means a card with tabs which, when pulled, expose pictures of various objects, symbols or numbers and which entitles the holder of the ticket to receive a prize if the combination of objects, symbols or numbers pictured matches what is determined to be a winning combination.

(b) No person shall sell, offer for sale or distribute a sealed ticket who has not applied for and received a permit from the division to sell sealed tickets.

(c) (1) On and after October 1, 1987, the division may issue a permit to sell sealed tickets to any organization or group specified in subsection (d) of section 7-169 which holds a bingo permit issued in accordance with the provisions of section 7-169. Such permit shall be renewed annually.

(2) The division may issue a permit to sell sealed tickets to any organization or group specified in subsection (d) of section 7-169 which holds a club permit or nonprofit club permit under the provisions of chapter 545. [FN1] Such permit shall be renewed annually.

(3) The division may issue a permit to sell sealed tickets to any organization or group specified in section 7-172 which holds a permit to operate a bazaar, issued in accordance with the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7- 186, inclusive.

(4) The division may issue a permit to sell sealed tickets to any charitable, civic, educational, fraternal, veterans’ or religious organization, volunteer fire department or grange authorizing such organization to sell sealed tickets in conjunction with any social function or event sponsored or conducted by such organization. Any such organization shall have been organized for not less than two years prior to the date of its application for such permit. Such permit shall be renewed annually.

(d) Permittees shall purchase sealed tickets from the division at a cost which is equal to ten per cent of their resale value.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 53-278b and subsection (d) of section 53-278c, sealed tickets may be sold, offered for sale, displayed or open to public view only (1) during the course of a bingo game conducted in accordance with the provisions of section 7-169 and only at the location at which such bingo game is conducted, (2) on the premises of any such organization or group specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, (3) during the conduct of a bazaar under the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, or (4) in conjunction with any social function or event sponsored or conducted by any such organization specified in subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section. Permittees may utilize a mechanical or electronic ticket dispensing machine approved by the division to sell sealed tickets. Sealed tickets shall not be sold to any person less than eighteen years of age. All proceeds from the sale of tickets shall be used for a charitable purpose, as defined in section 21a-190a.

(f) The fee for a permit to sell sealed tickets (1) issued to an organization authorized to conduct bingo under a “Class A” or “Class C” permit or to an organization specified in subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section in conjunction with any social function or event sponsored or conducted by such organization shall be fifty dollars, (2) issued to an organization which holds a club permit or nonprofit club permit under the provisions of chapter 545 shall be seventy-five dollars, and (3) issued to an organization authorized to conduct bingo under a “Class B” permit or an organization which holds a permit to operate a bazaar shall be five dollars per day.

(g) The executive director, with the advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 [FN2] to carry out the purposes of this section including, but not limited to, regulations concerning (1) qualifications of a charitable organization, (2) the price at which the charitable organization shall resell tickets, (3) information required on the ticket, including, but not limited to, the price per ticket, (4) the percentage retained by the organization as profit, which shall be at least ten per cent of the resale value of tickets sold, (5) the percentage of the resale value of tickets to be awarded as prizes, which shall be at least forty-five per cent, (6) apportionment of revenues received by the division from the sale of tickets, and (7) investigations of any charitable organization seeking a permit.

(h) (1) Whenever it appears to the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue after an investigation that any person is violating or is about to violate any provision of this section or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto, the executive director may in his discretion, to protect the public welfare, order that any permit issued pursuant to this section be immediately suspended or revoked and that the person cease and desist from the actions constituting such violation or which would constitute such violation. After such an order is issued, the person named therein may, within fourteen days after receipt of the order, file a written request for a hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

(2) Whenever the executive director finds as the result of an investigation that any person has violated any provision of this section or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto or made any false statement in any application for a permit or in any report required by the executive director, the executive director may send a notice to such person by certified mail, return receipt requested. Any such notice shall include (A) a reference to the section or regulation alleged to have been violated or the application or report in which an alleged false statement was made, (B) a short and plain statement of the matter asserted or charged, (C) the fact that any permit issued pursuant to this section may be suspended or revoked for such violation or false statement and the maximum penalty that may be imposed for such violation or false statement, and (D) the time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than fourteen days after the notice is mailed.

