New Jersey Charitable Gaming Laws

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N.J.S.A. Const. Art. 4, § 7, ¶ 2

2. No gambling of any kind shall be authorized by the Legislature unless the specific kind, restrictions and control thereof have been heretofore submitted to, and authorized by a majority of the votes cast by, the people at a special election or shall hereafter be submitted to, and authorized by a majority of the votes cast thereon by, the legally qualified voters of the State voting at a general election, except that, without any such submission or authorization:

A. It shall be lawful for bona fide veterans, charitable, educational, religious or fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, senior citizen associations or clubs, volunteer fire companies and first-aid or rescue squads to conduct, under such restrictions and control as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Legislature by law, games of chance of, and restricted to, the selling of rights to participate, the awarding of prizes, in the specific kind of game of chance sometimes known as bingo or lotto, played with cards bearing numbers or other designations, 5 or more in one line, the holder covering numbers as objects, similarly numbered, are drawn from a receptacle and the game being won by the person who first covers a previously designated arrangement of numbers on such a card, when the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, and in the case of senior citizen associations or clubs to the support of such organizations, in any municipality, in which a majority of the qualified voters, voting thereon, at a general or special election as the submission thereof shall be prescribed by the Legislature by law, shall authorize the conduct of such games of chance therein;

B. It shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize, by law, bona fide veterans, charitable, educational, religious or fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, senior citizen associations or clubs, volunteer fire companies and first-aid or rescue squads to conduct games of chance of, and restricted to, the selling of rights to participate, and the awarding of prizes, in the specific kinds of games of chance sometimes known as raffles, conducted by the drawing for prizes or by the allotment of prizes by chance, when the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, and in the case of senior citizen associations or clubs to the support of such organizations, in any municipality, in which such law shall be adopted by a majority of the qualified voters, voting thereon, at a general or special election as the submission thereof shall be prescribed by law and for the Legislature, from time to time, to restrict and control, by law, the conduct of such games of chance;

5:8-24. Short title

This act shall be known as and may be cited as the “Bingo Licensing Law.”

5:8-25. Licensing authorized; organizations eligible; game described; purposes to which proceeds devoted; rights of licensees; use of electronic devices

It shall be lawful for the governing body of any municipality, at any time after this act shall become operative within such municipality and except when prohibited by this act, to license bona fide organizations or associations of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, churches or religious congregations and religious organizations, charitable, educational and fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, senior citizen associations and clubs, officially recognized volunteer fire companies, and officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads, to hold and operate games of chance of, and restricted to, the specific kind of game of chance commonly known as bingo or lotto played for prizes with cards bearing numbers or other designations, five or more in one line, the holder covering numbers, as objects, similarly numbered, are drawn from a receptacle and the game being won by the person who first covers a previously designated arrangement of numbers on such a card, by selling shares or tickets or rights to participate in such games and by conducting the games accordingly, when the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, and, in the case of senior citizen associations or clubs, to the support of such organizations, and for any such organization, association, church, congregation, society, club, fire company, first aid or rescue squad, or senior citizen association or club, when so licensed, to hold, operate and conduct such games of chance by its active members pursuant to this act and such license, and under such conditions and regulations for the supervision and conduct thereof as shall be prescribed by rules and regulations duly adopted from time to time by the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission, hereinafter designated as the control commission, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, but only when the entire net proceeds thereof are devoted to the uses aforesaid and for any person or persons to participate in and play such games of chance conducted under any such license.

The control commission shall, pursuant to regulations promulgated by it, authorize the use in conducting bingo or lotto of electronic devices that are the functional equivalent of the cards, numbered objects, and receptacle described herein to the extent that the use of such devices is not inconsistent with any other provision of this act or the provisions of subparagraph A of the New Jersey Constitution, Article IV, Section 7, paragraph 2. Any such electronic device shall comply with specifications prescribed by the commission and shall be approved by the commission prior to use. Such devices shall not include any device into which currency, coins or tokens may be inserted or from which currency, coins or tokens, or any receipt for monetary value, can be dispensed or which, once provided to a person participating in bingo, is capable of communicating with other such devices. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as allowing electronic devices used by a qualified organization in conducting bingo or lotto to be linked to electronic devices used by any other qualified organization in conducting bingo or lotto.

5:8-25.1. Special license; senior citizen association or club; amusement and recreation only

The governing body of any municipality shall issue a special license to any senior citizen association or club desiring to hold, operate and conduct games of chance solely for the purpose of amusement and recreation of its members. Said special license shall be valid only for those games of chance held, operated and conducted where no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate; the prizes awarded or to be awarded are nominal; no person other than a bona fide active member of the organization participates in the conduct of the games; and no person is paid for conducting or assisting in the conduct of the game or games. Said special license shall be issued under this act without fee and shall be effective for a period of 2 years.

5:8-25.2. Inapplicability of Bingo Licensing Law

Senior citizen associations or clubs holding, operating and conducting games of chance solely for the amusement and recreation of its members under said special license shall not be subject to the provisions of the act to which this act is a supplement.

5:8-25.3. Use of net proceeds for capital improvements

a. A bona fide organization or association of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, church or religious congregation or religious organization, charitable, educational or fraternal organization, civic or service club, officially recognized volunteer fire company, or officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squad licensed to hold and operate the specific kind of game of chance commonly known as bingo or lotto may use the net proceeds of such game for capital improvements to a facility owned by the licensee only if:

(1) the facility is devoted full-time to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses; or

(2) a portion of the facility is devoted full-time to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, in which case the net proceeds may be used for capital improvements to that portion of the facility so devoted; or

(3) all or a portion of the facility is devoted part-time to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, in which case a percentage of the net proceeds may be used for capital improvements to the facility or to that portion of a facility so devoted. The percentage shall be equal to the percentage that represents the number of days of the preceding calendar year during which the facility or portion thereof was devoted to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use.

b. In determining the amount of net proceeds a licensee may use for capital improvements pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a reasonable amount of facility space used full-time for administrative or operational activities of the licensee, as determined by the commission by regulation, shall be considered devoted to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use provided the space is located in a facility at least half of which was devoted for at least 70 days in the previous calendar year to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use.

c. The commission shall by regulation determine how many hours of educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use in a day in a facility or portion thereof is sufficient to claim that for that day a facility or portion thereof was devoted to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use.

5:8-26. Application for license

Each applicant for such a license shall file with the clerk of the municipality a written application therefor in the form prescribed in said rules and regulations, duly executed and verified, in which shall be stated the name and address of the applicant together with sufficient facts relating to its incorporation and organization to enable the governing body of the municipality to determine whether or not it is a bona fide organization or association of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged or a church or a religious congregation or religious organization or a charitable, educational or fraternal organization, or a civic or service club, or a senior citizen association or club, or an officially recognized volunteer fire company or an officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squad; the names and addresses of its officers; the specific kind of games of chance intended to be held, operated and conducted by the applicant, and the place or places where, the date or dates and the time or times when, such games of chance are intended to be held, operated and conducted, by the applicant, under the license applied for; the items of expense intended to be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating and conducting of such games of chance and the names and addresses of the persons to whom, and the purposes for which, they are to be paid; the specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted and in what manner; that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense will be paid to any person for holding, operating or conducting such game or games of chance or for assisting therein except as in this act otherwise provided; and that no prize or aggregate of prizes will be offered and given under said license of a value in excess of the sum or value authorized to be offered and given by this act and a description of all prizes to be offered and given in all such games of chance to be held, operated and conducted under such license and such other information as shall be prescribed by such rules and regulations.

In each application there shall be designated an active member or members of the applicant organization under whom the game or games of chance described in the application are to be held, operated and conducted and to the application shall be appended a statement executed by the applicant and by the member or members so designated, that he or they will be responsible for the holding, operation and conduct of such games of chance in accordance with the terms of the license and the provisions of the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct of such games of chance and of this act, if such license is granted.

In event that any premises, upon which any such game of chance is to be held, operated or conducted or which is to be used for any other purpose in connection with the holding, operating or conducting thereof, is to be leased from any person, persons or corporation, a written statement shall accompany the application signed and verified under oath by such person or persons or executed and verified under oath on behalf of such corporation, stating his or its address and the amount of rent which will be paid for said premises and that such lessor or lessors, or if a corporation all of its officers and each of its stockholders who hold 10% or more of its stock issued and outstanding, are of good moral character and have not been convicted of crime.

