| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to bingo games; amending s. 849.0931, |
| 3 | F.S.; authorizing electronic devices to be used for |
| 4 | certain functions in the conduct of bingo games; providing |
| 5 | an effective date. |
| 6 |
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| 7 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Section 1. Subsection (12) of section 849.0931, Florida |
| 10 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 11 | 849.0931 Bingo authorized; conditions for conduct; |
| 12 | permitted uses of proceeds; limitations.- |
| 13 | (12) Each bingo game shall be conducted in accordance with |
| 14 | the following rules: |
| 15 | (a) The objects, whether drawn or ejected, shall be |
| 16 | essentially equal as to size, shape, weight, and balance and as |
| 17 | to all other characteristics that may control their selection |
| 18 | from the receptacle. The caller shall cancel any game if, during |
| 19 | the course of a game, the mechanism used in the drawing or |
| 20 | ejection of objects becomes jammed in such a manner as to |
| 21 | interfere with the accurate determination of the next number to |
| 22 | be announced or if the caller determines that more than one |
| 23 | object is labeled with the same number or that there is a number |
| 24 | to be drawn without a corresponding object. Any player in a game |
| 25 | canceled pursuant to this paragraph shall be permitted to play |
| 26 | the next game free of charge. |
| 27 | (b) Prior to commencement of any bingo session, the member |
| 28 | in charge shall cause a verification to be made of all objects |
| 29 | to be placed in the receptacle and shall inspect the objects in |
| 30 | the presence of a disinterested person to ensure that all |
| 31 | objects are present and that there are no duplications or |
| 32 | omissions of numbers on the objects. Any player shall be |
| 33 | entitled to call for a verification of numbers before, during, |
| 34 | and after a session. |
| 35 | (c) The card or sheet on which the game is played shall be |
| 36 | part of a deck, group, or series, no two of which may be alike |
| 37 | in any given game. |
| 38 | (d) All numbers shall be visibly displayed after being |
| 39 | drawn and before being placed in the rack. |
| 40 | (e) A bona fide bingo shall consist of a predesignated |
| 41 | arrangement of numbers on a card or sheet that correspond with |
| 42 | the numbers on the objects drawn from the receptacle and |
| 43 | announced. Errors in numbers announced or misplaced in the rack |
| 44 | may not be recognized as a bingo. |
| 45 | (f) When a caller has started to vocally announce a |
| 46 | number, the caller shall complete the call. If any player has |
| 47 | obtained a bingo on a previous number, such player will share |
| 48 | the prize with the player who gained bingo on the last number |
| 49 | called. |
| 50 | (g) Numbers on the winning cards or sheets shall be |
| 51 | announced and verified in the presence of another player. Any |
| 52 | player shall be entitled at the time the winner is determined to |
| 53 | call for a verification of numbers drawn. The verification shall |
| 54 | be in the presence of the member designated to be in charge of |
| 55 | the occasion or, if such person is also the caller, in the |
| 56 | presence of an officer of the licensee. |
| 57 | (h) Upon determining a winner, the caller shall ask, "Are |
| 58 | there any other winners?" If no one replies, the caller shall |
| 59 | declare the game closed. No other player is entitled to share |
| 60 | the prize unless she or he has declared a bingo prior to this |
| 61 | announcement. |
| 62 | (i) Seats may not be held or reserved by an organization |
| 63 | or person involved in the conduct of any bingo game for players |
| 64 | not present, nor may any cards be set aside, held, or reserved |
| 65 | from one session to another for any player. |
| 66 | (j) The provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) may be |
| 67 | satisfied by electronic devices that provide the same |
| 68 | functionality. |
| 69 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010. |