(3) The executive director shall hold a hearing upon the charges made unless such person fails to appear at the hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. If such person fails to appear at the hearing or if, after the hearing, the executive director finds that such person committed such a violation or made such a false statement, the executive director may, in his discretion, suspend or revoke such permit and order that a civil penalty of not more than two hundred dollars be imposed upon such person for such violation or false statement. The executive director shall send a copy of any order issued pursuant to this subdivision by certified mail, return receipt requested, to any person named in such order. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the executive director under this subdivision shall have a right of appeal to the Gaming Policy Board for a hearing. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Gaming Policy Board shall have a right of appeal pursuant to section 4-183.

(4) Whenever the executive director revokes a permit issued pursuant to this section, he shall not issue any permit to such permittee for one year after the date of such revocation.

§ 7-170. Bazaars and raffles; definitions

Wherever used in sections 7-171 to 7-186, inclusive, “bazaar ” means a place maintained by a sponsoring organization for the disposal of merchandise awards by means of chance; “raffle” means an arrangement for raising money by the sale of tickets, certain among which, as determined by chance after the sale, entitle the holders to prizes; and “applicant ” means the sponsoring organization.

§ 7-171. Adoption of bazaar and raffle law

Any town, city or borough may, by ordinance, adopt the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and the chief executive authority of any town, city or borough shall, upon the petition of at least five per cent of the electors of such municipality as determined by the last-completed registry list, submit the question of adopting the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, to a vote of the electors of such municipality at a special meeting called for such purpose within twenty-one days after the receipt of such petition. Such petition shall contain the street addresses of the signers and shall be submitted to the municipal clerk, who shall certify thereon the number of names of electors on such petition, which names are on the last-completed registry list. Each page of such petition shall contain a statement, signed under the penalties of false statement, by the person who circulated the same, that each person whose name appears on such page signed the same in person and that the circulator either knows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself to the circulator. The warning for such meeting shall state that the purpose of such meeting is to vote on the adoption of the provisions of said sections. Such vote shall be taken and the results thereof canvassed and declared in the same manner as is provided for the election of officers of such municipality. The vote on such adoption shall be taken by a “YES” and “NO” vote on the voting machine and the designation of the question on the voting machine ballot label shall be “Shall the operation of bazaars and raffles be allowed?” and such ballot label shall be provided for use in accordance with the provisions of section 9-250. If, upon the official determination of the result of such vote, it appears that the majority of all the votes so cast are in approval of such question, the provisions of said sections shall take effect immediately. Any town, city or borough, having once voted on the question of allowing bazaars and raffles as herein provided, shall not vote again on such question within two years from the date of the previous vote thereon. Any subsequent vote thereon shall be taken at the next regular town, city or borough election following the receipt of a petition as herein provided, which petition shall be filed at least sixty days prior to such election, and such question may be so voted upon only at intervals of not less than two years. Any town, city or borough which, prior to October 1, 1957, has voted more than once on such question, shall, for the purposes of this section, be treated as though it had voted only once thereon.

§ 7-172. Qualifications for sponsorship of or participation in bazaar or raffle. Ticket sale

No bazaar or raffle may be promoted, operated or conducted in any municipality after the adoption of the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, unless it is sponsored and conducted exclusively by (1) an officially recognized organization or association of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, (2) a church or religious organization, (3) a civic, service or social club, (4) a fraternal or fraternal benefit society, (5) an educational or charitable organization, (6) an officially recognized volunteer fire company, (7) a political party or town committee thereof, or (8) a municipality acting through a committee designated to conduct a celebration of the municipality’s founding on its hundredth anniversary or any multiple thereof. Any such sponsoring organization, except a committee designated pursuant to subdivision (8) of this section, shall have been organized in good faith and actively functioning as a nonprofit organization within the municipality that is to issue the permit for a period of not less than six months prior to its application for a permit under the provisions of said sections. The promotion and operation of a bazaar or raffle shall be confined solely to the qualified members of the sponsoring organization, provided a committee designated pursuant to subdivision (8) of this section may promote or operate through its members and any officially appointed volunteers. No such member or officially appointed volunteer in the case of a raffle held pursuant to subdivision (8) of this section may receive remuneration in any form for time or effort devoted to the promotion or operation of the bazaar or raffle. No person under the age of eighteen years may promote, conduct, operate or work at a bazaar or raffle and no person under the age of sixteen years may sell or promote the sale of any raffle tickets, nor shall any sponsoring organization permit any person under the age of eighteen to so promote, conduct or operate any bazaar or raffle or any person under the age of sixteen to sell or promote the sale of such tickets. Any sponsoring organization having received a permit from any municipality may sell or promote the sale of such raffle tickets in that municipality and in any other town, city or borough which has adopted the provisions of sections 7- 170 to 7-186, inclusive. Such organization may accept a credit card, debit card, check or cash as payment for a raffle ticket. All funds derived from any bazaar or raffle shall be used exclusively for the purpose stated in the application of the sponsoring organization as provided in section 7-173.