5:8-27. Investigation; matters to be determined; issuance of licenses; fees; duration of license

The governing body of the municipality shall make an investigation of the qualifications of each applicant and the merits of each application, with due expedition after the filing of the application, and if it shall determine that the applicant is duly qualified to be licensed under this act to hold, operate and conduct games of chance under the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct thereof in the municipality; that the member or members of the applicant designated in the application to hold, operate or conduct the games of chance which the license is applied for are bona fide active members of the applicant and are persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of crime; that such games of chance are to be held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of this act and in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct thereof and that the proceeds thereof are to be disposed of as provided by this act, and if the governing body is satisfied that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense whatever will be paid or given to any person holding, operating or conducting or assisting in the holding, operation or conduct of any such game of chance except as in this act otherwise provided; and that no prize will be offered and given in excess of the sum or value of $1,000, or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c. 140, in any single game of chance, and that the aggregate of all prizes offered and given in all such games of chance, held, operated and conducted on a single occasion, under said license shall not exceed the sum or value of $3,000, or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c. 140, it shall issue a license to the applicant for the holding, operation and conduct of the specific kind of games of chance applied for, accordingly, upon payment of a license fee or fees prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission for each occasion upon which any game or games are to be conducted under such license.

The $1,000 limitation on single game prizes and the $3,000 aggregate prize limitation established in this section shall not apply to games in which the prize is determined based upon a percentage of the gross receipts from the sale of cards to participate in the game. The control commission shall, by regulation, prescribe the method of play and set the minimum and maximum percentage to be awarded in any such game.

No license for the holding, operation and conduct of any game or games of chance shall be issued under this act which shall be effective for a period of more than one year.

5:8-28. Hearing; amendment of license

No application for the issuance of a license shall be refused by the governing body until after a hearing is held on due notice to the applicant, at which the applicant shall be entitled to be heard upon the qualifications of the applicant and the merits of the application.

Any license issued under this act may be amended, upon application made to the governing body of the municipality which issued it, if the subject matter of the proposed amendment could lawfully and properly have been included in the original license and upon payment of such additional license fee, if any, as would have been payable, if it had been so included.

5:8-29. Form and contents of license; display of license
Each license shall be in such form as shall be prescribed in the rules and regulations promulgated by the control commission and shall contain a description of the kind of games of chance authorized to be held, operated and conducted thereunder, a statement of the name and address of the licensee, of the names and addresses of the member or members of the licensee under whom such games of chance will be held, operated and conducted, of the number of times, or the hours during which, such games of chance are authorized to be conducted and the place or places where and the date or dates and time or times when, such games of chance are to be conducted and of the specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted; if any prize or prizes are to be offered and given in cash, a statement of the amounts of the prizes authorized so to be offered and given; and any other information which may be required by said rules and regulations to be contained therein, and each license issued for the conduct of any game or games of chance shall be conspicuously displayed at the place where the same is to be conducted at all times during the conduct thereof.

5:8-30. Control and supervision; suspension of licenses; inspection of premises

The governing body of any municipality issuing any license under this act shall have and exercise control and supervision over all games of chance held, operated or conducted under such license, to the end that the same are fairly held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of such license, the rules and regulations promulgated by the control commission and the provisions of this act governing the holding, operation and conduct of the same and such governing body and the control commission shall have power and authority to suspend any license issued by such governing body and to revoke the same, after hearing, for any violation of any such provision, and shall have the right of entry, by their respective officers and agents at all times into any premises where any such game of chance is being held, operated and conducted or where it is intended that any such game of chance shall be held, operated and conducted, or where any equipment being used or intended to be used in the conduct thereof is found, for the purpose of inspecting the same.

In addition to or in lieu of revoking or suspending or refusing to renew any license or registration certificate issued by it or any municipality, the control commission may, after providing a licensee the opportunity to be heard:

a. issue a letter of warning, reprimand or censure with regard to any action, conduct or practice which, in the judgment of the control commission upon consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, does not warrant the initiation of formal action;

b. assess civil penalties in accordance with the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1994, c. 63 (C. 5:8-30.2);

c. order any person found to have violated any provision of a law, rule or regulation administered by the control commission to desist from future violations thereof or to take such affirmative corrective action as may be necessary with regard to any action found to be unlawful by the control commission;

d . order any person found to have violated any provision of a law, rule or regulation administered by the control commission to restore to any person aggrieved by an unlawful act or practice, any monies or property, real or personal, acquired by means of such action or practice, except that the control commission shall not order restoration of a dollar amount greater than those monies received by a licensee or the agent or a licensee or any other person violating the law, rule or regulation administered by the control commission; and

e. order any person, as a condition for continued, reinstated or renewed licensure, to secure medical or other professional treatment as may be necessary to properly discharge licensee functions.

5:8-30.1. Summary proceedings

Whenever it shall appear to the control commission that a violation of a law, including the unlicensed conduct or practice of a regulated activity, or regulation administered by the control commission has occurred, is occurring, or will occur, the control commission, in addition to any other proceeding authorized by law, may seek and obtain in a summary proceeding in Superior Court an injunction prohibiting such action, conduct or practice. In any such proceeding the court may assess a civil penalty in accordance with the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1994, c. 63 (C. 5:8-30.2), may order restoration to any person in interest of any monies or property, real or personal, acquired by means of an unlawful action, conduct or practice and may enter such orders as may be necessary to prevent the performance of an unlawful action, conduct or practice in the future and to remedy any past unlawful activity. In any action brought pursuant to this section, the court shall not suspend or revoke any license or registration certificate issued by the control commission.

5:8-30.2. Civil penalties

Any person violating any provision of a law or regulation administered by the control commission shall, in addition to any other sanctions provided in section 7 of P.L.1954, c. 6 (C. 5:8-30), be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $7,500 for the first offense and not more than $15,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. For the purpose of construing this section, each statutory violation shall constitute a separate offense, except that a second and subsequent offense shall not be deemed to exist unless an administrative or court order has been entered in a prior, separate and independent proceeding. In lieu of an administrative proceeding or an action in the Superior Court, the Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the control commission for the collection or enforcement of civil penalties for the violation of any provision of a law or regulation administered by the control commission. Such action may be brought in a summary manner pursuant to “the penalty enforcement law” (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.) and the rules of court governing actions for the collection of civil penalties in the municipal court or Superior Court where the offense occurred. Process in such action may be a summons or warrant and in the event that the defendant in such action fails to answer such action, the court shall, upon finding an unlawful action, conduct or practice to have been committed by the defendant, issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest in order to bring such person before the court to satisfy the civil penalties imposed. In any action commenced pursuant to this section, the court may order restored to any person in interest any monies or property, real or personal, acquired by means of an unlawful action, conduct or practice. Any action alleging the unlicensed conduct or practice of an activity regulated by any law or regulation administered by the control commission shall be brought pursuant to this section, or where injunctive relief is sought, by an action commenced in Superior Court. In any action brought pursuant to P.L.1954, c. 6 (C. 5:8-24 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, the control commission or the court may order the payment of costs to the State.

Organizations registered with the control commission, holding a valid identification number, and not suspended or revoked at the time of any such action, conduct or practice shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.

5:8-31. Sunday; conduct of games on

No games of chance shall be conducted under any license issued under this act on the first day of the week, commonly known and designated as Sunday, unless it shall be otherwise provided in the license issued for the holding, operating and conducting thereof, pursuant to the provisions of an ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of the municipality issuing the license, authorizing the conduct of such games of chance under this act on said day.

5:8-32. Participation by persons under 18

No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to participate in any game or games of chance held, operated or conducted pursuant to any license issued under this act.

5:8-33. Frequency of games; sale of alcoholic beverages

No game or games of chance shall be held, operated or conducted under any license issued under this act oftener than on 6 days in any one calendar month, or in any room or outdoor area where alcoholic beverages are sold or served during the progress of the game or games.

