[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Stratford as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted as Secs. 4- 20through 4-27 of the 1963 Code]
[Amended 3-12-2007 by Ord. No. 07-03]
Any person desiring a permit to operate or promote bingo games pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-169 of the Connecticut General Statutes, 1958 Revision, or a renewal of such permit shall make an application therefor, addressed to the Chief of Police and Mayor. Such application shall contain the information required by Subsection (e) of Section 7-169 and any other pertinent information required by the Chief of Police and Mayor. All applications for either Class A or Class B permits shall be submitted by the applicant to the Mayor at least three days prior to the date for which such permit is desired.
A. 
Upon receipt of any application for a permit to operate or promote bingo games, the Mayor shall have the premises for which such permit is sought inspected and shall determine the safety of such premises for the congregation of the number of individuals relected by the seating capacity of the class of permit applied for. The inspector shall consider the size of the hall, room or space, the nature of the construction of the building in which it is located, the proximity to other buildings and structures and the nature thereof, the number and character of its fire escapes, fire extinguishers and exits and such other factors as he shall consider pertinent from the viewpoint of safety and the hazards of fire. After such inspection has been completed and a report has been filed, the Mayor and the Chief of Police shall then determine whether or not a permit shall be issued to conduct the game of bingo at the premises designated in the application. The decision of the Mayor and the Chief of Police shall be final.
B. 
If, after such inspection and report, a permit is issued by the Chief of Police and the Mayor, the Mayor shall from time to time have reinspected and reexamined the premises for which such permit was issued for the purpose, and in accordance with the standards, hereinbefore set forth. The Mayor and the Chief of Police shall have the power to revoke a permit if an inspection and report indicates that either safety or fire hazards exist at such premises. If at any time a permit is revoked, the fee collected will be prorated and a refund made to the permittee for the portion of the period which has unexpired under the terms of the permit.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The term “Town Manager” was changed to “Mayor” in this section at the direction of the Town so that the provisions herein would be consistent with the provisions of the Charter adopted by the Town on 11-4-2003.
After a permit under this article has been issued by the Chief of Police and the Mayor, either the Chief of Police or the Mayor or the duly authorized representative of either one shall periodically inspect the place or premises for which such permit is issued for the purpose of determining whether the state statutes and this article are being fully complied with.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The term “Town Manager” was changed to “Mayor” in this section at the direction of the Town so that the provisions herein would be consistent with the provisions of the Charter adopted by the Town on 11-4-2003.
Upon violation of any section of this article by any permittee under this article, either directly or by any of his servants or agents, the Chief of Police and the Mayor shall immediately revoke the permit of such permittee and shall not issue any permit to such permittee within one year of the date of such revocation.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The term “Town Manager” was changed to “Mayor” in this section at the direction of the Town so that the provisions herein would be consistent with the provisions of the Charter adopted by the Town on 11-4-2003.
Bingo games shall not be played, promoted or operated in any hall, room or place in which alcoholic liquors are kept, sold, dispensed, served or consumed. Where bingo games are played out of doors, no alcoholic liquors shall be kept, sold, dispensed or consumed within 100 feet of the place where such bingo games are being played.
No permittee under this article, by himself or by his agents or servants, shall permit any person under 16 years of age, unless accompanied by his parents or guardians, to enter or be in any hall, room or place in which such permittee is operating or promoting bingo games. No person under the age of 16 shall be permitted to assist in the conduct, management or promotion of such games.
All prizes awarded at bingo games shall be of the type, quality and character previously advertised or represented and shall be, during the time the games are in progress, on public display and open to free and full public examination.
No Class B permit shall be issued for the playing of bingo on Sundays. A Class A permit for Sunday bingo shall be issued only when such permit is to be used in conjunction with a picnic or outing of an organization duly qualified to conduct bingo games under the laws of the state.
