Mo. Rev. Stat. § 313.005 — MO Code / Chapter 313 / Section 313.005
313.005 Definitions.
Status: in_force

313.005. Definitions. — As used in sections 313.005 to 313.080 , the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Bingo" , a game in which each participant receives one or more cards, including, but not limited to, pull-tab cards, marked off into twenty-five squares arranged on five horizontal rows of five squares each; or, one or more cards marked off into twenty-five squares arranged on five horizontal rows of five squares each which are not pull-tab cards and, in addition thereto, one or more pull-tab cards. Each square is designated by number, letter or by a combination of numbers and letters, except that the center square on the card shall be designated with the word "free". No two cards shall be identical. As the announcer of the game announces a number, letter or a combination of numbers and letters, each player covers the square corresponding to the announced number, letter or combination by marking such card in ink. The numbers, letters or combination of numbers and letters which are announced shall appear on an object selected by chance, either manually or mechanically, from a receptacle containing the objects bearing numbers, letters or combinations of numbers and letters. The winner of each game shall be the player or players who are first to properly cover a predetermined and announced pattern of squares upon the card or cards used by such player or players. A prize or prizes may be awarded to the winner or winners of a game;

(2) "Bingo card" , an individual game face marked off into twenty-five squares arranged on five horizontal rows of five squares each, one or more of which may be contained on a bingo sheet;

(3) "Bingo card monitoring device" , a technology aid which allows a bingo player to enter bingo numbers as they are announced at a bingo occasion and which marks or otherwise conceals those numbers on bingo cards which are electronically stored in and displayed on the device. A bingo card monitoring device shall not include any device into which currency, coin, tokens, or electronic funds transfer may be inserted or from which currency, coin, tokens, or any receipt for monetary value can be dispensed or which, once provided to a bingo player, is capable of communicating with any other bingo card monitoring device or any other form of electronic device or computer. A bingo card monitoring device shall only be permitted to monitor bingo games and not used for any games or themes;

(4) "Bingo equipment" , all paraphernalia used to conduct a bingo game including selection equipment, number display boards, and bingo cards and faces and other such related equipment as may be defined by the rules and regulations of the commission. This definition does not include audio or video equipment which plays no part in the conduct of the game other than communicating the progress of the game or items used to mark numbers on the cards;

(5) "Bingo sheet" , a disposable piece of paper containing one or more bingo cards;

(6) "Charitable organization" , any organization which is organized and operated for the relief of poverty, distress, or other condition of public concern within this state or organized for financially supporting the activities of a charitable organization as hereinbefore defined. In order to qualify as a charitable organization, no part of the net earnings of the organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual member of the organization. Charitable organizations must have obtained an exemption from the payment of federal income taxes as provided in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended;

(7) "Commission" , the Missouri gaming commission;

(8) "Director" , the director or other person in charge of the regulation of the game of bingo, as designated by the Missouri gaming commission;

(9) "Fraternal organization" , any organization within this state operating under the lodge system which exists for the common benefit, brotherhood or other interest of its members except college fraternities and sororities and of which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or any individual member of such organization and which has been exempted from the payment of federal income tax as provided in Section 501(c)(5), 501(c)(8), or 501(c)(10) Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended;

(10) "Hall provider" , a person or business entity which leases premises in which bingo games are conducted;

(11) "Pull-tab card" , any disposable card or ticket which accords a person an opportunity to win something of value by opening, pulling, detaching, or otherwise removing tabs from the card or ticket to reveal a set of numbers, letters, symbols, or configurations, or any combination thereof. The term "pull-tab card" shall include any card known as a pickle ticket, pickle, break-open, or pull-tab card;

(12) "Religious organization" , any organization, church, body of communicants, or group, gathered in common membership for mutual support and edification in piety, worship and religious observances. Such an organization may be a society of individuals united for religious purposes at a definite place. In order to qualify as a religious organization, no part of the net earnings of the organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or any individual member of such organization. Religious organizations shall maintain an established place of worship within this state and shall have a regular schedule of services or meetings at least on a weekly basis. Religious organizations must have obtained an exemption from the payment of federal income taxes as provided by Section 501(c)(3) or Section 501(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended;

(13) "Service organization" , any organization commonly known as a civic club or county fair or other organization if such organization is a religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran or service organization as described in Article III, Section 39(a) of the Missouri Constitution and of which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual member of such organization. Service organizations must have obtained an exemption from the payment of federal income taxes as provided in Section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended;

(14) "Supplier" , a person or business entity that sells, markets or otherwise provides bingo equipment or supplies to any bona fide religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran or service organization;

(15) "Veterans' organization" , a post or organization of veterans, or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a trust or foundation for, any such post or organization:

(a) Organized in the United States or any of its possessions;

(b) In which at least seventy-five percent of the members of which are war veterans and substantially all of the other members of which are individuals who are veterans (but not war veterans) or are cadets, or are spouses, widows or widowers of war veterans of such individuals; and

(c) In which no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual and which has been exempted from payment of federal income taxes as provided by Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.

(L. 1981 H.B. 322 § 1, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1503, A.L. 1984 S.B. 720, A.L. 1986 S.B. 461, A.L. 1993 S.B. 10 & 11, A.L. 1994 S.B. 427, A.L. 2010 S.B. 940)