5:8-34. Persons operating and conducting games; equipment; expenses; compensation

a. No person shall hold, operate or conduct any game or games of chance under any license issued under this act except an active member of, or a person approved by the control commission who is compensated by, the organization, association, church, congregation, society, club, fire company, first aid or rescue squad, or senior citizen association or club to which the license is issued, and no person shall assist in the holding, operating or conducting of any game or games of chance under such license except such an active member, or such a person approved by the control commission, or a member of an organization or association which is an auxiliary to the licensee or a member of an organization or association of which such licensee is an auxiliary or a member of an organization or association which is affiliated with the licensee by being, with it, auxiliary to another organization or association and except bookkeepers or accountants as hereinafter provided, and no such game of chance shall be conducted with any equipment that is not purchased or leased from or provided by a person approved by the control commission, and no item of expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating or conducting of any game of chance held, operated or conducted pursuant to any license issued under this act, 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, under any circumstances whatever; no rental shall be paid for the use of any premises for holding, operating or conducting any such game of chance thereon or for any other purpose in connection with the holding, operating or conducting thereof unless the amount of such rental is stated in a statement annexed to the application for the license as provided in section 3 of this act or which is in excess of the sum stated as the rental to be charged therefor in such a statement; 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 game of chance so held, operated or conducted, except that reasonable compensation may be paid by a licensee to a person approved by the control commission for services related to holding, operating or conducting games and to bookkeepers or accountants for bookkeeping or accounting services rendered, according to a schedule of compensation prescribed by rule of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission.

b. A licensee may pay reasonable compensation to a person approved by the control commission for services rendered in connection with holding, operating or conducting games, pursuant to regulations adopted by the control commission. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions which: establish the qualifications required of such a person, the duties which may be performed and the compensation which may be paid; require that a person receive approval of the control commission prior to rendering services for which compensation will be received; provide that an active member of an organization shall oversee the rendering of services by a person receiving compensation; and prohibit the payment of compensation to any person who is an active member of an organization or of an auxiliary or affiliated organization.

5:8-34.1. Bingo; conduct for two or more affiliated licensees by active member

Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, it shall be lawful for any person to engage in the conduct of bingo for any two or more affiliated licensees of which he or she is an active member. The commission shall by regulation determine whether licensees are affiliated.

5:8-35. Charge for admission and participation; amount of prizes; award of prizes

No amount in excess of the amount prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission shall be charged by any licensee for admission to any room or place in which any game or games of chance are to be held, operated and conducted under any license issued under this act, which admission fee, upon payment thereof, shall entitle the person paying the same to a card entitling him to participate without additional charge in all regular games of chance to be played under such license on such occasion, and no charge in excess of the amount prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission shall be made for a single opportunity to participate in all special games to be played under such license on such occasion. No prize greater in amount or value than $1,000, or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c. 140, shall be offered or given in any single game conducted under any such license and the aggregate amount or value of all prizes offered and given in all games played on a single occasion shall not exceed $3,000 or an amount established by regulation of the control commission not earlier than one year after the effective date of P.L.2005, c. 140, and all winners shall be determined and all prizes shall be awarded in any game played on any occasion within the same calendar day as that upon which the winner is determined.

5:8-36. Advertising games

No game of chance to be conducted under any license issued under this act shall be advertised as to its location, the time when it is to be or has been played, or the prizes awarded or to be awarded, by means of newspapers, radio, television or sound truck, or by means of billboards, posters or handbills or any other means addressed to the general public in any municipality in which the majority of voters voting therein have not voted in favor of the adoption of the provisions of P.L.1954, c. 6 (C.5:8-24 et seq.) or in any municipality in which the majority of voters voting therein have voted in favor of rescinding the adoption of the provisions of the act

5:8-36.1. Advertising games of chance, regulations

The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall promulgate regulations to govern the advertising of games of chance in any municipality in which the majority of voters voting therein have voted in favor of the adoption of the “Bingo Licensing Law,” P.L.1954, c. 6 (C.5:8-24 et seq.), and in which games of chance are held, operated or conducted under any license issued pursuant to the provisions of that act.

The regulations shall prohibit:

a. any advertisement from containing any false, deceptive, misleading or fraudulent statement regarding the holding, operation or conduct of a game of chance;

b. any advertisement from causing undue or unfair competition between organizations registered with the control commission that are holding competing games of chance; and

c. the use, to an extent deemed excessive, of the proceeds derived from the conduct of any individual game of chance for advertising subsequent games of chance.

5:8-37. Statement of receipts, expenses, etc.

No later than the 15th day of the calendar month immediately following a calendar month in which any such game of chance was held, operated or conducted, the organization, association, church, congregation, society, club, fire company, or first-aid or rescue squad which held, operated or conducted the same, and its members who were in charge thereof, shall furnish to the control commission a duly verified statement showing the amount of the gross receipts derived from each game of chance held, operated or conducted during the preceding calendar month, which shall include receipts from the sale of shares, tickets or rights in any manner connected with participation in said game or the right to participate therein, each item of expense incurred, or paid, and each item of expenditure made or to be made, name and address of each person to whom each such item has been, or is to be paid, with a detailed description of the merchandise purchased or the services rendered therefor, the net profit derived from each such game of chance, and the uses to which such net profit has been or is to be applied and a list of prizes offered and given, with the respective values thereof and it shall be the duty of each licensee to maintain and keep such books and records as may be necessary to substantiate the particulars of each such report.

5:8-38. Examination of books and records; examination of managers, etc.; disclosure of information

The governing body of the municipality and the control commission shall have power to examine or cause to be examined the books and records of any organization or association, church, congregation, society, fire company, first aid or rescue squad, or senior citizen association or club to which any such license is issued so far as they may relate to any transactions connected with the holding, operating and conducting of any game of chance thereunder and to examine any manager, officer, director, agent, member or employee thereof under oath in relation to the conduct of any such game of chance under any such license but any information so received shall not be disclosed except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act.

5:8-39. Appeals from governing body to Control Commission

Any applicant for, or holder of, any license issued or to be issued under this act aggrieved by any action of the municipal governing body of the municipality to which such application has been made or by which such license has been issued, may appeal to the control commission from the determination of said governing body by filing with the governing body a written notice of appeal within 30 days after the determination or action appealed from, and upon the hearing of such appeal the evidence, if any, taken before the governing body and any additional evidence may be produced and shall be considered in arriving at a determination of the matters in issue, and the action of the control commission upon said appeal shall be binding upon said governing body and all parties to said appeal.

5:8-40. Immunity from prosecution; exceptions

No person or corporation

(1) lawfully conducting, or participating in the conduct of,

(2) possessing, selling or in any manner disposing of, any shares, tickets or rights to participate in, or

(3) permitting the conduct upon any premises owned by him or it, of, any game of chance conducted or to be conducted under any license lawfully issued pursuant to this act, shall be liable to prosecution or conviction for violation of any provision of chapters 112 and 121 of Title 2A, or of section 2A:170-18 of the New Jersey Statutes, but this immunity shall not extend to any person or corporation knowingly conducting or participating in the conduct of any game of chance under any license obtained by any false pretense or statement made in any application for such license or otherwise, or possessing, selling or disposing of shares, tickets or rights to participate in, or permitting the conduct upon any premises owned by him or it of, any game of chance conducted under any license known to him or it to have been obtained by any such false pretense or statement.

5:8-41. Offenses; disorderly persons; forfeiture of license; ineligibility to apply for license

Any person, association or corporation who or which shall make any false statement in any application for any such license or in any statement annexed thereto or shall pay any rental for the use of any premises for holding, operating or conducting any game of chance under this act or for any other purpose in connection with the holding, operating or conducting thereof, unless the amount of such rental is stated in a statement annexed to the application for the license as provided in section 3 of this act, or shall pay or receive any sum for such rental in excess of the sum stated as the rental to be charged therefor in such a statement, executed by him or on its behalf, or shall fail to keep such books and records as shall fully and truly record all transactions connected with the holding, operating or conducting of games of chance under any such license or shall falsify or make any false entry in any books or records so far as they relate to any transaction connected with the holding, operating and conducting of any game of chance under any such license or shall violate any of the provisions of this act or of any term of such license shall be a disorderly person and if convicted as such shall, in addition to suffering any other penalties which may be imposed, forfeit any license issued to it under this act and shall be ineligible to apply for a license under this act for 1 year thereafter.

5:8-42. Act inoperative until adopted by voters

The provisions of this act shall remain inoperative in any municipality unless and until the same shall be adopted by the legal voters of the municipality as herein provided.

