G en. 127] 127

We understand that the c ompany that produce s MegaMa

nia may 1 chang e the ope ration of the g ame so that it is conducted entirely in Calvert County and is under thecontrol of the li ce nsee. This opinion addre sses Me g aMania

on ly a s it is curre ntly op e rate d an d de sc ribe d in the mate ri a ls you provided. We also understand that th e co mp any is workingon additional g ame s th at c ou ld b e playe d o n th e samema c hin e s a s Me g aMa nia . T his opinion does not apply

to any g ame o th erthan the one de scribed in the materia l you provided a s summarized in thi s opinion. GAM I NG

B I NGO

) E L E CT RON I C N ATI ONAL B I NGO G AME M AY N OT B E O PE RA T E D U ND E R C ALVERT C OUN T Y C OM MERCI AL B I NGO L I CENSE I F O PE RA T I ON OF G AME I S N OT UN DE R C ONT ROL OF L I CE NS E E AN D I F G AME I S O PE RA T E D O UT SI DE OF C ALVERT C OUNTY

M ar ch 1, 1999

T h e H o n o ra b le R o b e rt B . R idd le S ta te’s A tto rn e

y fo r C a lve rt C o u n ty

Y ou have a s ked for o u ropi ni on w het hera game cal l ed M e g a M a n ia m a yb e o p e ra ted u n d e r a C las s N G b in g o lice n se in C a lv e rt C o u n ty. I n ouropi ni on, the on- l i ne game t hati s des cr i bed i n t he m at er i al s t haty ou have pr ovi ded i s “bi ngo” w i t hi n t he meani n g of t h e s t a tu t e t h a tp e r m i t s c o m m e r c i a l b i n g o i n C a l v e r tC o u n t y. H ow ever , t hos e mat er i al s al s o indi cat e t hatt he game w oul d notbe conduct ed by the l i cens ee , nor w oul d i t be conduc t ed w ith in C alver t C o u n ty

. A ccor di ngl y , M egaM ani a as i ti s cur r ent l ydes i gned i s not a m o n g th e a c tiv iti e s a u th o riz e d f o r a C las s N G b in g o lice n se e in C a l v e r tC o u n t y. 11 2 8 [8 4 O p . A tt ’y

This description of the g ame is taken from the opinion in United 2 States v. 103 Elec tronic Gaming Dev ices , 19 98 W L82 75 86 (N .D . Cal. 1998), from descript i o n s in advisory opinions of the Chairman of the National Indian GamingCommi ssion dated July 10, 1 9 9 6 and Jul y

23, 1997, and from the memorandum of Multi m ed i a Games, the Senec a Cay ug a Tribe , and the Cherokee Na tion, in support of a motion for summary judgme nt in United States v. 162 MegaM ani a Ga mbl ing Dev ices, Civil No. 97-CV-1140- K(J) (N.D. Okla.)

. I Backg r ound A . Me g a Ma n ia
M egaM ani a, a s i ti s cur r ent l yoper at ed, per m i t s pl ay er s at gami n g fa ci l i t i es nat i onw i de t o par t i ci pat e i n a s i ngl e, l i nked si m ult aneo us bingo gam e i n w hich al l of t he p l ay ers com pete agai nst o n e a n o ther. P lay ers d ep o sitm o n eyw ith a c lerk a n d rec eive a P IN

2 n u m b e r t o e n ter in to a M e g a M a n ia te rm in a l, kn o w n a s a n E lec tro n ic P l ay er St at i on (“EP S ”). T he E P S dis play s random l y gen erat ed cards, w h ich sim u late tra d iti o n a l b in g o c a rd s. E a c h p layer m a y p lay up to f o u r c a rd s a t a n in itia l c o s t o f 2 5 ¢ p e r c a rd

. A ft ereac h s etof t hr ee number s ar e cal l ed, pl ay er s m ayr ej ect car ds orpayan addi t i onal 25¢ per car d t o cont i nue pl ay i ng t hos e t hat a re re tain e d . T h is f

e e is d e d u c ted f

ro m th e p layer’s in iti a l d e p o sit. W hen t he i ni t i al d ep o si ti s exhaus t ed, addi t i onal m oneycan be inse rt ed d ir ec tl yinto the E P S