[Adopted 7-10-1978]
Any nonprofit organization, association or corporation may promote and operate games of chance to raise funds for the purposes of such organization, association or corporation, provided that the sponsoring organization shall have been organized in good faith and actively functioning as a nonprofit organization in this state for a period of not less than two years prior to its application for a permit under the provisions of this article inclusive. The promotion and operation of games of chance shall be confined solely to the qualified members of the sponsoring organization, except as provided in § 58-11 and excluding any such qualified member who is a dealer in gambling devices or equipment or an agent or employee of any dealer in such devices or equipment; and no qualified member shall receive remuneration in any form for time or effort devoted to the promotion or operation of such games of chance. No person under the age of 18 years shall promote, conduct, operate or work at events featuring, or play, such games nor shall any sponsoring organization permit any person under the age of 18 to so promote, conduct, operate or play such games of chance. All funds derived from any such games of chance shall be used exclusively for the purpose stated in the application of the sponsoring organization as provided in § 58-10.
A. 
Any organization desiring to operate games of chance at an event to be sponsored by such organization shall make application, duly executed and verified, to the Chief of Police of the Town of Stratford, with a duplicate to the Commissioner of State Police, on a form to be prescribed by the Commissioner of State Police, in which shall be stated:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
Facts relating to its incorporation or organization.
(3) 
The names, titles and addresses of its officers.
(4) 
The kind of games intended to be operated and conducted by the applicant.
(5) 
The place where such gaming is intended to be conducted by the applicant under the permit applied for.
(6) 
The date or dates and the time or times when such gaming is intended to be conducted by the applicant under the permit applied for.
(7) 
The items of expense intended to be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating and conduction 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.
(8) 
The items of merchandise offered, the price to be paid by the organization therefor or the retail value of any prize donated, and the names and addresses of the persons from whom purchased or by whom donated.
(9) 
The specific purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such gaming are to be devoted and in what manner.
(10) 
A statement that the governing body or governing authority of the sponsoring organization has approved of the filing of such application.
(11) 
Any other information which the Commissioner of State Police reasonably believes necessary for the protection of the public.
B. 
In each application, there shall be designated three active members of the applicant under whom the games of chance described in the application are to be operated and conducted and to the application shall be appended a statement signed, under penalty of false statement, by such members so designated that they will be responsible for the operation and conduct of such games of chance in accordance with the terms of the permit and the provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, and that the statements contained in the application are, to the best of their knowledge and belief, true.
The Chief of Police of Stratford may make or cause to be made an investigation of the qualifications of the applicant and the facts stated in the application and, if he determines that the applicant is qualified to operate and conduct games of chance under the provisions of § 58-9 and 58-10, inclusive, that the members of the applicant designated in the application to operate or conduct such games of chance are bona fide active members of the applicant and have been such for a period of at least one year prior to the date of the application and are persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of a felony or of a violation of §§ 58-10 through 58-18, inclusive, and that such games of chance are to be operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-18, inclusive, he shall issue a permit to such applicant. No more than four permits shall be issued to the same applicant in any twelve-month period.
Where special police are required at the time such games are conducted, each applicant shall employ such special police security for and assume all liability for said special police, including workmen's compensation, salary and liability arising out of said employment.
A. 
No person, firm or organization shall contract to operate or conduct, or operate or conduct, any games of chance for an organization for compensation unless it:
(1) 
Has a principal place of business in the state.
(2) 
Is registered with the Commissioner of State Police in such manner and on such form as he may prescribe.
(3) 
Enters into a written agreement with each organization with which it contracts. Such agreement shall set forth the anticipated expenses of the sponsoring organization, and such agreement shall provide for a fixed fee for the operator, which fee shall not be dependent on any percentage of the proceeds or profits from any games of chance. The operator shall agree to guarantee to the sponsoring organization that such organization will be reimbursed for such expenses or actual expenses if the actual expenses are lower. The sponsoring organization may require an operator to provide a bond for this purpose, with surety satisfactory to the organization.
B. 