5:8-43. Submission to voters; special ballots; voting machines; count, return and canvass

The question of the adoption of the provisions of this act, in the form set forth in section 22 of this act, shall be submitted to the legal voters of every municipality in this State at a special election to be held therein at the same time as the primary election for the general election which will be held on the third Tuesday in April in the year 1954 in such manner that every voter qualified to vote at such special election upon said question may vote at said special election for or against such question separately and whether or not he is qualified to vote, or desires to vote, for any candidate on any party ballot to be voted at said primary election.

In every election district in which paper ballots are used the clerk of the municipality shall provide a sufficient number of special ballots to be voted separately upon said question at said special election by the voters who are qualified to vote upon said question whether or not they are qualified to vote, or desire to vote, for any candidate on any party ballot to be used at said primary election.

The special ballots shall be in such form as shall be determined by the clerk of the county in which the municipality is situated and shall so far as practicable correspond in form and detail to the provisions of Title 19, Elections, of the Revised Statutes but they shall not contain the names of any candidates to be voted upon at any such election.

The special ballots when voted shall be deposited by the election officers in either of the ballot boxes used at such election.

In election districts in which voting machines are used the officers charged with the duty of preparing and placing the ballots upon the machines shall cause the question to be so placed upon every machine used in such primary election that any voter qualified to vote upon said question may vote thereon separately in such special election whether or not he desires or is qualified to vote a party ballot at said primary election, and special voting authorities shall be provided for use in cases where they are required or are used in such form as shall be determined by the county board of elections of the county in which the respective municipalities are situate and which shall be furnished and paid for in the same manner as are other voting authorities used at said election.

All of the ballots cast at said election on said question in each municipality shall be counted and the result thereof shall be returned and canvassed in the manner provided by law in the case of public questions submitted in the several municipalities of this State.

5:8-44. Resubmission

In event that in any municipality a majority of all the votes cast both for and against the question shall be cast against the question at any election at which said question is submitted, said question may again be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at a general election held not earlier than the date upon which the third general election, following the date of the election at which the question was submitted, is to be held, if there shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality not less than 45 days prior to such general election a petition requesting the submission of the same signed by at least 15% of the qualified legal voters of the municipality as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the then next preceding general election held therein.

5:8-45. Form of official ballots

There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at any election at which said question shall be submitted, the following:

If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “Yes.” If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “No.”

——————————————————————–

: : Yes. : :

: : : Shall the “Bingo Licensing Law” (P.L.1954 c. :

—————-

: : : ……..) be adopted within this municipality? :

: : No. : :

——————————————————————–

The chapter number of this act shall be inserted in the appropriate blank in said question.

In any municipality in which voting machines are used, the question shall be placed upon the official ballots to be used upon the voting machines without the foregoing instructions to the voters and shall be voted upon by the use of such machines without marking as aforesaid.

5:8-46. Majority of votes determines whether act operative

If at any election at which such question is submitted as provided in this act the majority of all the votes cast, both for and against such question, shall be cast in favor of the question, the provisions of this act shall become operative in such municipality but if a majority of all such votes shall be cast against the question, the provisions of this act shall not become operative in such municipality unless the same shall be again submitted and this act shall be adopted as provided in this act.

5:8-47. Submission of question of rescinding adoption

If in any municipality in which the provisions of this act shall have become operative in the manner hereinbefore provided, there shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality a petition signed by at least 15% of the qualified legal voters of the municipality, as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the then next preceding general election in such municipality, requesting that there shall be submitted to the voters of the municipality the question of rescinding the adoption of the provisions of this act by the municipality, the said question shall be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at the next general election succeeding the forty-fourth day following the date of the filing of said petition.

5:8-48. Ballots on question of rescinding adoption

There shall be printed upon the official ballot to be used at such general election the following:

If you favor the proposition printed below, make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “Yes.” If you are opposed thereto, make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “No.”

—————————————————————-

: : Yes. : Shall the adoption of the “Bingo Licensing :

: : : Law” (P.L.1954, c. ……..) within the :

: : No. : municipality be rescinded? :

—————————————————————-

The chapter number of this act shall be inserted in the appropriate blank in said question.

In any municipality in which voting machines are used, the question shall be placed upon the official ballots to be used upon the voting machines without the foregoing instructions to the voters and shall be voted upon by the use of such machines without marking as aforesaid.

5:8-49. Majority of votes controlling; resubmission

If at such election a majority of all the votes cast, both for and against the rescission of the adoption of this act, in said municipality shall be cast in favor of the rescission thereof, the said adoption of this act shall thereby be rescinded and thereupon this act shall cease to be operative within such municipality and no petition shall be received for the submission of the question of the adoption of the provisions of this act to the voters of said municipality, and no such question shall be submitted to them, at any election earlier than the general election to be held in the third calendar year following the date of such election. If at such election the majority of all the votes so cast shall be against the rescission of said adoption, no petition for such submission of the question of the rescission of such adoption shall be received and no such question shall be again submitted at any election earlier than the general election to be held in the third calendar year following the date of such election.

5:8-49.1. Severability

In case for any reason any provision of the act to which this act is a supplement shall be questioned in any court and shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect any other provision of said act except so far as the provisions so declared unconstitutional or invalid shall be inseparable from such other provision.

5:8-49.2. Definitions

As used in this act:

“Commission ” shall mean the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission;

“Organization ” shall mean any organization licensed to hold, operate or conduct games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law (P.L.1954, c. 6, as amended and supplemented);

“Person ” shall mean not only a natural person but also any partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or any other legal entity;

“Premises ” shall mean any land, building, enclosure or part thereof used for the purpose of operating or conducting games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law;

“Rentor” shall mean and include the owner, lessor, and supplier of premises furnished or supplied to, or used by, an organization for the purpose of holding, operating or conducting games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law;

“Rental ” shall mean the amount paid or payable by an organization to a rentor for the use of premises including janitorial services, tables and chairs rented, furnished or supplied to said organization for the purpose of holding, operating or conducting games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law.

5:8-49.3. Rental or use of premises not owned by organization; payment for rental; approved renters

An organization may, for the purpose of holding, operating and conducting games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law rent or use premises not owned by such organization upon compliance with the provisions of this act. No such rental or use shall be permitted unless the commission shall determine that the payment to be made for such rental or use of the premises is fair and reasonable and that the rentors of said premises are approved rentors under this act.

5:8-49.4. Persons entitled to act as renters

From and after the effective date of this act, no person shall act as, or be, a rentor unless said person (a) is itself licensed to hold, operate or conduct games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law or (b) has first obtained from the commission a license as an approved rentor.

5:8-49.5. Application for approved renter’s license; form and requisites
A person seeking a license as an approved rentor shall file in the office of the commission a written application for such license. The application shall specify the premises to be rented and be in such form and require such information as the commission shall deem necessary for the purpose of effectuating the provisions of chapters 6 and 7 of the laws of 1954 and amendments and supplements thereof.

5:8-49.6. Denial of license; grounds

No license as an approved rentor shall be granted:

(a) If any person whose signature or name appears in the application is not the real party in interest or if the person so signing or named in the application is an undisclosed agent or trustee for any such real party in interest; and,

(b) Unless the commission shall determine that (1) the applicant and, (2) if the applicant is not the owner, the owners of said premises, and (3) if said applicant or the owner is a corporation, all of its officers and each of its stockholders who own 10% or more of its issued and outstanding stock, are of good moral character and have not been convicted of a crime.

The commission may, among other things, and without limitation, consider a violation of chapters 5, 6 or 7 of the laws of 1954 or any amendment of or supplement to said acts as evidence of lack of good moral character.

5:8-49.7. Issuance of license; fee; duration; temporary permits

When the application shall have been examined and such further inquiry and investigation made as the commission shall deem proper and when the commission shall be satisfied therefrom that the persons named in section 5(b) hereof possess the qualifications prescribed in this act, the commission shall issue and deliver a license to such applicant as an approved rentor for the premises stated in the application upon payment by the applicant of a license fee as prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission and the approved rentor shall pay a fee as prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission for each occasion on which bingo games are held in the licensed premises. Said license shall be valid until revoked, suspended or modified by the commission. The commission may issue a temporary permit to any applicant for such license pending final action on the application. Any such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not in excess of 180 days.

