HomeMy Public PortalAbout14) 10C Intro and First Reading Ord. No. 14-997 Remote Caller Bingo ocrCity Council
December 16, 2014
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3. On September 11, 2014, Mayor Blum, Mayor ProTem Chavez, and staff met with
representatives from St. Luke to discuss the church's interest in conducting a
remote caller bingo game.
4. On October 20, 2014, the City Code Review Standing Committee again discussed
remote caller bingo in light of the interest from St. Luke. The committee directed
staff to prepare an ordinance for City Council consideration.
ANALYSIS:
Remote caller bingo is generally played in the same manner as traditional bingo, except
that the game is played simultaneously at multiple locations with a single caller located
off-site. A third party company runs the bingo game and provides the bingo caller for all
nonprofit locations that have contracted with the company. The bingo calls are
transmitted via closed circuit video or audio feed to the various locations where the
game is being played. Bingo jackpots are based upon the number of players at all
locations combined, which results in larger jackpots than those typically available in
games played individually at separate locations. Under state law, funds collected from
player buy-in at remote caller bingo games must be distributed as follows:
• 37 percent to jackpot payouts (pooled among all sites playing the game);
• 43 percent (minimum) to the nonprofit organization conducting the game (per
site; not pooled); and
• 20 percent (maximum) to the company running the game.
Buy-in funds are collected at remote caller bingo games in the same manner as
trad itional bingo. Since jackpots are based on pooled funds, jackpots are not paid out
at the bingo game; checks are mailed to jackpot winners the following day.
Under the state Constitution and state law, traditional bingo games are regulated by
cities at the local level and are not regulated by the state. The TCMC currently allows
nonprofit organizations to conduct traditional bingo games subject to certain limitations
(TCMC Title 4 , Chapter 1, Article F). Remote caller bingo games are regulated by the
California Gambling Control Commission, and game callers and operators must be
licensed by the state. However, state law requires remote caller bingo games to be
authorized by local ordinance before a nonprofit organization can participate in a game.
The TCMC does not currently contain any provisions allowing remote caller bingo.
Remote caller bingo games are attractive to nonprofit organizations because they allow
for greater income than is typical from a traditional bingo game. In traditional bingo
games, all jackpot money is paid from the on-site buy-in funds. This can result in little
to no income for the organization conducting the game, depending on the number of
players. With remote caller bingo, at least 43 percent of the buy-in funds at each
individual site are guaranteed income to the organization hosting the game. This
typically results in greater income for the organization, even with relatively fewer players
City Council
December 16, 2014
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on-site . In both traditional and remote caller games , additional income can be made
from side games such as pull-tabs .
Staff discussed the proposed ordinance with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
staff to determine if there were any law enforcement concerns related to remote caller
bingo. Sheriff's staff stated that their only concern with remote caller bingo was the
same as for traditional bingo, that the games are a potential robbery target due to the
potential for large amounts of cash on-site. Staff believes that this concern is no
greater for remote caller bingo than traditional bingo. Further, staff notes that unlike
traditional bingo , jackpots are paid by check after the game and are not paid in cash at
the game, so players will not be leaving with cash.
Staff believes that any impacts from remote caller bingo related to parking , traffic ,
noise , and similar types of issues would be the same as for traditional bingo games.
Since the City already allows for traditional bingo, staff believes it would be appropriate
to also allow remote caller bingo . Based on feedback from the City Code Review
Standing Committee, staff is recommending that the current limitation on days and
times of traditional bingo games a lso be applied to remote caller bingo; that is, each
organization or location may only conduct bingo games one day per week, and bingo
games must be conducted between 10:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. The proposed
ordinance includes additional changes to reorganize the code, but none of the changes
are substantive.
CONCLUSION:
Adopting the proposed ordinance to allow remote caller bingo in Temple City would
provide local nonprofit organizations with an opportunity to raise additional funds
through bingo games and provide more incentive for bingo players in the form of
increased jackpots. Remote caller bingo is regulated by state law and state agencies ,
but must be authorized by local ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed ordinance would have minimal fiscal impact in the form of increased
revenue from license fees that would be required from nonprofit organizations wishing
to conduct remote caller bingo games. However the number of remote caller bingo
games is expected to be small , and the license fee would be $50 (the maximum
allowed under state law), so the additional revenue would be negligible. Further,
additional staff time and resources would be required to process the license
applications .
ATTACHMENT:
A. Ordinance No. 14-997
ATTACHMENT A
ORDINANCE N0.14-997
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE
CITY, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ARTICLE F BINGO GAMES OF
CHAPTER 1 OF TITLE 4 OF THE TEMPLE CITY MUNICIPAL CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPLE CITY HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Article F of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the Municipal Code of the City of Temple City is hereby
amended to read as set forth in Exhibit "A" to this Ordinance.