Violation of any provision of this section shall constitute professional gambling under the provisions of Subsection (3) of Section 53-278a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
A permit under the provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, shall allow the operation of games of chance by the sponsoring organization on the date or dates specified in the permit. The fee for such permit shall be $10.
Any prizes to be awarded for the playing of such games shall be merchandise or goods. Cash prizes shall not be given nor shall any prize be redeemed or redeemable for cash. Coupons or certificates for goods may be issued by the sponsoring organization only. Such coupons or certificates shall contain a notation that such coupons or certificates may not be redeemed for cash money and that redemption of any such coupon or certificate for cash money by any person or organization shall constitute a class A misdemeanor. Any person or organization who redeems coupons or certificates evidencing a right to receive goods or merchandise issued by a Las Vegas night - sponsoring organization for cash or consideration, other than goods or merchandise, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
No game of chance shall be conducted with any equipment except such as is owned absolutely or used without payment of any compensation therefor by the permittee or such as is rented at a fixed fee only from a dealer in such equipment who has his principal place of business in this state and who has registered with the state police in such manner and on such form as the Commissioner of State Police prescribes. No item of expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating or conducting of any games of chance pursuant to any permit issued under §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, 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. Receipt of any of the proceeds from a game of chance, other than a fixed rental fee, not dependent on any percentage of the proceeds or profits from such game of chance, by a dealer in gambling equipment shall constitute professional gambling under the provisions of Subsection (3) of Section 53-278a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
No games of chance to be conducted under any permit issued under the provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, shall be advertised as to location, the time to be held or the prizes to be awarded by means of television or sound truck or by means of billboards, provided that one sign, not exceeding 12 square feet, may be displayed on the premises where the games of chance are to be conducted and also where the prizes are or will be exhibited.
If there is any change in the facts set forth in the application for a permit subsequent to the making of such application, the applicant shall forthwith notify the Chief of Police of Stratford granting such permit of such change, and such authority may, if it deems such action advisable in the public interest, revoke such permit.
The Chief of Police granting any permit under the provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, shall immediately revoke the same for a violation of any provision of said sections and shall not issue any permit to such permittee within three years of the date of such violation.
A. 
Within 30 days after the conclusion of the holding, operating and conducting of any such games of chance, the sponsoring organization which held, operated or conducted the same and its members who were in charge thereof shall furnish to the Chief of Police of the Town of Stratford a verified statement showing:
(1) 
The amount of the gross receipts derived from such games of chance.
(2) 
Each item of expense incurred or paid and each item of expenditure made or to be made and the name and address of each person to whom each such item has been or is to be paid.
(3) 
The net profit derived from such games of chance and the uses to which such net profit has been or is to be applied.
(4) 
A list of prizes of a retail value of $50 or more offered or given, with the amount paid for each prize purchased or the retail value of each prize donated and the names and addresses of the persons to whom such prizes were given.
B. 
The sponsoring organization shall maintain and keep such books and records as may be necessary to substantiate the particulars of such report, which books and records shall be preserved for at least two years from the date of such report and shall be available for inspection by the Commissioner of State Police and the Chief of Police of the Town of Stratford upon request. Such report shall be certified to under penalty of false statement by the three persons designated in the permit application as being responsible for such games of chance.
Each such report shall be examined by the Chief of Police and the Commissioner of State Police and shall be compared with the original application. Any violation of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, or administrative regulations issued pursuant thereto, found therein shall be referred to the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction in the Town of Stratford in which the organization is located or to the state's attorney for the county in which the organization is located, and such official shall investigate and take such action as the facts require.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4-166 to 4-175 of the General Statutes, inclusive (the "Uniform Administrative Procedures Act"), the Commissioner of State Police is authorized to make such regulations as are necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, in order to prevent fraud and protect the public, which regulations shall have the effect of law.
Any person who knowingly violates any provisions of §§ 58-9 through 58-24, inclusive, except §§ 58-15, 58-16 and 58-17, or who makes any false statement in an application for a permit or in any report required by the provisions of said sections shall be fined $100.