5:8-49.8. Revocation or suspension of license; grounds

Any license as approved rentor issued pursuant to this act may be revoked or suspended for such period as the commission deems in the public interest for any of the following offenses on the part of the licensee, its agent or employees, or any person required by this act to sign or be identified in an original application for a license:

(a) Any cause which would permit or require disqualification of the licensee from receiving a license upon original application;

(b) Fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in securing the license or in the conduct of the licensed activity or in connection with any application submitted to, or any interview, hearing or proceeding conducted by, the commission.

(c) Failure by the licensee to maintain a complete set of books and records containing a true and accurate account of the licensee’s receipts and disbursements arising out of his activities;

(d) Failure to keep said books and records available during business hours for inspection by the commission and its duly designated representatives until the expiration of the second calendar year following the calendar year during which occurred the transactions recorded therein;

(e) Violation of any provisions of this act, the Bingo Licensing Law or the rules and regulations adopted by the commission.

5:8-49.9. Rules and regulations

The commission shall have power to make and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act and the powers conferred upon it hereunder and to prevent the circumvention or evasion thereof. Said rules and regulations may, among other things, require that all rental or use agreements be in writing and in form approved by the commission and may provide for the form of application and the information to be furnished the commission on any application for approval, but shall not impose limitations on the number of days a month the premises may be used for purposes authorized by the act hereby supplemented.

5:8-49.10. Necessity of compliance with statutory provisions and rules and regulations

No agreements or arrangements for the rental or use of premises shall be valid and no moneys paid by licensed organizations for such rental or use or services shall be allowable expenditures or be taken into account in determining net proceeds unless made in accordance with the provisions of this act and of the rules and regulations adopted by the commission pursuant thereto.

5:8-49.11. Violations; disorderly persons

Any person who, without complying with the provisions of this act, directly or indirectly, receives, collects or accepts money or other valuable thing for renting, furnishing or supplying premises to an organization for the purpose of holding, operating or conducting games of chance under the Bingo Licensing Law is a disorderly person.

5:8-50. Short title

This act shall be known as and may be cited as the “Raffles Licensing Law.”

5:8-51. Licensing authorized; organizations eligible; games permitted; proceeds; rights of licensees; door prize exempt

a. It shall be lawful for the governing body of any municipality, at any time after this act shall become operative within such municipality and except when prohibited by this act, to license bona fide organizations or associations of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, churches or religious congregations and religious organizations, charitable, educational and fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, senior citizen associations and clubs, officially recognized volunteer fire companies, and officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads, to hold and operate the specific kind of game or games of chance commonly known as a raffle or raffles played by drawing for prizes or the allotment of prizes by chance, by the selling of shares or tickets or rights to participate in such game or games and by conducting the game or games accordingly, when the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, and in the case of senior citizen associations and clubs to the support of these organizations, and for any such organization or association, church, congregation, society, club, company or squad, when so licensed or without any license when and as hereinafter prescribed, to hold, operate and conduct such game of chance pursuant to this act and such license, in such municipality and to sell shares or tickets or rights to participate in such game or games of chance therein and in any other municipality which shall have adopted this act and under such conditions and regulations for the supervision and conduct thereof as shall be prescribed by rules and regulations duly adopted from time to time by the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission, hereinafter designated as the control commission, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, but only when the entire net proceeds thereof are devoted to the uses aforesaid and for any person or persons to participate in and play such games of chance conducted under any such license.

b. The control commission may adopt regulations authorizing licensees to hold events known as:

“armchair races ” at which wagers are placed on the outcome of previously-filmed horse races and wagerers do not know the results in advance, when the prize awarded consists of merchandise or raffle tickets only, and not cash; and

“casino nights ” at which players use chips or script purchased from the licensee to wager in games of chance known as blackjack, under/over, beat-the-dealer, chuck-a-luck, craps, roulette, bingo or similar games approved by the commission, when the chips or script are redeemable for merchandise or raffle tickets only, and not for cash.

The regulations shall establish the frequency with which these events may be held, the rules of the games, the specific type and value of prizes which may be offered, the qualifications of the individuals conducting the games and other requirements which the commission may deem pertinent.

c. No license shall be required for the holding, operating or conducting of a raffle for a door prize of donated merchandise of the value of less than $50.00 for which no extra charge is made at an assemblage at which no other game of chance is held, operated or conducted, if the proceeds of such assemblage are devoted to the uses described in this section.

5:8-51.1. Senior citizen associations or clubs; special license; amusement and recreation

The governing body of any municipality shall issue a special license to any senior citizen association or club desiring to hold, operate and conduct games of chance solely for the purpose of amusement and recreation of its members. The special license shall be valid only for those games of chance held, operated and conducted where no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate; the prizes awarded or to be awarded are nominal; no person other than a bona fide active member of the organization participates in the conduct of the games; and no person is paid for conducting or assisting in the conduct of the game or games. The special license shall be issued under this act without fee and shall be effective for a period of two years.

5:8-51.2. Amusement and recreation licenses; exemption from raffles licensing law

Senior citizen associations or clubs holding, operating and conducting games of chance solely for the amusement and recreation of its members under a special license shall not be subject to the provisions of P.L.1954, c. 5 (C. 5:8-50 et seq.).

5:8-51.3. Certain nonprofit organizations eligible to conduct raffles

A nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of this State for the sole purpose of making loans to students from a single New Jersey school district to defray the costs of post-secondary education shall be deemed to be a bona fide educational organization which is eligible to conduct raffles and the net proceeds of such raffles shall be deemed to be devoted to educational uses.

5:8-51.4. Use of net proceeds for capital improvements

a. A bona fide organization or association of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, church or religious congregation or religious organization, charitable, educational or fraternal organization, civic or service club, officially recognized volunteer fire company, or officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squad licensed to hold and operate the specific kind of game of chance commonly known as raffle or raffles may use the net proceeds of such game for capital improvements to a facility owned by the licensee only if:

(1) the facility is devoted full-time to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses; or

(2) a portion of the facility is devoted full-time to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, in which case the net proceeds may be used for capital improvements to that portion of the facility so devoted; or

(3) all or a portion of the facility is devoted part-time to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses, in which case a percentage of the net proceeds may be used for capital improvements to the facility or to that portion of a facility so devoted. The percentage shall be equal to the percentage that represents the number of days of the preceding calendar year during which the facility or portion thereof was devoted to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use.

b. In determining the amount of net proceeds a licensee may use for capital improvements pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a reasonable amount of facility space used full-time for administrative or operational activities of the licensee, as determined by the commission by regulation, shall be considered devoted to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use provided the space is located in a facility at least half of which was devoted for at least 70 days in the previous calendar year to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use.

c. The commission shall by regulation determine how many hours of educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use in a day in a facility or portion thereof is sufficient to claim that for that day a facility or portion thereof was devoted to an educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited use.

5:8-52. Application for license

Each applicant for such a license shall file with the clerk of the municipality a written application therefor in the form prescribed in said rules and regulations, duly executed and verified, in which shall be stated the name and address of the applicant together with sufficient facts relating to its incorporation and organization to enable the governing body of the municipality to determine whether or not it is a bona fide organization or association of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, or a church or a religious congregation or religious organization, or a charitable, educational or fraternal organization, or a civic or service club, or a senior citizen association or club, or an officially recognized volunteer fire company or an officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squad; names and addresses of its officers; the specific kind or kinds of game or games of chance intended to be held, operated and conducted by the applicant, and the place or places where, the date or dates and the time or times when, such game or games of chance are intended to be held, operated and conducted by the applicant, under the license applied for; the items of expense intended to be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating and conducting of such game or games of chance and the names and addresses of the persons to whom, and the purposes for which, they are to be paid; the specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such game or games of chance are to be devoted and in what manner; that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense will be paid to any person for holding, operating or conducting of such game or games of chance or shall assist therein except as in this act otherwise provided; and that no prize will be offered and given in cash except as otherwise provided in this act or of greater value than is provided in this act and a description of the value and character of the prizes which are to be given and any other information which said rules and regulations may require.

In each application there shall be designated an active member or members of the applicant under whom the game or games of chance described in the application are to be held, operated and conducted and to the application shall be appended a statement executed by the applicant and by the member or members, so designated, that he or they will be responsible for the holding, operation and conduct of such game or games of chance in accordance with the terms of the license and the provisions of said rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct of such game or games of chance and of this act, if such license is granted.