. A p lay er cash es ou t b y takin g the P IN n u m b e r re c e ip t b a c k to th e c ler k to c o llec t a n ym o n e ylef t o n d e p o sit a n d a n yp ri z e s . Pl aydoes nots t ar tunl es s t her e ar e at l eas t48 car ds i n pl ayby atl eas t12 pl ay er s . T her e doe s n otappea rt o be an uppe rl i m i ton h o w m a n yc a n p lay. T h e n u m b e rs f o r th e g a m e a re d ra w n liv e a t a bi ngo fac i l i t yo n I ndi an l ands i n t he w es t er n U ni t ed St at es . T he num ber s dr aw n ar e di s p lay ed on t he EP S and al s o announce d t hr ough an audi o t r ans m i s s i on. T he corr es pondi ng num ber s on a car d ar e cove r ed aut om at i cal l yw hen t he pl ay erpr es s es a “da ub” b u tto n o n t he ter m i nal. W hen t he fir stplay er orplay ers cov ers a str aigh t l ine o n a c ard , h e o r she d ec lares “b ing o ” o n o n e o r m o reG en. 127] 129

In addition, cer

tain charitab l e and nonprofit org anizations are 3 authorized to conduct bing o and other ty pes of g aming

. SeeAnnot ated Code of Mar

yland, Article27, §255. car ds bypr es s i ng t he daub but t on. A l l pl ay er s ar e t hen not i fi ed e le c tr o n ic a lly.
T he w i nner s ’ pr i zes ar e det er m i ned byt he number of ca r ds bei ng pl ay ed, t he number of bal l s t hathave bee n d raw n , and t he n u m b e r o f

p layers a c h iev in g b in g o sim u ltan e o u sly

. If a p layer f a ils t o not i ce a “bi ngo” and pr es s t he daub but t on w i t hi n a ce r t ai n t i m e, p layco n ti n u es. P ri ze s m ay also b e w o n b y co v ering all fo u r co rne rs o f th e c a rd

. B . L ice n se s fo r B in g o in Ca lve rt C o u n ty O r di nar i l y , i ti s a cr i m i nal vi ol at i on t o keep a gami ng t abl e or a p lace forgambl i ng. A nnot at ed C ode of M ar y l and, A r t i cl e 27, § § 2 3 7 , 2 4 0 , an d 2 4 1 . A p e rso n o p e ra tin g a M e g a M a n ia g a m e in C al vertC ou ntyw ou l d thus be i n v i olat i on of the cri m i nal l aw un l ess its o p e ra tio n w e re o th e rw is e s a n c tio n e d b yla w . C om m er ci al bi ngo i s per m i t t ed i n C al ver t C ount yunder l i c e n s e s i s s u e d b y t h e Co u n t y Co mm i s s i o n e r s . Ar t i c l e 2 7 , § 2 5 9 A. 3 A l i cens e author i zes t he l i cens ee t o “oper at e a bi ngo game; s ubj ect h o w e v e r to th e lim itatio n s u p o n se a tin g a n d p layer c a p a c ity est abli shed f

or such l i cense. ” A rt i cl e 27 , §2 59 A (b) (2)

. W hil e m ost c las se s o f

lice n se s f

o r c o m m e rc ial b in g o h a v e lim itatio n s a s to s eat i ng and pl ay ercapa ci t yand as t o t he amount of t he pr i ze t hatcan be aw ar ded, none of t hes e l i m i t at i ons appl y t o a C l as s N G l i cens ee. A rt ic le 2 7 , § 2 5 9 A (b )( 1 )- (2 ). C . D ef ini ti on of

“B ingo”
T her e i s no sta tut or ydefi ni t i on of “bi ngo” i n M ar y l and. N ei t herA r t i cl e 27, §259A , nor any of t he ot hers t atut or ypr ovi s i ons t hataut hor i ze va r i ous or gani zat i o n s t o conductbi ngo, defi ne t hat te rm o th e r th a n to s ta te w h e th e r i t in c lu d e s in s ta n t b in g o . See , e .g ., A rt ic le 2 7 , § § 2 5 2 (m ), 2 5 4 (a )( 2 ), 2 5 9 A (a )( 1 ), 2 6 0 (a ), a n d 2 6 1 (a ).
I n B enderv. A r undel