§ 7-173. Application for permit

Any organization desiring to operate a bazaar or raffle in a municipality which has adopted the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, shall make application in duplicate, duly executed and verified, to the chief of police of any municipality having a police department or to the first selectman of any town in which there is no police department, on a form to be prescribed by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, in which shall be stated (a) the name and address of the applicant; (b) facts relating to its incorporation or organization; (c) the names, titles and addresses of its officers; (d) the kind of bazaar or raffle intended to be held, operated and conducted by the applicant; (e) the place where such bazaar or raffle is intended to be conducted by the applicant under the permit applied for; (f) the date or dates and the time or times when such bazaar or raffle is intended to be conducted by the applicant under the permit applied for; (g) in the case of a raffle, the number and price of tickets intended to be sold; (h) the items of expense intended to be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating and conducting of such bazaar or raffle and the names and addresses of the persons to whom, and the purposes for which, they are to be paid; (i) the items of merchandise offered, the price to be paid by the organization therefor or the retail value of any prize donated, and the names and addresses of the persons from whom purchased or by whom donated; (j) the specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such bazaar or raffle are to be devoted and in what manner, and (k) any other information which the executive director reasonably requires for the protection of the public. In each application there shall be designated three active members of the applicant under whom the bazaar or raffle described in the application is to be held, operated and conducted and to the application shall be appended a statement signed, under penalty of false statement, by such members so designated that they are electors of the municipality in which the permit is sought and will be responsible for the holding, operation and conduct of such bazaar or raffle in accordance with the terms of the permit and the provisions of said sections, and that the statements contained in the application are, to the best of their knowledge and belief, true. Such chief of police or first selectman, as the case may be, shall, at least five business days prior to the date of such bazaar or raffle, forward the original copy of such application to said executive director who shall review such application to determine whether the applicant is qualified to hold, operate and conduct a bazaar or raffle under the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, or any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and whether other requirements in said statutes and regulations have been satisfied. For the purposes of applying for a “Class No. 7” permit, authorized pursuant to section 7-175, the application required pursuant to this section shall be made to the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue.

§ 7-174. Investigation of applicant

Such chief of police or first selectman, as the case may be, shall, on behalf of the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, make or cause to be made an investigation of the qualifications of the applicant and the facts stated in the application and, if such chief of police or first selectman determines that the applicant is qualified to hold, operate and conduct a bazaar or raffle under the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, that the members of the applicant designated in the application to hold, operate or conduct such bazaar or raffle are electors of such municipality, bona fide active members of the applicant and persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of a felony and that such bazaar or raffle is to be held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of said sections, such chief of police or first selectman shall, with the approval of the executive director, issue a permit to such applicant. Upon issuing such permit, such chief of police or first selectman shall forward to the executive director the state’s share of the permit fee, if any. Any investigation required pursuant to this section of the qualifications of an applicant for a “Class No. 7” permit, authorized pursuant to section 7-175, shall be made by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue.