SECTION 2: This ordinance is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines.
SECTION 3: The City Council hereby declares that, should any provision , section, subsection,
paragraph, sentence, clause , phrase , or word of this Ordinance or any part thereof, be rendered or declared
invalid or unconstitutional by any final court action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason of any
preemptive legislation, such decision or action shall not affect the validity of the remaining section or portions
of the Ordinance or part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have independently adopted
the remaining provisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words of this
Ordinance irrespective of the fact that any one or more provisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses, phrases , or words may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4: The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and to its
approval by the Mayor and shall cause the same to be published according to law.
PASSED, APPROVED , AND ADOPTED this 6th day of January 2015.
MAYOR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY CLERK CITY ATTORNEY
I , Peggy Kuo , City Clerk of the City ofTemple City, hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 14-
997 was introduced at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Temple City held on the 16th day of
December 2014, and was duly passed, approved and adopted by said Council at the regular meeting held on
January 6th, 2015 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN :
City Clerk
Councilmember-
Councilmember-
Councilmember-
Councilmember-
Ordinance No. 14-997
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EXHI BIT "A"
Article F of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the Temple City Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows.
TITLE 4-LAW ENFORCEMENT
CHAPTER 1 -UN LAWFUL CONDUCT
ART ICLE F. BINGO GAMES
4-1 F-0 : BINGO AUTHORIZED:
Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 19 of Article IV of the California Constitution and Sections
326.3 through 326.5 of the California Penal Code, ·the City hereby authorizes bingo games to be conducted
within the City consistent with the provisions of this article. The provisions of this article shall be interpreted
to be consistent w ith Sections 326 .3 through 326.5 of the California Penal Code. T o the extent there are
an y inconsistencies, Sections 326.3 through 326.5 of the California Penal Code shall prevail.
4-1F-1 : DEFINITIONS:
Words and phrases used herein shall be interpreted as set forth in this section.
"Bingo " means game of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols
that are marked or covered by the player on a tangible card in the player's possession and that conform to
numbers or symbols , selected at random and announced by a live caller.
"Card-minding devices" means hand-held , portable devices to assist in monitoring the numbers or symbols
announced by a live caller as those numbers or symbols are called in a live game.
"Department" means the Department of Justice.
"On-Site Bingo" means a bingo game where the live caller is physically present at the same location as all
of the bingo players.
"Person " includes a natural person, corporation , limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint venture,
association , or any other business organization.
"Remote Caller Bingo" means a bingo game in which the numbers or symbols on randomly drawn plastic
balls are announced by a natural person present at the site at which the live game is conducted, and the
organization conducting the bingo game uses audio and video technology to link any of its in-state facilities
for the purpose of transmitting the remote calling of a live bingo game from a single location to multiple
locations owned, leased , or rented by that organization, or as described in subdivision (o ) of Penal Code
section 326.3.
4-1 F-2 : LICENSE REQUIRED:
A. License Required. A license from the City is required to conduct a bingo game w ithin the City. No
person shall conduct a bingo game w ithin the City without a license from the City.
B. Eligibility for License. The following organizations are eligible to obtain a bingo license from the
City:
1. An organization exempt from the payment of the taxes imposed under the Corporation Tax
Law by Section 23701a , 23701b, 23701d, 23701e, 23701f, 23701g , 23701k, 237011 , or
23701w of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
2. A mobilehome park association of a mobilehome park that is situated in the City of Temple
City.
3. Senior citizen organizations .
Ordinance No . 14-997
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4. Charitable organizations affiliated w ith a school district.
C. Additional Eligibility Criteria for Remote Caller Bingo L icense. If an organization eligible for a
license under paragraph B seeks a license to conduct remote caller bingo , the organization must
also meet the follo w ing requirements to be eligible for a license:
1. The organization has been incorporated or in existence for three (3 ) years or more.
2. T he operation of bingo is not the primary purpose for w hich the organization is formed .
D. Application. T he application shall be in a form prescribed by the City and shall be accompanied
by a $50.00 nonrefundable license fee . The City shall require the applicant to provide any such
information and documentation as deemed necessa ry by the City to verify the applicant's elig i bility
for a bingo license .
E. Issuance and Term of License. The license shall not be issued until the Cit y has verified the facts
stated in the application and determined that the applicant is qualified. A license issued pursuant
to this section shall be valid until the end of the calendar year , at which time the license shall ex pire.
A new license shall only be obtained upon filing a new application and payment of the license fee.
F. Denial of L icense. If a license application is denied, the applicant w ill be refunded half of the license
fee .