A r ena , 2 4 8 M d

. 1 8 1 , 2 3 6 A

. 2 d 7 (19 6 7 ), t he C our tof A ppeal s r el i ed on W ebs t er ’ s T hi r d N ew I nt er nat i onal1 3 0 [8 4 O p . A tt ’y
D i ct i onar y , w hi ch def

i n es bi ngo as “a ga m e pl ay ed us u. fora pool wi t h c a r d s b e a r i n g r o ws o f n u mb e r s i n wh i c h a c a l l e rd r a ws num b ere d count er s fr om a s t ock and e ach pl ay ercover s t he cor r es pondi ng num ber s i f t hey appea r on hi s car d, t he w i nnerbei ng t he one w ho fi r s tcover s one compl et e row . ” A s ubs equentopi ni on o f th is O f f ice d e sc rib e d th e g a m e in g re a ter d e tail:
B ycont r as t , t he t r adi t i onal game of bi ngo i s comm onl ypl ay ed i n l odges , hal ls , and chur ch base m ent s , orper m anent‘ bi ngo par l or s ’ and r equi r es t abl es and chai r s fort he pl ay er s as w el l as a var i et yof ot her eq u ipm en t. E ac h p lay er r ec eive s o n e o r m o re car ds and chi ps orot herm arke rs t o cover s quar es on t he ca r d. T h e game i s fur t her descri bed as fol l ow s: “T h e c ard s, m ad e o f c ard b o ar d o r pa p er, ar e pr i nt ed w i t h fi ve r ow s of fi ve s quar es ea ch

. O n e l ett er o f th e w o rd B IN G O ap p ea rs overeac h o f the v er t i cal col um ns . A l l of t he s quar es cont ai n a n um ber , exce ptt he ‘ fr ee’ ce n ter sq u are . N u m b ers 1 thro u g h 7 5 are us ed. T he ‘ B ’ col um n us ual lycont ai ns any fi ve num ber bet w een 1 and 15; t he ‘ I ’ col um n, a n yf iv e b e tw e e n 1 6 a n d 3 0 ; a n d s o o n .” “The purpos e of t h e game i s t o cover enough ca l l ed number s t o for m a p att er n – us ual l ya ver t i cal , hor i zont al , ordi agonal l i ne, orfourcor ner s . T her e ar e al s o m anys peci al ga mes a nd gi mm i c ks de s i gn e d t o i nc r ease p a rt ic ip a tio n .” C om m i s s i on on t he R evi ew of t he N at i on al P o lic yT o w a rd G a m b lin g , G a m b lin gin A m er i ca 1 6 0 (1 9 7 6 ). T h is re p o rt g o e s o n to descri be the m ann er of playas fol l ow s: “In a t ypical gam e, t he an no un cer cal l s a l et t er and num ber , r andoml ys el ect ed fr om 75 pi ng- pong- t ype bal l s pr i nt ed w i t h a l et t erfr omG en. 127] 131
t he w or d B I N G O and a num berfr om 1 t o 75, i n t he sam e group i ng s as the cards. A s t hese num ber s ar e ca l l ed, t he bal l s ar e pl ace d on a m as t erboard c ont ai ni ng al l t he l et t er s and n u m b e rs to f

o rm a re c o rd o f

th e g a m e .”
T he g am e con t i nu es un t i l som eon e form s a wi n n i n g p a t t e r n , s h o u t s ‘ BI NGO

. ’ a n d c l a i ms th e p ri z e . I

d.
T he tr adit i on al gam e of b in g o h olds a uni que pos i t i on among t he var i ous for m s of gambl i ng, beca us e m anypeopl e do not co n side r it tru e ga m b li n g at all

. Id. B i ngo s es s i ons ar e us ual l yrun ors pons or ed by c h a ritab le o rg a n iza tio n s a n d , the refore, peo ple t end t o at t r i but e to i ta r es pect abi l i t yt hey w oul d notacc or d ot herfor m s of gambli n g, s uch as num ber s pl ay i ng. 78 O pi ni ons of

the At t or ney G ener al3 4 7 , 3 5 1 -52 (19 9 3 ).
T hes e def

i ni t i ons g en era l l yacc or d w i t h t hos e found i n ot her s o u rc e s . See A nnot

. , G ames of Chance or Ski l l , 135 A

. L

. R

. 104 (1 9 4 1 ); Stat e v. P arrish , 8 8 7 P

. 2 d 1 2 7 (K an . 1 9 9 4 ).

