Source: https://ecode360.com/6734869
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 14:36:55+00:00

Document:
§ 157-4 Penalties for offenses.
§ 157-6 Investigation; issuance and duration of license; disposition of fees.
§ 157-7 Denial of license; hearing.
§ 157-8 Amendment of license.
§ 157-9 Form and contents of license; display.
§ 157-10 Control and supervision; penalties; inspections.
§ 157-12 Rules and regulations.
§ 157-14 Frequency of games; days and times.
§ 157-15 Restrictions on operators and equipment; expenses.
§ 157-16 Admission fee; determination of winners; alcoholic beverages as prizes.
§ 157-18 Statement of receipts; additional license fee.
§ 157-19 Examination of books and records.
§ 157-22 Lawful games of chance.
Bingo — See Ch. 104.
Editor's Note: This legislation was included as Ch. 24 of the General Ordinances. In addition, this ordinance was ratified in a referendum held 11-2-1976.
The Council hereby declares that the raising of funds for the promotion of bona fide charitable, educational, scientific, health, religious and patriotic causes and undertakings, where the beneficiaries are undetermined, is in the public interest. It hereby finds that, as conducted prior to the enactment of this chapter, games of chance were the subject of exploitation by professional gamblers, promoters and commercial interests, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Council that all phases of, supervision, licensing and regulation of games of chance and the conduct of games of chance should be closely controlled and that the local laws and regulations pertaining thereto should be strictly construed and rigidly enforced; that the conduct of the games and all attendant activities should be so regulated and adequate controls so instituted as to discourage commercialization in all its forms, including the rental of commercial premises for games of chance and to ensure a maximum availability of the net proceeds of games of chance exclusively for application to the worthy causes and undertakings specified herein; that the only justification for this chapter is to foster and support such worthy causes and undertakings; and that the mandate of § 9 of Article I of the State Constitution, as amended, and of Article 9-A of the General Municipal Law, should be carried out by rigid regulations to prevent commercialized gambling, prevent participation by criminal and other undesirable elements and prevent the diversion of funds from the purposes herein authorized.
Includes any bona fide religious or charitable organization or bona fide educational or service organization or bona fide organization of veterans or volunteer firemen which, by its charter, certificate of incorporation, Constitution or Act of the Legislature, shall have among its dominant purposes one or more of the lawful purposes as defined in this chapter, provided that each shall operate without profit to its members, and provided that each such organization has engaged in serving one or more of the lawful purposes as defined in this chapter for a period of three years immediately prior to applying for a license under this chapter. No organization shall be deemed an "authorized organization" which is formed primarily for the purpose of conducting games of chance and the distribution of the proceeds thereof to itself or any other organization and which does not devote at least 75% of its activities to other purposes set forth in this chapter. No political party shall be deemed an "authorized organization."
Include specific games of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of a designated winning number or numbers, color or colors, symbol or symbols determined by chance, but not including games commonly known as "bingo" or "lotto," which are controlled under Article 14-H of the General Municipal Law, and also not including slot machines, bookmaking and policy or numbers games, as defined in § 225.00 of the Penal Law. No "game of chance" shall involve wagering of money by one player against another player.
Those which shall benefit needy or deserving persons indefinite in number by enhancing their opportunity for religious or educational advancement, by relieving them from disease, suffering or distress or by contributing to their physical well-being, by assisting them in establishing themselves in life as worthy and useful citizens, or by increasing their comprehension of a devotion to the principles upon which this nation was founded and enhancing their loyalty to their governments.
A written agreement between a lessor and lessee under the terms of which the lessee is entitled to the possession, use or occupancy of the whole or part of any premises from any noncommercial or nonprofit organization for which the lessee pays rent to the lessor and likewise undertakes to pay substantially all of the regularly recurring expenses to the operation and maintenance of such leased premises.
In relation to the gross receipts from one or more occasions of games of chance, the amount that shall remain after deducting the reasonable sums necessarily and actually expended for supplies and equipment, prizes, stated rental, if any, bookkeeping or accounting services according to a schedule of compensation prescribed by the Board, janitorial services and utility supplies, if any, license fees and the cost of bus transportation, if authorized by the Board.
In relation to the gross rent received by an organization licensed to conduct such games for the use of its premises by another licensee, the amount that shall remain after deducting the reasonable sums necessarily and actually expended for janitorial services and utility supplies directly attributable thereto, if any.
The conducting of any one type of game of chance during any one license period. No series of prizes on any one occasion shall aggregate more than $1,000.
A sum of money or item or merchandise awarded by the authorized organization to a participant in any one operation or conducting of a game of chance in which participants utilize currency for participation and in which those who are not winners surrender their participating currency at the conclusion of the single operation of such game of chance. No prize for any one participant in any one operation or conducting of such single game of chance shall exceed the sum of $100. If a prize is awarded based on odds, only that portion in excess of the winning participant's bet shall be considered as a "prize." For the purposes of this definition, the value of a "prize" which consists of merchandise shall be the actual cost of the item of such merchandise.
No person, firm, association, corporation or organization, other than a licensee under the provisions of this chapter, shall conduct such game or shall lease or otherwise make available for conducting games of chance a hall or other premises for any consideration whatsoever, direct or indirect, except as provided in § 157-5.
No prize shall exceed the sum or value of $100 in any operation or conducting of a single game of chance as defined in § 157-2. No single wager shall exceed $10.
No series of prizes on any one occasion of games of chance shall aggregate more than $1,000 as defined in § 157-2.
No person except a bona fide member of any such organization, its auxiliary or affiliated organization shall participate in the management or operation of such game as set forth in § 157-15.