§ 7-175. Kinds of permits

Permits under the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, shall be of seven kinds. “Class No. 1” permits shall allow the operation of a raffle which shall be consummated within three months of the granting of the permit and the aggregate value of the prize or prizes offered shall be not more than fifteen thousand dollars. “Class No. 2” permits shall allow the operation of a raffle which shall be consummated within two months of the granting of the permit and the aggregate value of the prize or prizes offered shall be not more than two thousand dollars. “Class No. 3” permits shall permit the operation of a bazaar for a period of not more than ten consecutive days, excluding legal holidays and holy days on which the bazaar is not functioning. Any bazaar held under the authority of any such permit shall be held within six months of the granting of such permit. “Class No. 4” permits shall allow the operation of a raffle which shall be consummated within one month of the granting of the permit and the aggregate value of the prize or prizes offered shall be not more than one hundred dollars. “Class No. 5” permits shall allow the operation of a raffle which shall be consummated within nine months of the granting of the permit and the aggregate value of the prize or prizes offered shall be not more than fifty thousand dollars. “Class No. 6” permits shall allow the operation of a raffle which shall be consummated within one year of the granting of the permit and the aggregate value of the prize or prizes offered shall be not more than one hundred thousand dollars. “Class No. 7” permits shall allow the operation of a raffle which shall be consummated within fifteen months of the granting of the permit, shall allow no more than twelve prize drawings on separate dates and the aggregate value of the prize or prizes offered shall be not more than fifty thousand dollars. No more than one “Class No. 1” permit, two “Class No. 3” permits, one “Class No. 4” permit, five “Class No. 5″ permits, five Class No. 6” permits or three “Class No. 2” permits shall be issued to any qualifying organization within any one calendar year. The aggregate value of prizes offered under any of such permits shall represent the amount paid by the applicant for the prize or prizes or the retail value of the same if donated.

§ 7-176. Permit fees

The fees to be charged for permits shall be as follows: A “Class No. 1” permit, fifty dollars, twenty-five dollars to be retained by the municipality and twenty-five dollars remitted to the state; a “Class No. 2” permit, twenty dollars, ten dollars to be retained by the municipality and ten dollars to be remitted to the state; a “Class No. 3” permit, twenty dollars for each day of the bazaar, ten dollars to be retained by the municipality and ten dollars to be remitted to the state; a “Class No. 4” permit, five dollars, to be retained by the municipality; a “Class No. 5” permit, eighty dollars, forty dollars to be retained by the municipality and forty dollars remitted to the state; a “Class No. 6” permit, one hundred dollars, fifty dollars to be retained by the municipality and fifty dollars remitted to the state and a “Class No. 7” permit, one hundred dollars to be retained by the state.

§ 7-177. Prizes

All prizes given at any bazaar or raffle shall be merchandise, tangible personal property or a ticket, coupon or gift certificate, which shall not be refundable or transferable, entitling the winner to merchandise, tangible personal property, services, transportation on a common carrier by land, water or air and to any tour facilities provided in connection therewith, or to participation in a lottery conducted under chapter 226. [FN1] Cash prizes or prizes consisting of alcoholic liquor shall not be given nor shall any prize be redeemed or redeemable for cash, except tickets for a lottery conducted under chapter 226. For the purposes of this section, coins whose trading value exceeds their face value and coins not commonly in circulation shall not be deemed a cash prize.

§ 7-178. Equipment. Expenses. Information required on raffle ticket. Rental from out-of-state dealer

(a) No bazaar or raffle shall be conducted with any equipment except such as is owned absolutely or used without payment of any compensation therefor by the permittee or as is rented from a dealer in such equipment who (1) has a principal place of business in this state, and (2) is registered with the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue in such manner and on such form as he may prescribe, which form shall be accompanied by an annual fee of three hundred dollars payable to the Treasurer of the state of Connecticut. No item of expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating or conducting of any bazaar or raffle pursuant to any permit issued under sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, except such as are bona fide items of reasonable amount for goods, wares and merchandise furnished or services rendered, which are reasonably necessary to be purchased or furnished for the holding, operating or conducting thereof, and no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense whatever shall be paid or given, directly or indirectly, to any person holding, operating or conducting, or assisting in the holding, operation or conduct of, any such bazaar or raffle. Each raffle ticket shall have printed thereon the time, date and place of the raffle, the three most valuable prizes to be awarded and the total number of prizes to be awarded as specified on the form prescribed in section 7-173. In addition to any other information required under this section to be printed on a raffle ticket, each ticket for a raffle authorized pursuant to a “Class No. 7” permit shall have printed thereon the time, date and place of each raffle drawing.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a permittee may rent equipment from a dealer who does not have a principal place of business in this state if an in-state dealer is unavailable, provided such out-of-state dealer is registered with said executive director pursuant to the provisions of said subsection (a).