II
D i s cus s i on A . MegaMani a as B ingo U nderFeder al

Cas e Law
T he re l at i ons hi p of M egaM ani a t o t he game of bi ngo has been c o n s id e re d b ytw o f

e d e ra l c o u rt s . See U ni t ed St at es v. 103 E l ectr oni c G am i ng D evi ces , W L 827586 (N

. D

. C al

. 1998) ; and U ni t ed St at es v. 162 MegaM ani a G am bl ing D ev i ces , No

. 9 7

- C11 40 -K (N

. D

. O kla. O ct ob er 26, 19 98 ). T he quest i on befo re tho se cour t s w as w het herM egaM ani a i s bi ngo or a game s i m i l art o bi ngo, ori s i ns t ead a n “el ectr oni c orel ectr om echa nical f acs i m i l e of a ny game of chanc e ors l otm achi n e.. . o f anyki nd” forpurpos es of t he fede r al I ndi an G ami ng R egul at or yA ct( I G R A )

. U nderI G R A , bi ngo an d g am es sim il ar to b ing o are classified as C lass II g am ing an d are1 3 2 [8 4 O p . A tt ’y
p erm issi b le on Ind ian la n d s if the s tat e w h ere the In d ian lan d s are lo c a ted p e rm its su c h g a m in g . 2 5 U .S .C . § 2 7 1 0 (b )(1 ). B yc o n tra st, elec tr o n ic fa csim ile s a n d o ther m ac h ines are classified as C lass III gami ng, w hi ch maybe pl ay ed on I ndi an l ands o n ly i f t he t r i be and t he s t at e w i t hi n w hi ch t he I ndi an l ands ar e l ocat ed have negot i at ed a trib a l-sta te c o m p a c t. 25 U .S .C

. § 2 7 1 0 (d )(1 )(C ). B o th c o u rts concl uded t hat M egaM ani a i s m or e aki n t o bi ngo and t hus s houl d be cl as s i fi ed as C l as s I I gami ng. B ot h cas es ar os e w hen t he fe der al gover nm ents ought for fei tur e of M egaM ani a devi ces l ocat ed on I ndi an l ands

. I n eac h cas e, t he courtfound t hatM egaM ani a machi nes had al l of t he e l e me n t s o f

t h e g a m e o f

b i n g o t h a tw e r e s e to u ti n t h e f e d e r a l l a w. I ti s pl ay ed forpr i zes w i t h el ectr o n ic c ar ds bear i ng num ber s ; t he p l a y e r s c o v e r t h e n u mbe r s e l e c t r o n i c a l l y b y p r e s s i n g t h e daub but t on; and pl ay er s w i n by bei ng t he fi r s t t o cover a d esig n ated p a ttern o n th e c a rd s. M o re o v e r, ea c h c o u rt c o n c lu d e d th a t a M egaM ani a machi ne i s nota gambl i ng d ev ic e w i t hi n t he J ohns on A ct15 U

. S. C

. §§1171- 1178, and t her efor e i s nota fa cs i m i l e of a s l ot m achi ne underI G R A

. Speci fi cal l y , the court s found t hatt he m achi ne di d not del i vert he el ement of cha nce, butr at hert hatchanc e w as s uppl i ed byt he game of bi ngo, w hi ch t ook pl ace out s i de of the m ac h ine. In a d d it ion , p lay ers o f M eg aM an ia playag ains t eac h o ther, not agai ns t t he m achi ne, and t he game c ont i nues unt i l atl eas tone of t he pl ay er s w i ns . T hus , bot h cour t s concl uded t hatM egaM ani a w as an ai d t o t he pl ay i ng of bi ngo and nota C l as s I I I gami ng devi ce. B . A uthorit

