(a) Bingo may not be conducted with any equipment which is not owned, being purchased, or being rented at a reasonable rate by the bingo permit holder.
(b) Prizes given by any organization for the playing of bingo games shall not exceed four thousand dollars ($4,000) in cash or gifts or prizes of equivalent value during any bingo session, and shall not exceed eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for any calendar week.
(c) A bingo permit holder may not advertise bingo except with the written permission of the sheriff and then only to the extent and in the manner authorized by rule of the sheriff. If the sheriff allows a bingo permit holder to advertise bingo, the bingo permit holder shall indicate in the advertisement the purposes for which the net proceeds will be used by the bingo permit holder.
(d) A bingo permit holder shall display its bingo permit conspicuously at the location where the bingo game is conducted. Only the permit for the bingo session being held shall be displayed. No more than one bingo permit shall be displayed at one time. A photo copy of the permit may be displayed.
(e) A bingo permit holder shall conduct bingo games only at the single location specified on the permit.
(f) A bingo permit holder shall not conduct more than two bingo sessions during any one calendar week and no session shall exceed five hours. The sessions shall be held only on the day or days specified on the bingo permit.
(g) A bingo permit holder shall not conduct a bingo session, for any reason, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., (noon) on Sunday.
(h) All winning paper bingo sheets shall be posted or displayed in a prominent position for inspection until the end of each bingo session.
(i) There shall be no less than one hour between the completion of a bingo session of one organization and the commencement of another bingo session of another organization using the same bingo facilities. The facility must be emptied and cleaned between consecutive bingo sessions.
(j) No person under the age of 19 years shall be permitted to play, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, any game or games of bingo conducted pursuant to any bingo permit issued under this part.
(k) No person under the age of 19 years shall be permitted to conduct or assist in the conduct of any game of bingo pursuant to any bingo permit issued under this part.
(l) No person under the age of 16 years shall be allowed on the premises where a game of bingo is being held. The bingo permit holder is responsible to ensure that no person 16 years of age or younger is present during any session of bingo. Failure to comply with this subsection may result in the revocation of the bingo permit of the bingo permit holder. Proof of age is required and may be requested by any law enforcement officer.
(m)(1) All bingo permit holders shall have an exclusive bingo checking account in a local Mobile County bank through which all expenses relating to the conducting of any and all sessions of bingo are to be paid.
(2) Bingo permit holders which are excluded by subdivision (8) of subsection (b) of Section 45-49-150.07, do not have to maintain an exclusive bingo account. Allowed expenses must be covered by signed receipts or checks and a yearly report must be submitted to the sheriff by January 30 each year covering each month of the preceding 12-month period as set forth in Section 45-49-150.10.
No personal checks may be accepted by bingo permit holders for deposit into a bingo checking account.
Last modified: May 3, 2021