In event that any equipment to be used in or in connection with the holding, operating or conducting of any such game of chance is to be leased from any person, persons or corporation, a written statement shall accompany the application, signed and verified under oath by such person or persons or executed and verified under oath on behalf of such corporation, stating his or its address and the amount of rent which will be paid for such equipment and that such rental conforms to the schedule of authorized rentals prescribed by rules of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission and that such lessor or lessors, or, if a corporation, all of its officers and each of its stockholders who hold 10% or more of its stock issued and outstanding have been approved by said commission as being of good moral character and not having been convicted of crime.

5:8-53. Investigation; matters to be determined; issuance of license

The governing body of the municipality shall make an investigation of the qualifications of each applicant and the merits of the application, with due expedition after the filing of the application, and if it shall determine that the applicant is duly qualified to be licensed under this act to hold, operate and conduct games of chance under the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct thereof in the municipality; that the member or members of the applicant designated in the application to hold, operate or conduct the game or games of chance which the license is applied for are bona fide active members of the applicant and persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of crime; that such game or games of chance are to be held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of this act and in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the holding, operation and conduct thereof and that the proceeds thereof are to be disposed of as provided by this act, and if the governing body is satisfied that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense whatever will be paid or given to any person holding, operating or conducting or assisting in the holding, operation or conduct of any such game of chance except as in this act otherwise provided; that any rental to be paid for any equipment to be used in or in connection with the holding, operation and conduct of such game or games of chance conforms to the schedule of authorized rentals prescribed by rules of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission and that such lessor or lessors have been approved as to good moral character and freedom from conviction of crime by said commission; that no prize will be offered or given in cash except as authorized by regulation promulgated by the control commission or of greater value than is provided in this act in any game or games of chance held, operated and conducted under the license, it shall issue a license to the applicant for the holding, operation and conduct of the specific kind, or one or more of the specific kinds, of games of chance applied for accordingly, upon the payment of a license fee as prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission.

5:8-54. Duration of license; games within Bingo Licensing Law

No license for the holding, operation or conduct of any game or games of chance shall be issued under this act which shall be effective for a period of more than 1 year and no license shall be issued under this act for the holding, operation and conduct of any game or games of chance which may be licensed under the Bingo Licensing Law.

5:8-55. Hearing; amendment of license

No application for the issuance of a license shall be refused by the governing body until after a hearing is held on due notice to the applicant, at which the applicant shall be entitled to be heard upon the qualifications of the applicant and the merits of the application.

Any license issued under this act may be amended, upon application made to the governing body of the municipality which issued it, if the subject matter of the proposed amendment could lawfully and properly have been included in the original license, and upon payment of such additional license fee, if any, as would have been payable, if it had been so included.

5:8-56. Form and contents of license; display of license

Each license shall be in such form as shall be prescribed in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Control Commission and shall contain a description of the kind or kinds of game or games of chance authorized to be held, operated and conducted thereunder, a statement of the name and address of the licensee, of the names and addresses of the member or members of the applicant under whom such game or games of chance will be held, operated and conducted, of the number of times, or the hours during which, such game or games of chance are authorized to be conducted and the place or places where and the date or dates and time or times when, such game or games of chance are to be conducted and of the specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such game or games of chance are to be devoted, a statement of the value and character of the prizes authorized to be offered and given, and any other information which may be required, by said rules and regulations, to be contained therein, and each license issued for the conduct of any game of chance shall be conspicuously displayed at the place where any game is to be conducted thereunder at all times during the conduct thereof

5:8-57. Control and supervision; suspension of license; inspection of premises

The governing body of any municipality issuing any license under this act shall have and exercise control and supervision over all games of chance held, operated or conducted under such license, to the end that the same are fairly held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of such license, the rules and regulations promulgated by the control commission and the provisions of this act governing the holding, operation and conduct of the same, and such governing body and the control commission shall have power and authority to suspend any license issued by such governing body and to revoke the same, after hearing, for any violation of any such provision, and shall by their respective officers and agents have the right of entry at all times into any premises where any such game of chance is being held, operated and conducted or where it is intended that any such game of chance shall be held, operated and conducted, or where any equipment being used or intended to be used in the conduct thereof is found, for the purpose of inspecting the same.

In addition to or in lieu of revoking or suspending or refusing to renew any license or registration certificate issued by it or any municipality, the control commission may, after providing a licensee the opportunity to be heard:

a. issue a letter of warning, reprimand or censure with regard to any action, conduct or practice which, in the judgment of the control commission upon consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, does not warrant the initiation of formal action;
b. assess civil penalties in accordance with the provisions of section 15 of P.L.1994, c. 63 (C. 5:8-57.2);

c. order any person found to have violated any provision of a law, rule or regulation administered by the control commission to desist from future violations thereof or to take such affirmative corrective action as may be necessary with regard to any action found to be unlawful by the control commission;
d. order any person found to have violated any provision of a law, rule or regulation administered by the control commission to restore to any person aggrieved by an unlawful act or practice, any monies or property, real or personal, acquired by means of such action or practice, except that the control commission shall not order restoration of a dollar amount greater than those monies received by a licensee or the agent of a licensee or any other person violating the law, rule or regulation administered by the control commission; and

e. order any person, as a condition for continued, reinstated or renewed licensure, to secure medical or other professional treatment as may be necessary to properly discharge licensee functions.

5:8-57.1. Summary proceedings

Whenever it shall appear to the control commission that a violation of a law, including the unlicensed conduct or practice of a regulated activity, or regulation administered by the control commission has occurred, is occurring, or will occur, the control commission in addition to any other proceeding authorized by law, may seek and obtain in a summary proceeding in Superior Court an injunction prohibiting such action, conduct or practice. In any such proceeding the court may assess a civil penalty in accordance with the provisions of section 15 of P.L.1994, c. 63 (C. 5:8-57.2), may order restoration to any person in interest of any monies or property, real or personal, acquired by means of an unlawful action, conduct or practice and may enter such orders as may be necessary to prevent the performance of an unlawful action, conduct or practice in the future and to remedy any past unlawful activity. In any action brought pursuant to this section, the court shall not suspend or revoke any license or registration certificate issued by the control commission.

5:8-57.2. Civil penalties

Any person violating any provision of a law or regulation administered by the control commission shall, in addition to any other sanctions provided in section 8 of P.L.1954, c. 5 (C. 5:8-57), be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $7,500 for the first offense and not more than $15,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. For the purpose of construing this section, each statutory violation shall constitute a separate offense, except that a second and subsequent offense shall not be deemed to exist unless an administrative or court order has been entered in a prior, separate and independent proceeding. In lieu of an administrative proceeding or an action in the Superior Court, the Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the control commission for the collection or enforcement of civil penalties for the violation of any provision of a law or regulation administered by the control commission. Such action may be brought in a summary manner pursuant to “the penalty enforcement law” (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.) and the rules of court governing actions for the collection of civil penalties in the municipal court or Superior Court where the offense occurred. Process in such action may be a summons or warrant and in the event that the defendant in such action fails to answer such action, the court shall, upon finding an unlawful action, conduct or practice to have been committed by the defendant, issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest in order to bring such person before the court to satisfy the civil penalties imposed. In any action commenced pursuant to this section, the court may order restored to any person in interest any monies or property, real or personal, acquired by means of an unlawful action, conduct or practice. Any action alleging the unlicensed conduct or practice of an activity regulated by any law or regulation administered by the control commission shall be brought pursuant to this section, or where injunctive relief is sought, by an action commenced in Superior Court. In any action brought pursuant to P.L.1954, c. 5 (C. 5:8-50 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, the control commission or the court may order the payment of costs to the State.

Organizations registered with the control commission, holding a valid identification number, and not suspended or revoked at the time of any such action, conduct or practice shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.

5:8-58. Sunday; conduct of games

No games of chance shall be conducted under any license issued under this act on the first day of the week, commonly known and designated as Sunday, unless it shall be otherwise provided in the license issued for the holding, operating and conducting thereof, pursuant to the provisions of an ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of the municipality issuing the license, authorizing the conduct of such games of chance under this act on said day.