y Fr om O therStates T o dat e, no cas es have addr es s ed t he i s s ue of w het her s t at e or loca l bi ngo l aw s au tho ri ze o p era ti o n o f M eg aM an ia. H o w ev er, th ere i s atl eas tone ca s e and a num ber of opi ni ons fr om at t or ney s gener al of ot her s t at es t hat anal y ze t he t ypes of games t hatar e perm i t t ed by a s t atut e t hataut hor i zes bi ngo. T hos e opi n i ons ar e i ns t ruct i ve and d e mo n s t r a t e t h a tt h e c o n s i d e r a t i on s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e f e d e r a l I GRA c a s e s a re a ls o re le v a n t to a n a lysis o f s ta te la w s c o n c e rn in g b in g o . W het hera s peci fi c game i s bi ngo ora proh ibi t ed gami ng devi ce of

t en depe nds on w het hert he pl ay er s pl ayagai nst one anot herorw het hert heys i m pl y pl ayagai ns tt he machi ne. W hen the l at t eri s t he ca s e, t he m achi ne i s an i l l egal gambl i ng devi ce a nd i s not a u th o riz e d b ya sta tu te th a t a llo w s b in g o o r sim ilar g a m e s. T h u s, in Kan sas v. P arrish , 887 P. 2d 127 ( K an. 1994) , t he Supr eme C our tofG en. 127] 133

Other opinions havereje cted all elec tronic play on the basis that 4 the par ticular state sta

tute require s a physical ca rd. S ee Opinion of the Attor ne yGene ra l of

Califo rn ia , 70 Ops

. Ca l . Atty. Gen. 3 0 4 , 1 9 8 7 WL 24 72 56 (D e c e mber 2 2, 19 87 ); Opinion of the A ttorney Ge neral of Alaska , 1987 Alaska Op. Atty. Gen. 327, 1987 WL 121195 (Nove mber 6, 1987). Th e se op ini on s su g g e st that liv e bin g o, in c ontr a st t o e le c tron ic ve rs ion s, “is an ope n and simple g ame not ea sily manipulated” while “[ t ]he operation of video g ame bing o would not be subjec t t o simil ar sc rutiny and prote ction.” Op ini on of the Attor ne y Gene ra l of

Califo rn ia , 67 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 528, 1984 WL162106 (De cembe r 21, 1984). Anothe r opinion notes that electronic b i n go made monitoringof the g ames more difficult for la

w enf orce ment personne l. Opinion of the A ttorney Ge neral of C ali for nia , 70 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 504, 1987 WL247256 (De cembe r 22, 1987). Theseopinions ult imately were not based on these policy grounds, but rathe r on the languag e of statutes that prec isely define d the g ameof “bin g o”in w ay s in c on sis te nt w ithe le c tron icpla y . How e ve r, in the abse nce of

any definition o f the g ame “bingo”in the Mary land s t atut es , th es e d ec i s i o n s cann o tb e r ea d as co ntro l l i n g. K ans as hel d t hati ns t antbi ngo w as noti ncl uded w i t hi n a cons t i tu ti onal pr ovi s i on aut hor i zi ng bi ngo, beca us e i ns t antbi ngo “does nothave the g rou p par t i ci pat i on r equi r ed of bi ngo- t ype games. ” V ar i ous s t at e at t or ney s gener al have c i t ed the l ack of gr oup par t i ci pat i on i n fi ndi ng t hat a par t i cul ar game w as notbi ngo. T he 4 M i s s i s s i ppi A t t or neyG ener al concl uded t hata vi deo bi ngo m achi ne i n w hi ch t he w i nnerw as deci ded byt he m ac h ine i t s el f w as not “b ing o ” w ith in the au tho ri za ti o n o f a M issi ssipp i st atu te

. O pi ni on of the At t or ney G ener alof Mis s is s i ppi , 1992 W L 614638 ( M ar ch 19, 1992)

. T he Tennes s ee A t t or ney G ener al concl uded t hatvi deo bi ngo w as notl egal underT ennes s ee la w w her e t her e w as no i nt er act i on a m o n g t h e p a rt ic ip a n ts

. O pi ni on of

the At t or ney G ener alof Tennes s ee , O p inion N o . 8 5 -19 2 , 1 9 8 5 W L 1 9 3 7 4 1 (Jun e 10 , 1 9 8 5 ). F i n a l l y , t h e Vi r g i n i a At t o r n e y Ge n e r a l c o n c l u d e d t h a ta b i n g o g a me encompas s ed compl et el yw i t hi n a machi ne w as nott he game of b in g o a u th o ri z e d b ya V ir g i n i a s ta tu te

