[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Maple Shade 10-1-1975 as Ch. 63 of the 1975 Code; amended
in its entirety 4-14-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-05. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
This chapter is for the purpose of regulating all games of chance
held, operated, or conducted within the Township, pursuant to Acts
of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey known as the "Bingo
Licensing Law," N.J.S.A. 5:8-24 et seq. and the "Raffles Licensing
Law," N.J.S.A. 5:8-50 et seq., and in accordance with the rules and
regulations issued or to be promulgated by the Legalized Games of
Chance Control Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety
of the State of New Jersey. All applications, licenses and proceedings
in connection therewith shall be subject to the provisions of such
acts, and the rules and regulations, and any laws, rules and regulations
hereafter enacted, and shall be further subject to the provisions
of this chapter.
The issuing authority, as the same is defined in N.J.S.A. 5:8-24
et seq., and N.J.S.A. 5:8-50 et seq., responsible for approving bingo
and raffle licenses shall be the Municipal Clerk.
Licensees authorized by law to conduct any games of chance,
including raffles and bingo, shall by permitted to conduct the same
on any day of the week, including Sundays, as provided by N.J.S.A.
5:8-31 and N.J.S.A. 5:8-58.
No person, organization, association, club, fire company or
squad shall operate or conduct within the Township of Maple Shade
any game of chance, as the same is defined in the Bingo Licensing
Law (N.J.S.A. 5:8-24 et seq.) and the Raffles Licensing Law (N.J.S.A.
5:8-50 et seq.) as the same may be hereinafter amended and supplemented,
without first obtaining a license issued by the Township of Maple
Shade. Said license shall be issued pursuant and subject to the provisions
of the aforementioned statutes and the rules and regulations promulgated
pursuant thereto or issued thereunder by the LGCCC or its successor.
No license to conduct a game of chance as authorized by law
shall be issued to any organization not having a bona fide site established
in good faith within the State of New Jersey and actively engaged
in serving one or more of the authorized purposes as defined by the
rules and regulations of the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission.
A.Â
Bingo and raffle applications shall be filed in quadruplicate with
the Municipal Clerk not less than 21 days prior to the drawing.
B.Â
A copy of the completed application, with two signatures; a copy
of the state registration, issued by the Legalized Games of Chance
Control Commission; a sample ticket, if required; a copy of the findings
and determination statement, supplied by the Clerk; and the fee payment
is to be received by the Control Commission at least 14 days prior
to the holding of the first game.
C.Â
At least 14 calendar days must lapse between the time the municipality
forwards the application and licensing fee to the Control Commission
and the time the license is issued. The applicant shall demonstrate,
in writing, compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws
and regulations.
The Municipal Clerk shall, in accordance with the Bingo and
Raffle Licensing Laws and in accordance with the rules and regulations
issued by the LGCCC, cause an investigation of the qualifications
of each applicant and the merits of each application, with due expedition
after the filing of the application. If the licensing authority determines
that the applicant is duly qualified to be licensed to hold, operate
and conduct games of chance, the license can be issued to the applicant
for the holding, operation and conduct of the specific kind of games
of chance applied for, accordingly, upon payment of the license fee
or fees.
Each license shall be in such form as shall be prescribed in
the rules and regulations promulgated by the LGCCC 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; the names and addresses of the member(s) of the licensee
under whom such games of chance will be held, operated and conducted;
the number of times or the hours during which such games of chance
are authorized to be conducted; the place(s) where and the date(s)
and time(s) when such games of chance are to be conducted; the specific
purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such games of chance
are to be devoted; if any prize(s) is (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 obtained 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.
The governing body, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 5:8-30 and N.J.S.A.
5:8-57, may suspend and revoke any issued bingo or raffle license,
after a hearing, for any violation of this chapter or state law. The
governing body may suspend the operation of a bingo or raffle pending
hearing, in which case a hearing must be held within five days after
such action. Notice of a hearing shall be served personally upon an
officer of the licensee or the member in charge of the conduct of
the bingo or raffle or sent by registered mail or certified mail to
the licensee at the address shown on the license. All decisions and
findings by the governing body regarding the suspension or revocation
of a bingo or raffle license shall be in writing.
Fees for games of chance shall be as set forth in Chapter 88, Fees and Escrow.