5:8-59. Persons under 18 not to participate

a. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to participate in any manner in any game or games of chance not conducted by a drawing, except that a person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play a game of chance not conducted by a drawing when the prize offered and awarded consists of merchandise only and does not include cash or money.

b. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to participate in any manner in any game or games of chance conducted by a drawing, held, operated or conducted pursuant to any license issued under this act, except that a person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play an on-premises draw raffle, including a Penny auction, when any prize offered and awarded consists of merchandise only.

5:8-60. Frequency of games

No game or games of chance shall be held, operated or conducted under any license issued under this act more often than authorized by regulation promulgated by the control commission.

5:8-60.1. Legislative findings and declarations relating to charitable raffles

The Legislature finds and declares that it is the purpose of this act to assist charitable, civic and service organizations, including volunteer fire companies, first-aid squads, church organizations, school groups, veterans’ organizations and senior citizen clubs, in conducting raffles to raise funds for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious and public-spirited purposes.

5:8-60.2. “Penny auction”; definition

As used in P.L.1954, c. 5 (C.5:8-50 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, “Penny auction ” means an event at which multiple items of merchandise, or gift certificates therefor, but not cash, are raffled by drawing the winning ticket from a container designated for each item into which players seeking to win that item have placed tickets, with all tickets having been sold for the same price or different prices and each ticket placed in a container having an equal chance of winning.

5:8-60.3. Regulations; prizes offered; discount tickets; non-draw raffles

The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall promulgate regulations allowing qualified organizations to:

a. offer as a raffle prize any personal or professional service, or a gift certificate for any personal or professional service, which is a lawful activity and which the commission determines to be an appropriate raffle prize, and the value of which is within the limits set by the commission for raffle prizes;

b. offer as a raffle prize a gift certificate redeemable for live, edible seafood the value of which is within the limits set by the commission for raffle prizes;

c. offer a discount to any person purchasing two or more tickets for a draw raffle; and

d. use a big six wheel, a big eight wheel or other wheel to determine the winner of a non-draw raffle.

5:8-60.4. Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission pamphlet; conducting raffles

The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall prepare, publish and make available to any qualified organization, upon request, a pamphlet which describes in plain and simple language the rights, duties and responsibilities of organizations conducting raffles and the exact manner in which games of chance are to be conducted.

5:8-60.5. Violation of rules of conduct; verbal or written warning

Prior to initiating administrative action or bringing charges against an organization qualified to conduct raffles for a violation which relates to the conduct of games or the awarding of prizes, the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall first issue a verbal or written warning and offer the organization the opportunity to cease the conduct which constitutes the violation.

5:8-61. Persons conducting or operating games; equipment; expenses; compensation; cash prizes

a. No person shall hold, operate or conduct any game or games of chance under any license issued under this act except an active member of, or a person approved by the control commission who is compensated by, the organization, association, church, congregation, society, club, fire company, first-aid or rescue squad or senior citizen association or club to which the license is issued, and no person shall assist in the holding, operating or conducting of any game or games of chance under such license except such an active member, or such a person approved by the control commission, or a member of an organization or association which is an auxiliary to the licensee or a member of an organization or association of which such licensee is an auxiliary or a member of any organization or association which is affiliated with the licensee by being, with it, auxiliary to another organization or association and except bookkeepers or accountants as hereinafter provided, and no such game of chance shall be conducted with any equipment except such as shall be owned absolutely or used without payment of any compensation therefor by the licensee or shall be leased for a rental, the amount of which is stated in a statement annexed to the application for the license as provided in section 3 of this act and conforms to the schedule of authorized rentals prescribed by rules of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission and the lessor or lessors of which have been approved as to good moral character and freedom from conviction of crime by said commission and no other item of expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating or conducting of any game of chance, held, operated or conducted pursuant to any license issued under this act, 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, under any circumstances whatever, 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 game of chance so held, operated or conducted, except that reasonable compensation may be paid by a licensee to a person approved by the control commission for services related to holding, operating or conducting games and to bookkeepers or accountants for bookkeeping or accounting services rendered, according to a schedule of compensation prescribed by rule of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission, and no prize shall be given in cash in any such game of chance except as authorized by regulation promulgated by the control commission.

b. A licensee may pay reasonable compensation to a person approved by the control commission for services rendered in connection with holding, operating or conducting games, pursuant to regulations adopted by the control commission. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions which: establish the qualifications required of such a person, the duties which may be performed and a schedule of compensation which may be paid; require that a person receive approval of the control commission prior to rendering services for which compensation will be received; provide that an active member of an organization shall oversee the rendering of services by a person receiving compensation; and prohibit the payment of compensation to any person who is an active member of an organization or of an auxiliary or affiliated organization.

5:8-62. Cash prizes; retail value of prizes

No prize shall be offered and given in cash except as authorized by regulation promulgated by the control commission.
a. The aggregate retail value of all prizes to be offered and given by raffles held, operated and conducted under any license issued under P.L.1954, c. 5 (C. 5:8-50 et seq.) in any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000.00, but the limit so fixed shall not apply to any raffle with respect to which all tickets, shares or rights to participate are sold only to persons present, the winners determined, and the prizes awarded, on the same occasion or if the prizes are wholly donated.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, the maximum prize that may be offered and awarded in a golf hole-in-one contest shall not exceed $1,000,000. Any prizes above $25,000 shall be offered and awarded only when the entire amount is insured by a company licensed to conduct business in this State and approved by the control commission. The prize shall be paid as an annuity with a payout over a maximum period of 20 years. Ancillary prizes awarded shall have an aggregate retail value no greater than that provided by subsection a. of this section and shall also be subject to the provisions of subsection c. of this section.

c. No prize having a retail value greater than that prescribed by regulation promulgated by the control commission shall be awarded in any raffle conducted by a drawing, or for each spin of the wheel or other allotment by chance

5:8-63. Advertising games

No game of chance to be conducted under any license issued under this act shall be advertised as to its location, the time when it is to be or has been played, or the prizes awarded or to be awarded, by means of newspapers, radio, television or sound truck, or by means of billboards, posters or handbills or any other means addressed to the general public in any municipality in which the majority of voters voting therein have not voted in favor of the adoption of the provisions of P.L.1954, c. 5 (C. 5:8-50 et seq.) or in any municipality in which the majority of voters voting therein have voted in favor of rescinding the adoption of the provisions of this act

5:8-63.1. Advertising games of chance; regulations

The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall promulgate regulations to govern the advertising of any game of chance occurring in any municipality in which the majority of voters voting therein have voted in favor of the adoption of the “Raffles Licensing Law,” P.L.1954, c. 5 (C. 5:8-50 et seq.) and in which the game of chance is held, operated or conducted under any license issued by the control commission pursuant to the provisions of that act.

The regulations shall prohibit:

a. any advertisement from containing any false, deceptive, misleading or fraudulent statement regarding the holding, operation or conduct of a game of chance;

b. any advertisement from causing undue or unfair competition between organizations registered with the control commission that are holding competing games of chance; and

c. the use, to an extent deemed excessive, of the proceeds derived from the conduct of any individual game of chance for advertising subsequent games of chance.

5:8-64. Statement of receipts, expenses, etc.; books and records

No later than the 15th day of the calendar month immediately following a calendar month in which any such game of chance was held, operated or conducted, the organization, association, church, congregation, society, club, fire company, first-aid or rescue squad, or senior citizen association or club which held, operated or conducted the same and its member or members who were in charge thereof shall furnish to the control commission a duly verified statement showing the amount of the gross receipts derived from each such game of chance held, operated or conducted in the preceding month, which shall include receipts from the sale of shares, tickets or rights in any manner connected with participation in said game or the right to participate therein, each item of expense incurred or paid, and each item of expenditure made or to be made, name and address of each person to whom each such item has been or is to be paid, with a detailed description of the merchandise purchased or the services rendered therefor, the net profit derived from each such game of chance, and the uses to which such net profit has been or is to be applied and a list of prizes offered or given, with the respective values thereof and it shall be the duty of each licensee to maintain and keep such books and records as may be necessary to substantiate the particulars of each such report.