. O pi ni on of

the At t or ney G e n e ra l o

f V irg in ia , 1978- 79 V

a. O p. A t t or ney G ener al 173, 1979 W L 3 1 8 8 4 (M a y1 0 , 1 9 7 9 ). Cf

. 77 O pi ni ons of

the At t or ney G ener al 8 2 (1 9 9 2 ) (v id e o lo ttery, in w h ich p layers w a g e r a g a in st “ ra n d o m ly d erive d game r es ul t s on i ndi vi dual comput ert er m i nal s ” not a u th o riz e d b yth e lo ttery statu te, c o n tra ste d w ith k e n o , w h ich is p lay ed in a so cial sett ing an d n o t on ind ividu al co m p u ter t erm inals).1 3 4 [8 4 O p . A tt ’y C . A nal ys is U nderMar

yland L aw 1. B i ngo un der M aryl and L aw In o u r op inion , M e g aM an ia co n sti tutes “b ing o ” a s tha t t erm has t r adi t i onal l y been under s t ood. T he game i s pl ay ed aga i ns tot her p lay ers rath er tha n ag ains t th e m ac h ine itse lf. N u m b ere d b all s are dr aw n at ran d om bya per s on fr om a mechani cal devi ce, not gener at ed byt he EP S. N um ber s ar e ca l l ed and mat chi ng num ber s on ca rds a re c o v ere d

. T h e g am e is w o n w h en a p lay er c o v ers n u m b ers i n a des i gnat ed pat t er n and announc es a “b ing o . ” The es s ent i al natur e of the gam e r emai ns t he s ame even i f t he ca r ds and t he cover i ng of t he num ber s ar e r epr es ent ed el ectr oni cal l y , a comput er r at herthan a m as t erboar d game keeps t r ack of t he number s t hat h a v e b e e n c a lle d , an d a p layer p re ss e s a b u tto n o n th e ter m in a l to a n n o u n c e a b in g o ra th e r t h a n s h o u t. C f. 77 O pi ni ons of

the At t or ney G ener al 82, 85 ( 1992) ( “The G ener al A s s embl ys ur el ydi d noti nt end t hatt he Lot t er yA gencybe l i m i t ed t o operat ing it s l ot t er i es i n t he s ame m anner as l ot t er i es w er e oper at ed i n y ear s pas t , w i t houtt he b e n e f it o f m o d e rn te c h n o lo g y .” ).
M or eover , i n ourvi ew , t he natur e of t he gam e i s notal t er ed by t h e f a c tt h a ti ti s b e i n g p l a ye d i n m o r e t h a n o n e p l a c e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y. C f

. St at e v. C

. B

. S. E nt er

pr is es , 95 A

. 2d 16 ( N

. J

. 1953) (P lay ing of s i m ul t aneous bi ngo att w o s epar at e, l i cens ed l ocat i ons by m eans of a “mi cr ophoni c devi ce” aut hor i zed by bi ngo s t atut e)

. T hus , i ti s our vi ew t hatM egaM ani a i s “bi ngo” w i t hi n t he meani ng of t he s t atut e. T hi s concl us i on do es notend t he i nqui ry . A l i cens e i s s ued un der A rt i cle 27 , §2 59 A authori zes the l i cens ee t o oper at e or c o n d u c tb i ngo w ith in C a lve rt C o u n ty . A s M e g a M a n ia is c u rre n tly pl ay ed, i td o es not appea rt hatt he game w oul d be oper at ed byt he l i c e n s e e o rt h a ti tw o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d w i t h i n C a l v e r tC o u n t y. 2. O perat i on of

M egaM ani a by t he L i cens ee

“ T h e w o rd ‘c o n d u c t,’ lik e th e w o rd s m a n a g e a n d d ire c t, s ugges t s cont r ol

. ” O

p in io n o f th e A tto rn e

y G e n e ra l o

f C a lif o rn ia , 67 O p s
. C al

. A t t

y. G en. 5 2 8 , 1 9 8 4 W L 1 6 2 1 0 6 ( Dec e mbe r2 1 , 1984) ci t i ng C i r o’s of S. F

