In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “County Attorney” means the County Attorney for Charles County. “County commissioners” means the Board of County Commissioners of Charles County. “Fundraising organization” means an incorporated or unincorporated bona fide: religious organization; fraternal organization; civic organization; war veterans’ organization; charitable organization; volunteer fire company; rescue squad; or ambulance company. “Gaming device” means a mechanism for playing a game of chance. “Gaming device” includes a paddle wheel, wheel of fortune, and chance book. “Gaming device” does not include bingo, a slot machine, or other gaming device that is otherwise regulated by State law. “Gaming event” means an event involving a game of chance. “Gaming event” includes: a carnival; a bazaar; and a raffle involving prizes of cash exceeding $1,000 or merchandise with a cash equivalent exceeding $1,000. “Gaming event” does not include bingo. “Gaming permit” means a permit to operate a gaming device at a gaming event that the county commissioners issue under this subtitle. “Person” includes a joint interest held by two or more persons. “Representative” means a person who has been a bona fide member of a fundraising organization or educational organization for at least 1 year before the date of a gaming permit application by the fundraising organization or educational organization.

This subtitle applies to bingo and gaming events in Charles County.

The county commissioners may: designate the types of gaming devices that may be operated in the county; set fees for gaming permits issued under this subtitle; approve or deny gaming permit applications; investigate persons involved in gaming events and examine records of fundraising organizations with respect to gaming events; delegate its powers and duties under this subtitle to the County Attorney; and adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a person may not conduct bingo or a gaming event in the county.

A gaming event may be conducted only by a fundraising organization that has been located in the county for at least 5 years before applying for a gaming permit. A fundraising organization shall obtain a gaming permit for each gaming event that the fundraising organization conducts. At least 30 days before the first day of the calendar quarter in which the gaming event is to be conducted, a fundraising organization seeking a gaming permit shall submit to the County Attorney an application and the application fee. The application shall contain the following: the name of the fundraising organization; a statement that the fundraising organization qualifies to conduct a gaming event under this subtitle; the dates, times, and location of the gaming event; the name, address, and telephone number of the representative responsible for the gaming event; a roster of the current membership of the fundraising organization that includes names, ages, and addresses; a statement that: an agreement does not exist for sharing the proceeds of the gaming event with any other person; and no person other than the fundraising organization or its representative may receive any proceeds of the gaming event except to further the purposes of the fundraising organization; and any other information that the County Attorney considers necessary or helpful. A principal officer of the fundraising organization shall sign and verify the application under the penalties of perjury. The county commissioners may set a reasonable application fee for a gaming permit. The County Attorney shall: review the gaming permit applications for a calendar quarter within 10 days after the application deadline set in subsection (c)(1) of this section; recommend approval or denial of each application; and promptly forward the applications and recommendations to the county commissioners. The county commissioners shall: review the applications and recommendations; approve or disapprove each application within 15 days after the application deadline set in subsection (c)(1) of this section; promptly notify each applicant of the county commissioners’ action on the application; and issue a gaming permit for each approved application. This section does not prevent the County Attorney or the county commissioners from reviewing gaming permit applications more frequently or earlier than required by this subsection.

The gaming permit shall include: the name of the fundraising organization; the nature of the approved gaming event; the dates, times, and location of the approved gaming event; the gaming devices to be operated at the gaming event; and the name of the representative responsible for the approved gaming event.

A gaming event may be conducted only in accordance with this subtitle. A gaming device may only be managed or operated by a representative of the fundraising organization named in the gaming permit for the gaming event. A professional gaming operator may not manage, operate, or assist in the management or operation of a gaming device. A person may not receive any commission, salary, reward, tip, or other compensation for managing or operating a gaming device at a gaming event. A minor may not participate in a gaming event. A fundraising organization may lease gaming devices or premises for a gaming event only from a fundraising organization that the County Attorney approves. A lease agreement of gaming devices or premises for a gaming event shall be priced on the basis of fair market value of the equipment or premises. A lease agreement may not include a provision for sharing profit from a gaming event with a lessor or a provision that reasonably may be interpreted to provide for sharing profit from a gaming event. A fundraising organization may not conduct more than three gaming events during a calendar quarter. A fundraising organization may not conduct a gaming event under a single gaming permit for a period greater than 48 hours. The actual gaming time may not exceed 24 hours in that 48–hour period, which may be divided into not more than two separate gaming periods. Notwithstanding subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, a fundraising organization that conducts a gaming event at the Charles County Fair in conjunction with the Charles County Fair Board may conduct the gaming event under a single gaming permit for more than 48 hours, subject to regulations that the county commissioners adopt on recommendation of the County Attorney. A fundraising organization that has conducted a gaming event shall submit a report to the County Attorney within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the gaming event was conducted. The report shall contain: the name of the fundraising organization; the number of the gaming permit; the date of the gaming event; the date, amount, nature, source, and recipient of each receipt and expenditure associated with the gaming event, in the format that the County Attorney prescribes; a separate list of the date, amount, and recipient of each charitable donation from the proceeds; the name, age, address, and date of membership of each representative who managed, operated, or assisted in the operation or management of a gaming device at the gaming event; a statement that each listed representative qualified as a representative under § 13–1101(i) of this subtitle at the time of the gaming event; a statement that: an agreement does not exist and has not existed for sharing the proceeds of a gaming event with any other person; and only the fundraising organization or its representative has received or will receive any proceeds of the gaming event, except to further the purposes of the fundraising organization; and any other information that the County Attorney considers necessary or helpful. A principal officer of the fundraising organization shall sign and verify the report under the penalties of perjury. A fundraising organization that conducts a gaming event shall maintain accurate records of each transaction concerning the gaming event, and shall keep the records available for examination by the County Attorney and the county commissioners for 3 years after the gaming event.

A fundraising organization or educational organization may conduct bingo either for the benefit of charity in the county or to further the purposes of the organization. Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a fundraising organization or educational organization may award money or merchandise as a prize in a bingo game. A fundraising organization or educational organization may not award a money prize exceeding $5,000 to any player in a bingo game. A fundraising organization or educational organization may not award more than $10,000 in total money prizes in a single day. A fundraising organization or educational organization may not conduct bingo at one location for more than 4 hours per day for: 4 days in a 7–day period; or 3 consecutive days.

A fundraising organization or educational organization may only allow its representatives to manage or operate bingo or gaming devices at its bingo or gaming event.

Proceeds of bingo or a gaming event may not: benefit a person other than the fundraising organization or educational organization that conducts the bingo or gaming event; or be shared with a person other than the fundraising organization or educational organization, except to further the purposes of the fundraising organization or educational organization.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, a fundraising organization or educational organization may donate part of the proceeds of bingo or a gaming event at the Charles County Fair to the Charles County Fair Board.

A person who violates this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

In addition to any other penalty, a person who violates this subtitle is ineligible to obtain a gaming permit for 3 years after the date of the violation.

This subtitle does not restrict the authority of the county commissioners to adopt regulations on amusements and entertainments under Chapter 4 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Charles County or other State law.