§ 7-179. Advertising restricted

No bazaar or raffle to be conducted under any permit issued under the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, shall be advertised as to its location, the time when it is to be or has been held or the prizes awarded or to be awarded, by means of television or sound truck or by means of billboards, provided one sign, not exceeding twelve square feet, may be displayed on the premises where the drawing or allotment of prizes is to be held and also where the prizes are or will be exhibited.
§ 7-180. Change in facts on application to be reported

If there is any change in the facts set forth in the application for a permit subsequent to the making of such application, the applicant shall immediately notify the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue of such change, and the executive director may, if he deems such action advisable in the public interest, revoke such permit.

§ 7-181. Suspension or revocation of registration or permit. Cease and desist order. Notice of violation. Hearing. Penalty. Appeals

(a) Whenever it appears to the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue after an investigation that any person is violating or is about to violate any provision of sections 7-170 to 7-185, inclusive, or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto, the executive director may in his discretion, to protect the public welfare, order that any registration or permit issued pursuant to said sections be immediately suspended or revoked and that the person cease and desist from the actions constituting such violation or which would constitute such violation. After such an order is issued, the person named therein may, within fourteen days after receipt of the order, file a written request for a hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. [FN1]

(b) Whenever the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue finds as the result of an investigation that any person has violated any provision of sections 7-170 to 7-185, inclusive, or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto or made any false statement in any application for a permit or in any report required by the provisions of said sections, the executive director may send a notice to such person by certified mail, return receipt requested. Any such notice shall include (1) a reference to the section or regulation alleged to have been violated or the application or report in which an alleged false statement was made, (2) a short and plain statement of the matter asserted or charged, (3) the fact that any registration or permit issued pursuant to sections 7-170 to 7-185, inclusive, may be suspended or revoked for such violation or false statement and the maximum penalty that may be imposed for such violation or false statement, and (4) the time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than fourteen days after the notice is mailed.

(c) The executive director shall hold a hearing upon the charges made unless such person fails to appear at the hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. If such person fails to appear at the hearing or if, after the hearing, the executive director finds that such person committed such a violation or made such a false statement, the executive director may, in his discretion, suspend or revoke such registration or permit and order that a civil penalty of not more than two hundred dollars be imposed upon such person for such violation or false statement. The executive director shall send a copy of any order issued pursuant to this subsection by certified mail, return receipt requested, to any person named in such order. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the executive director under this subsection shall have a right of appeal to the Gaming Policy Board for a hearing. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Gaming Policy Board shall have a right of appeal pursuant to section 4-183.

(d) Whenever the executive director revokes a permit issued pursuant to sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, the issuing authority shall not issue any permit to such permittee for three years after the date of such violation.

§ 7-182. Report re receipts, number and price of tickets sold, expenses, profit and list of prizes with a retail value of fifty dollars or more

Any sponsoring organization which holds, operates or conducts any bazaar or raffle, and its members who were in charge thereof, shall furnish to the chief of police of the municipality or to the first selectman, as the case may be, a verified statement, in duplicate, showing (1) the amount of the gross receipts derived from each bazaar or raffle, (2) in the case of a raffle, the number and price of tickets sold, (3) each item of expense incurred or paid, and each item of expenditure made or to be made and the name and address of each person to whom each such item has been or is to be paid, (4) the net profit derived from each bazaar or raffle and the uses to which the net profit has been or is to be applied and (5) a list of prizes of a retail value of fifty dollars or more offered or given with the amount paid for each prize purchased or the retail value for each prize donated and the names and addresses of the persons to whom the prizes were given. Such report shall be furnished during the next succeeding month. The chief of police or first selectman, as the case may be, shall forward the original copy of such report to the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, who shall keep it on file and available for public inspection for a period of one year thereafter. The sponsoring organization shall maintain and keep any books and records that may be necessary to substantiate the particulars of such report, which books and records shall be preserved for at least one year from the date of such report and shall be available for inspection. Such report shall be certified to under penalty of false statement by the three persons designated in the permit application as being responsible for the bazaar or raffle. The report required pursuant to this section for a “Class No. 7” raffle authorized pursuant to section 7- 175, shall be submitted to the executive director of the division of special revenue during the next succeeding month following the final prize drawing.