. v. St at e B oar d of E qual iz at i on , 142 C al

. A pp. 2dG en. 127] 135

Whil e W est Bingo Corporati on v. Co mp tr o ller , 1984 WL2887 5 (M d. Tax. June8, 19 84 ) i nv olv e d c ha ri ta bleorg anizatio ns that a

pp arently a llo we d a private op e rator to c on du c t bin g o un de r the ir lic e ns e , th at c a se do e s n ot a dd

re ss t heiss ue of wh e ther the ir mod e of op e ratio n w a s le g a l, but only the tax consequenc es of that ope ration. 6 3 6 , 6 3 9 (19 5 6 ) (co n clud ing that b y install ing an d u sing p lay eroper at ed comput er i zed e l ectr oni c vi deo mach ine s t he or gani zat i on r el i nqui s hes cont r ol over t he gam e i t s el f)

. O r di nar i l y , i n t he cont ext of bi ngo, t he operat ori s t he per s on w ho dr aw s and announc es t he n u m b e rs . See Stat e v
. P arri sh , 887 P. 2d 127 ( K an. 1994)

. T he l i cens ee, i tgoes al m os tw i t houts ay ing , is the per s on t o w hom t he lic e n s e h a s b e e n is s u e d

. R id e r v . S ta te , 815 P. 2d 198 ( O kl a. 1991) ci t i ng B l ack’s L aw D i ct i on ary 9 2 1 (6 th E d .1 9 9 0 ). W h ile w e w o u ld notr ead the s t atut e t o r equi r e t h at the i ndi vi dual w ho hol ds t he l i cens e be the onl yper s on w ho dr aw s and c all s num ber s , i n t he cont extof t he s t atut e, i tappea r s t hat t he L egi s l atur e i nt ended t hatt he per s on dr aw i ng and ca l l i ng t he number s be s ubj ectt o t he contr ol of th e lic e n s e e . T he C our tof A ppeal s has not ed t hat t he fa vor abl e publ i c vi ew of bi ngo compar ed t o ot herfor m s of gami ng i s at t r i but abl e to the i m pr es s i on t hat i ti s conduct ed byr egul at ed cha r i t abl e ent i t i es , r at her t h a n b y a “ ‘ f

a k i r ’ o r ‘ n i mbl e t r i c k s t e r . ’ ” S tat e v. W yand , 304 M d. 72 1, 73 0, 50 1 A

. 2d 43 (1 98 5). T hu s, w hen a S t at e authori zes a c h a ritab le o r n o n p ro f

it o rg a n iza tio n to c o n d u c t b in g o , itis g e n e ra lly hel d t hatt he or gani zat i on m us tconductt he bi ngo i t s el f, r at hert han al l ow i ng i t t o be done by a pr i vat e or gani zat i on. 70 O pi ni ons of

the A t t or ney G ener al1 0 7 (1 9 8 5 ); I n r e Appl i cat i on f

orB i ngo Li cens e of N e w D a y T a b e rn a c le , 80 1 P

. 2d 74 2 (O kla. 19 90 ). N or i s it 5 im p o ss ib le th a t a g a m e o f b in g o c o u ld b e m a n ip u late d , es p e c ially w h e n s o m e o f

th e p la y e rs a re n o t p h y s ic a lly p re s e n t. S e e E liza b e th Lodge, N

o. 289 v. Legal iz ed G am es of C hance , 17 0 A

. 2d 47 1 (N

. J. 1961)

. T hes e consi der at i ons under l i e t he S t at e pol i cyr equi r i ng t he d e t a i l e d r e g u l a t i o n o f g a mi n g . Ac c o r d i n g l y , t h e c o n d u c to f t h e g a me of bi ngo m u st be undert he contr ol of t he per s on t hatt he St at e has a u th o ri z e d to c o n d u c t th e g a m e s .1 3 6 [8 4 O p . A tt ’y
I n M egaM ani a t he bal l s are dr aw n bya per s on w ho i s not w i t hi n t he contr ol of t he l i cens ee i n anyw ay . H e o rs he i s not empl oy ed byt he l i cens ee, s ubj ectt o t he management orcont r ol of t he l i cens ee, oreven i n a pl ace w her e t he l i cens ee i s ful l yaw ar e of hi s orheract i ons . T hi s del egat i on of t he r es pons i bi l i t yfort he co n d u c t o f t h e g a me t a k e s i t o u t s i d e o f th e a u t h o r i z a t i on of t he s ta tu te f o r t h e lic e n s e e to c o n d u c t b in g o . 3 . P lay w it h in C a lver t C o u n ty A n addi t i onal pr obl em w i th th e oper at i on of M egaM ani a i s t hat t h e g a m e o f