G. Revocation of License. T he fact that a license has been issued to an applicant creates no vested
right on the part of the licensee to continue to conduct bingo games within the City. Any violation
of an y of the pro visions of this article or of Pena l Code Sections 326.3 through 326.5 , inclusive,
shall constitute grounds for revocation of a license to conduct a bingo game and may further
constitute grounds for the denial to the applicant or licensee of any future license to conduct
additional bingo games w ithin the city. At the request of the organization , the City Council shall
hold a public hearing before revoking any license issued pursuant to this article.
4-1F-3 CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL BINGO GAMES:
A Use of Proceeds . All proceeds from bingo games shall be kept in a special fund or account and
shall not be commingled with any other funds. The proceeds of b ingo games shall only be used
for charitable purposes , except as follows :
1. T he proceeds may be used for prizes .
2. Up to 20 % of the proceeds before· the deduction for prizes or $2 ,000 , whichever is less,
may be used for the rental of property and for overhead.
3. The proceeds may be used to pay license fees .
B. Minors Prohibited. Minors shall not be allowed to participate in any bingo game.
C. · Location of Games. An organization licensed to conduct bingo games shall conduct a bingo game
only on property ow ned or leased by it, or property whose use is donated to the organization , and
w hich property is used by that organization for an office or for performance of the purposes for
w hich the organization is organized. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require that
the property o w ned or leased by , or whose use is donated to , the organization be used or leased
exclusively by , or donated exclusivel y to , that organization .
D. Public Participation. All bingo games shall be open to the public, not just to the members of the
authorized organization . A person shall not be allowed to participate in a bingo game unless the
person is physicall y present at the time and place where the bingo game is being conducted.
E. Staffing. A bingo game shall be operated and staffed only by members of the authorized
organization that organized it. Only the organization authorized to conduct a bingo game shall
operate such a game, or participate in the promotion , supervision , or any other phase of a bingo
game . This subdi vision does not preclude the employment of security personnel who are not
members of the authorized organization at a bingo game by the organization conducting the game.
Ordinance No . 14-997
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F. Third Party Interests. No individual, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, except the
organization authorized to conduct a bingo game, shall not hold a financial interest in the conduct
of a bingo game.
G. Card-Minding Devices. Players may use card-minding devices subject to the following provisions :
1. Card-minding devices may not be used in connection with any bingo game where a bingo
card may be sold or distributed after the start of the ball draw for that game.
2. The card-minding device has been approved by the Department as meeting the
requirements of Penal Code Section 326.5(p).
H. Signs. No signs shall be permitted advertising any bingo game at any location, except one sign on
the site not to exceed six (6) square feet only during the day of the game.
I. Frequency and Hours. No location shall be used to, nor shall any licensee, conduct bingo games
more often than one day per week. All games shall be conducted only between the hours of ten
o'clock (10:00) A.M. to eleven fifty nine o'clock (11:59) P.M . •
J. No Payment of Wages. No person shall receive or pay a profit, wage, or salary from any bingo
game, except as allowed by Penal Code Sections 326.3(d) and 326.5(b).
4-1 F-4 CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ON-SITE BINGO:
The total value of prizes awarded during the conduct of any bingo game shall not exceed five hundred
dollars ($500.00) in cash or kind, or both, for each separate game which is held.
4-1F-5 CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO REMOTE CALLER BINGO:
A. Maximum Participation . No more than 750 people may participate in a remote caller bingo game
in a single location, except as authorized by Penal Code Section 326.30)(3) for remote caller bingo
games for the relief of victims of a disaster or catastrophe.
B. Notice to Police. The organization operating a remote caller bingo site within the City shall provide
the City's police department at least thirty (30) days written notice of its intent to conduct a remote
caller bingo game. The notice shall contain all of the information required by Penal Code Section
326.30)(4).
C. Co-Sponsors. An organization shall not cosponsor a remote caller bingo game with one or more
other organizations except as allowed under Penal Code Section 326.3(o). All cosponsors must
have a bingo license from the City.
D. Cash Prizes. The value of prizes awarded during the conduct of any remote caller bingo game
shall not exceed 37% of the gross receipts for that game. Gross receipts shall be calculated in
accordance with Penal Code Section 326.3(p). Every remote caller bingo game shall be played
until a winner is declared. Progressive prizes are prohibited. Prizes shall be paid by check only in
accordance with Penal Code Section 326.3(p).
4-1 F-6 PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT :
Violation of any of the provisions of this article shall be punishable as a misdemeanor in the manner
provided in this code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a violation of Section 4-1F-3(J) is a misdemeanor
and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($1 0,000), which fine shall be deposited
in the general fund of the city.