§ 7-183. Examination of reports

Each such report shall be examined by the chief of police or the first selectman, as the case may be, and by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue and shall be compared with the original application. The executive director may refer any violation of sections 7-170 to 7-185, inclusive, or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto found therein to the office of the state’s attorney having jurisdiction over the municipality in which the organization is located and such office shall investigate and take such action as the facts require.

§ 7-184. Rescission of adoption

Any town, city or borough which has adopted the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, may, by referendum in the same manner as is provided in section 7-171, vote to rescind its action in adopting the provisions of said sections.

§ 7-185. Regulations

The executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, with the advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board, shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, [FN1] such regulations as are necessary effectively to carry out the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, in order to prevent fraud and protect the public, which regulations shall have the effect of law.

§ 7-185a. Exceptions for certain organizations. “Fifty-fifty” coupon games. Cow-chip raffles. Teacup raffles. Duck-race raffles. Frog-race raffles

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and the regulations adopted thereunder, any organized church, volunteer fire company or veterans organization or association conducting a bazaar or raffle, (1) may have the actual drawing of the raffle in a municipality other than the municipality which grants the permit, provided the chief executive officer of the other municipality has in writing approved such drawing; (2) may conduct the bazaar in a municipality other than the municipality which grants the permit, provided the municipality in which the bazaar is to be conducted has adopted the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and the chief executive officer of such municipality has in writing approved such bazaar; (3) may be permitted to redeem prizes in cash; (4) shall be exempt from the requirement of preserving unsold raffle tickets beyond ninety days after the conclusion of the holding, operating and conducting of such bazaar or raffle and shall be permitted to dispose of unclaimed prizes after such ninety days; and (5) may file a reconciliation of expenditures and receipts signed by an officer in lieu of an accountant.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and the regulations adopted thereunder, any sponsoring organization qualified to conduct a bazaar or raffle under the provisions of section 7-172 and recognized as a nonprofit organization under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, [FN1] or any subsequent corresponding Internal Revenue Code of the United States, as from time to time amended, may have the actual drawing of the raffle in a municipality other than the municipality which grants the permit, provided the chief executive officer of the other municipality has in writing approved such drawing.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-177, any organization conducting a bazaar may operate “fifty-fifty” coupon games each day of a permitted bazaar event and may award cash prizes of fifty per cent of “fifty-fifty” coupon game sales for each coupon drawing conducted. Not more than three scheduled drawings may be held on any day on which a bazaar is permitted. A “fifty-fifty” coupon game shall be operated from an authorized bazaar booth, subject to the regulation of the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue and shall allow for the sale of “fifty-fifty” coupons at a predetermined uniform price. Each “fifty-fifty” coupon shall be consecutively numbered and shall have a correspondingly numbered stub. Each sponsoring organization shall provide different colored coupons for each drawing and shall award one prize for each drawing held. Each organization conducting such games shall conspicuously post, at each bazaar booth at which such games are conducted, a notice or notices which shall include the dates, times and places of any “fifty-fifty” coupon drawings, as well as the prices and colors of coupons to be sold for each drawing. The executive director shall prescribe the form of such notice which shall contain the following statement: “Holders of coupons must be present to claim a prize.” Each such organization shall account for each coupon printed and sold for each drawing and shall announce the amount of sales and the prize to be awarded immediately prior to each drawing. The sponsoring organization shall preserve all sold and unsold coupons or stubs for a period of at least one year from the date of the verified statement required pursuant to section 7-182. At the conclusion of a bazaar, each organization conducting such games, and its members who were in charge thereof, shall furnish to the chief of police of the municipality or to the first selectman, as the case may be, a verified statement, prescribed by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, in duplicate, showing (1) the total number of coupons purchased and sold for each “fifty-fifty” coupon game drawing, and (2) the total number and amount of prizes awarded and the names and addresses of the persons to whom the prizes were awarded. Such report shall be furnished during the next succeeding month. The chief of police or first selectman, as the case may be, shall forward the original copy of such report to the executive director, who shall keep it on file and available for public inspection for a period of one year thereafter. Such report shall be certified to under penalty of false statement by the three persons designated in the permit application as being responsible for the bazaar.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-177, any sponsoring organization qualified to conduct a bazaar or raffle under the provisions of section 7-172 may operate a cow-chip raffle once a calendar year and, pursuant to a “Class No. 1”, “Class No. 2” or “Class No. 4” permit, may award cash prizes in connection with participation in such a raffle, in addition to those prizes authorized pursuant to section 7-177. Such raffles shall conform to the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and shall be subject to regulation by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue. A cow-chip raffle shall allow for the sale of consecutively numbered tickets with correspondingly numbered stubs, entitling the holders of such tickets to the temporary possession of a plot of land for purposes of the conduct of the cow-chip raffle. Each organization intending to sponsor or conduct a cow-chip raffle shall furnish with its application, required pursuant to section 7-173, a cow-chip raffle plot plan displaying the land area to be utilized for such raffle and the numbered plots, each corresponding to a numbered cow-chip raffle ticket. Each such organization conducting a cow-chip raffle shall provide for a suitable land area on which the cow-chip raffle activity is to be conducted. The area shall be sufficiently enclosed so as to confine any animal utilized in the conduct of a cow-chip raffle during the period in which the animal is so utilized. The area shall be adequately marked so as to display the number of plots to be utilized, which shall correspond to the number of cow-chip raffle tickets to be sold. The manner in which winners in a cow-chip raffle are determined shall be clearly stated prior to the commencement of a cow-chip raffle drawing and each sponsoring organization shall conspicuously post an information board, prescribed by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, which shall display the consecutively numbered plots of the cow-chip raffle event. A cow-chip raffle drawing shall commence at a designated time and shall continue until all winners of authorized prizes have been determined. No person may feed, lead or handle any animal utilized in a cow-chip raffle once the animal has entered into the enclosed area from which winners will be determined. Each organization conducting a cow-chip raffle shall deposit all proceeds from the conduct of such raffle in a special checking account established and maintained by such organization which shall be subject to audit by the Division of Special Revenue. Any expense incidental to the conduct of such raffle shall be paid from the gross receipts of cow-chip raffle tickets and only by checks drawn from such checking account. All cash prizes awarded shall be paid from such checking account.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and the regulations adopted thereunder, any organization conducting a bazaar may operate a “teacup raffle” and may award prizes consisting of merchandise not exceeding one hundred dollars each in value through the sale of chances. No such organization may conduct more than one scheduled “teacup raffle” drawing for all prizes offered on any day on which a bazaar is permitted. A “teacup raffle” shall be operated from an authorized bazaar booth, and shall be subject to regulation by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue. Each “teacup raffle” ticket shall be consecutively numbered and have a correspondingly numbered stub which shall include the name, address and telephone number of the purchaser. Each sponsoring organization conducting such raffle shall conspicuously post, at each bazaar booth at which such raffle is conducted, a notice or notices which shall include the date and time of any “teacup raffle” drawing. The sponsoring organization shall preserve all sold and unsold tickets or stubs for a period of at least one year from the date of the verified statement required pursuant to section 7-182.