b i n g o i t s e l f

i s n o tt a k i n g p l a c e w i t h i n C a l v e r tC o u n t y, w hi ch i s al l t hat i s aut hor i zed byt he s t atut e. I ti s ourvi ew t hatt he L e g isla tu re , in a u th o riz in g th e c o n d u c t o r o p e ra tio n o f b in g o “ w ith in C al ver tC ount y , ” i nt ended ex ac t l yw hati ts ai d: t hatt he author i zed games mustt ake pl ace w i t hi n C al ver tC ount y . I n M eg aM ani a t he d ra w in g o f

th e b a lls a n d th e c a lli n g o f th e n u m b e r s tak e s p lac e in anot hers t at e, bey ond t he cont r ol notonl yof t he l i cens ee, butof t he St at e of M ar y l and

. I n addi t i on, as t he game i s cur r ent l ydes i gned, p layers w ith in C a lv e rt C o u n ty w o u ld b e c o m p e tin g w ith p layers in o ther loc ati o n s o u tsi d e the S ta te of M ary land

. T h is r en d ers im p o ss ib le th e typ e o f re g u latio n n e c e ss a ryf o r th e a p p ro p ria te c o n d u c t o f

g a m in g . W hen t he G ener al A s s embl yhas chosen t o per m i tgambl i ng th a t c ro s s e s S ta te lin e s , it h a s e x p re s s ly sa id s o . See S tate G ov ernm ent A rt i cl e, §9 -111(b) (m ult i -s t at e l ott eri es) ; B usi ness R e g u latio n A rticle , § 1 1 -8 0 4 (b e tti n g o n o u t-o f -sta te r a c e s); A rticle 27, §363 ( pos s es s i on of out

- of- s t at e l ot t er y t i cket s )

. I n t he abs ence of such a ut hor i zat i on, s uch ac t i vi t i es ar e i l l egal

. 77 O pi ni ons of

the A t t or ney G ener al 7 8 (1 9 9 2 ); (u se o f c o m p u ter in M a ry lan d to in iti a te pur chas e of out

- of- s t at e l ot t er y t i cket s i s i l l egal ) ; 57 O pi ni ons of

the A t t or ney G ener al3 4 6 (19 7 2 ) (po sses sion o f a n o u t- o f-state lott ery ti ck et i s a v iolati o n o f law ag ains t lott eries ev en if i t w as leg al w h ere it w a s p u rc h a s e d ).G en. 127] 137
III C oncl usi on I n s um m ar y , i ti s ouropi ni on t hatpl ayof M egaM an ia, as d e sc rib e d in th e m a ter ials y o u p ro v id e d , co n stitu tes b in g o a n d c o u ld b e a u th o riz e d u n d e r A r ti c le 2 7 , § 2 5 9 A , the sta tu te th a t p e rm its c o m m e rc ial b in g o in C a lv e rt C o u n ty . H o w e v e r, as it i s c u rre n tly d e sig n e d , w ith th e d ra w in g a n d c a lli n g o f th e n u m b e rs o u t-o f

-sta te byper s ons notundert he contr ol of t he l i cens ee, M egaM ani a may no tbe o ffered by C l ass N G l i censees. J. Jo sep h C u rran , Jr. A t t or ney G ener al
Ka t h r yn M

. Ro we Ass i s t a n t Atto rn e yGen e ral
R o b e rt N . M c D o n a ld C hi ef C ouns el O pi ni ons and A dvi ce

E di tor ’s N

ote: T h e sta tu tes g o v e rn in g c o m m e rc ial b in g o in C a lv e rt C o u n ty have be en r ecodi fi ed at A nnot at ed C ode of M ar y l and, C r i m i nal L aw A r t i cl e, §13- 701 et

s eq.