5:8-65. Examination of books and records; disclosure of information
The governing body of the municipality and the control commission shall have power to examine or to cause to be examined the books and records of any organization, association, church, congregation, society, fire company, first-aid or rescue squad or senior citizen association or club to which any such license is issued so far as they may relate to any transactions connected with the holding and conducting of any game of chance thereunder and to examine any manager, officer, director, agent, member or employee thereof under oath in relation to the conduct of any such game of chance under any such license but any information so received shall not be disclosed except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act.

5:8-66. Appeal from governing body to Control Commission

Any applicant for, or holder of, any license issued or to be issued under this act aggrieved by any action of the governing body of the municipality to which such application has been made or by which such license has been issued, may appeal to the control commission from the determination of said governing body by filing with the governing body a written notice of appeal within 30 days after the determination or action appealed from, and upon the hearing of such appeal the evidence, if any, taken before the governing body and any additional evidence may be produced and shall be considered in arriving at a determination of the matters in issue, and the action of the control commission upon said appeal shall be binding upon said governing body and all parties to said appeal.

5:8-67. Immunity from prosecution; exceptions

No person, association or corporation

(1) Possessing, selling or in any manner disposing of, in any municipality which has adopted the provisions of this act, any shares, tickets or rights to participate in any game or games of chance conducted or to be conducted under any license lawfully issued pursuant to this act.

(2) Lawfully conducting or participating in the conduct of any such game of chance, or

(3) Permitting the conduct of any such game of chance upon any premises owned by him or it, under any license lawfully issued pursuant to this act, shall be liable to prosecution or conviction for violation of any provision of chapters 112 and 121 of Title 2A, or of section 2A:170-18 of the New Jersey Statutes, but this immunity shall not extend to any person or corporation knowingly conducting or participating in the conduct of any game of chance under any license obtained by any false pretense or statement made in any application for such license or otherwise, or possessing, selling or disposing of shares, tickets or rights to participate in, or permitting the conduct upon any premises owned by him or it of, any game of chance conducted under any license known to him or it to have been obtained by any such false pretense or statement.

5:8-68. Offenses; violators as disorderly persons; forfeiture of license; ineligibility to apply for license

Any person, association or corporation who or which shall make any false statement in any application for a license under this act or in any statement annexed thereto or shall pay or receive any rental for the use of any equipment in or in connection with the holding, operating or conducting of any game of chance under any license issued under this act unless the amount thereof is stated in a statement annexed to the application for the license and conforms to the schedule of authorized rentals prescribed by rules of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission and is paid to a person or persons or corporation approved as to good moral character and freedom from conviction of crime by said commission or shall fail to keep such books and records as shall fully and truly record all transactions connected with the holding, operating or conducting of games of chance under any such license or shall falsify or make any false entry in any books or records so far as they relate to any transaction connected with the holding, operating and conducting of any game of chance under any such license or shall violate any of the provisions of this act or of any term of such license, shall be a disorderly person and if convicted as such shall, in addition to suffering any other penalties which may be imposed, forfeit any license issued to it under this act and shall be ineligible to apply for a license under this act for 1 year thereafter.

5:8-69. Act inoperative until adopted by voters

The provisions of this act shall remain inoperative in any municipality unless and until the same shall be adopted by the legal voters of the municipality as herein provided.

5:8-70. Submission to voters; time; ballots; voting machines; count, return and canvass

The question of the adoption of the provisions of this act, in the form set forth in section 23 of this act, shall be submitted to the legal voters of every municipality in this State at a special election to be held therein at the same time as the primary election for the general election which will be held on the third Tuesday in April in the year 1954 in such manner that every voter qualified to vote at such special election upon said question may vote at said special election for or against such question separately and whether or not he is qualified to vote, or desires to vote, for any candidate on any party ballot to be voted at said primary election.

In every election district in which paper ballots are used the clerk of the municipality shall provide a sufficient number of special ballots to be voted separately upon said question at said special election by the voters who are qualified to vote upon said question whether or not they are qualified to vote, or desire to vote, for any candidate on any party ballot to be used at said primary election.

The special ballots shall be in such form as shall be determined by the clerk of the county in which the municipality is situated and shall so far as practicable correspond in form and detail to the provisions of Title 19, Elections, of the Revised Statutes but they shall not contain the names of any candidates to be voted upon at any such election.

The special ballots when voted shall be deposited by the election officers in either of the ballot boxes used at such election.

In election districts in which voting machines are used the officers charged with the duty of preparing and placing the ballots upon the machines shall cause the question to be so placed upon every machine used in such primary election that any voter qualified to vote upon said question may vote thereon separately in such special election whether or not he desires or is qualified to vote a party ballot at said primary election, and special voting authorities shall be provided for use in cases where they are required or are used in such form as shall be determined by the county board of elections of the county in which the respective municipalities are situate, which shall be furnished and paid for in the same manner as are other voting authorities used at said election.

All of the ballots cast at said election on said question in each municipality shall be counted and the result thereof shall be returned and canvassed in the manner provided by law in the case of public questions submitted in the several municipalities of this State.

5:8-71. Resubmission if majority against question

In event that in any municipality a majority of all the votes cast both for and against the question shall be cast against the question at any election at which said question is submitted, said question may again be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at a general election held not earlier than the date upon which the third general election, following the date of the election at which the question was submitted, is to be held, if there shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality not less than 45 days prior to such general election a petition requesting the submission of the same signed by at least 15% of the qualified legal voters of the municipality as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the then next preceding general election held therein.

5:8-72. Contents of ballots; voting machines

There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at any election at which said question shall be submitted, the following:

If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “Yes.” If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “No.”

———————————————————————>

: : Yes. : :

: : : Shall the “Raffles Licensing Law” (P.L.1954, c. :

—————-

: : : ) be adopted within this municipality? :

: : No. : :
———————————————————————

The chapter number of this act shall be inserted in the appropriate blank in said question.

In any municipality in which voting machines are used, the question shall be placed upon the official ballots to be used upon the voting machines without the foregoing instructions to the voters and shall be voted upon by the use of such machines without marking as aforesaid.

5:8-73. Majority vote determines whether act operative

If at any election at which such question is submitted as provided in this act the majority of all the votes cast, both for and against such question, shall be cast in favor of the question, the provisions of this act shall become operative in such municipality but if a majority of all such votes shall be cast against the question, the provisions of this act shall not become operative in such municipality unless the same shall be again submitted and this act shall be adopted as provided in this act.

5:8-74. Submission of question of rescinding adoption of act

If in any municipality in which the provisions of this act shall have become operative in the manner hereinbefore provided, there shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality a petition signed by at least 15% of the qualified legal voters of the municipality, as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the then preceding general election in such municipality, requesting that there shall be submitted to the voters of the municipality the question of rescinding the adoption of the provisions of this act by the municipality, the said question shall be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at the next general election succeeding the forty-fourth day following the date of the filing of said petition.

5:8-75. Ballots on question of rescinding adoption

There shall be printed upon the official ballot to be used at such general election the following:

If you favor the proposition printed below, make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “Yes.” If you are opposed thereto, make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (/) in the square opposite the word “No.”

———————————————————————–

: : Yes. : Shall the adoption of the “Raffles Licensing Law” :

: : : (P.L.1954, c. ) within the municipality :

: : No. : be rescinded? :

———————————————————————–

The chapter number of this act shall be inserted in the appropriate blank in said question.

In any municipality in which voting machines are used, the question shall be placed upon the official ballots to be used upon the voting machines without the foregoing instructions to the voters and shall be voted upon by the use of such machines without marking as aforesaid.

5:8-76. Majority vote determines question of rescission; resubmission

If at such election a majority of all the votes cast, for and against the rescission of the adoption of this act, in said municipality shall be cast in favor of the rescission thereof, the said adoption of this act shall thereby be rescinded and thereupon this act shall cease to be operative within such municipality and no petition shall be received for the submission of the question of the adoption of the provisions of this act to the voters of said municipality, and no such question shall be submitted to them, at any election earlier than the general election to be held in the third calendar year following the date of such election. If at such election the majority of all the votes so cast shall be against the rescission of said adoption, no petition for such submission of the question of the rescission of such adoption shall be received and no such question shall be again submitted at any election earlier than the general election to be held in the third calendar year following the date of such election.

5:8-77. Severability

In case for any reason any provision of the act to which this act is a supplement shall be questioned in any court and shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect any other provision of said act except so far as the provision so declared unconstitutional or invalid shall be inseparable from such other provision.

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