(f) (1) Any sponsoring organization qualified to conduct a bazaar or raffle under the provisions of section 7-172 may operate a duck-race raffle once each calendar year. Such raffles shall conform to the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and shall be subject to regulation by the executive director. For the purpose of this subsection, “duck-race raffle” means a raffle in which artificial ducks, numbered consecutively to correspond with the number of tickets sold for such raffle, are placed in a naturally moving stream of water at a designated starting point and in which the ticket corresponding to the number of the first duck to pass a designated finishing point is the winning ticket. (2) The executive director of the Division of Special Revenue, with the advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, [FN2] that establish procedures for the operation of duck-race raffles.

(g) (1) Any sponsoring organization qualified to conduct a bazaar or raffle under the provisions of section 7-172 may operate a frog-race raffle once each calendar year. Such raffles shall conform to the provisions of sections 7-170 to 7-186, inclusive, and shall be subject to regulation by the executive director of the Division of Special Revenue. For the purpose of this subsection, “frog-race raffle” means a raffle in which artificial frogs conforming to specifications approved by the executive director and numbered consecutively to correspond with the number of tickets sold for such raffle, are placed in a naturally moving stream of water at a designated starting point and in which the ticket corresponding to the number of the first frog to pass a designated finishing point is the winning ticket. (2) The executive director, with the advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, that establish procedures for the operation of frog-race raffles.

§ 7-186. Penalty

Any person who violates any provision of sections 7-170 to 7-185, inclusive, or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto, or who makes any false statement in any application for a permit or in any report required by the provisions of said sections shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.