The name and address of the applicant, together with sufficient facts relating to its incorporation and organization to enable such department to determine whether or not it is a bona fide authorized organization.
The amount of rent to be paid or other consideration to be given, directly or indirectly, for each occasion for use of the premises of another authorized organization licensed under this chapter to conduct such games or for the use of the premises of an authorized games of chance lessor.
All other items of expense intended to be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating and conducting 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.
The purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such games are to be devoted and in what manner; that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense will be paid to any person for conducting such game or games or for assisting therein except as in this chapter otherwise provided; and such other information as shall be prescribed by such rules and regulations of the Board.
In each application there shall be designated not less than four active members of the applicant organization under whom the game or games of chance will be conducted, and to the application shall be appended a statement executed by the members so designated that they will be responsible for the conduct of such games in accordance with the terms of the license and the rules and regulations of the Board and of this chapter.
Authorized games of chance lessor. Each applicant for a license to lease premises to a licensed organization for the purpose of conducting games of chance therein shall file with the City Clerk a written application therefor in a form to be prescribed by the Board duly executed and verified, which shall set forth the name and address of the applicant; designation and address of the premises intended to be covered by the license sought; a statement that the applicant in all respects conforms to the specifications contained in the definition of "authorized organization" set forth in § 157-2 and such other information as shall be prescribed by the Board.
The City Clerk shall make an investigation of the qualifications of each applicant and the merits of each application, with due expedition after the filing of the application.
Issuance of licenses to conduct games of chance. If the City Clerk shall determine that the applicant is duly qualified to be licensed to conduct games of chance under this chapter; that the members of the applicant designated in the application to conduct games of chance are bona fide active members of the applicant and are persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of a crime, or, if convicted, have received a pardon or a certificate of good conduct; that such games are to be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board and that the proceeds thereof are to be disposed of as provided by this chapter, and if the City Clerk is satisfied that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense whatever will be paid or given to any person holding, operating or conducting or assisting in the holding, operation and conduct of any such games except as in this chapter otherwise provided; and that no prize will be given in excess of the sum or value of $100 in any single game and that the aggregate of all prizes given on one occasion under said license shall not exceed the sum or value of $1,000, he shall issue a license to the applicant for the conduct of games of chance upon payment of a license fee as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees, for each license period.
Editor's Note: Amended during codification (see Ch. 1, General Provisions).
Issuance of licenses to authorized games of chance lessors. If the City Clerk shall determine that the applicant seeking to lease a hall or premises for the conduct of games of chance to an authorized organization is duly qualified to be licensed under this chapter; that the applicant satisfies the requirements for an authorized game of chance lessor as defined in § 157-2; that the City Clerk shall find and determine that there is a public need and that public advantage will be served by the issuance of such license; that the applicant has filed its proposed rent for each game of chance occasion; that there is no diversion of the funds of the proposed lessee from the lawful purposes as defined in this chapter; and that such leasing of a hall or premises for the conduct of such games is to be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board, it shall issue a license permitting the applicant to lease said premises for the conduct of such games to the authorized organization or organizations specified in the application during the period therein specified or such shorter period as the City Clerk shall determine, but not to exceed one year, upon payment of a license fee as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
On or before the 30th day of each month, the Commissioner of Finance shall transmit to the State Comptroller a sum equal to 50% of all authorized games of chance lessor license fees and the sum of $15 per license period for the conduct of games of chance collected by such Department pursuant to this section during the preceding calendar month.
No application for the issuance of a license to an authorized organization shall be denied by the City Clerk until after a hearing, held on due notice to the applicant, at which the applicant shall be entitled to be heard upon the qualifications of the applicant and the merits of the application.
Any license issued under this chapter may be amended upon application made to the City Clerk if the subject matter of the proposed amendment could lawfully and properly have been included in the original license and upon payment of such additional license fee, if any, as would have been payable if it had been so included.
Each license to conduct games of chance shall be in such form as shall be prescribed in the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board and shall contain a statement of the name and address of the licensee, the names and addresses of the member or members of the licensee under whom the games will be conducted, the place or places where and the date or dates and time or times when such games are to be conducted and the purposes to which the entire net proceeds of such games are to be devoted; if any prize or prizes are to be given in cash, a statement of the amounts of the prizes authorized so to be given; and any other information which may be required by said rules and regulations to be contained therein, and each license issued for the conduct of any games shall be conspicuously displayed at the place where same is to be conducted at all times during the conduct thereof.
Each license to lease premises for conducting games of chance will be in such form as shall be prescribed in the rules and regulations of the Board and shall contain a statement of the name and address of the licensee and the address of the leased premises, the amount of permissible rent and any information which may be required by said rules and regulations to be contained therein, and each such license shall be conspicuously displayed upon such premises at all times during the conduct of games of chance.
The City Clerk shall have and exercise rigid control and close supervision over all games of chance conducted under such license, to the end that the same are fairly conducted in accordance with the provisions of such license, the provisions of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board and the provisions of this chapter, and the City Clerk and the Board shall have the power and authority to temporarily suspend any license issued by the City Clerk pending a hearing and after notice and hearing, the City Clerk and the Board may suspend or revoke same, and additionally, impose a fine not exceeding $1,000 for violation of any such provisions, and shall have the right of entry, by their respective officers and agents, at all times into any premises where any game of chance is being conducted or where it is intended that any such game shall be conducted, or where any equipment being used or intended to be used in the conduct thereof is found, for the purpose of inspecting the same. An agent of the City Clerk shall make an on-site inspection during the conduct of all games of chance licenses pursuant to this chapter.
Subject to the applicable provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, beer may be offered for sale during the conduct of games of chance but the offering of all other alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
The City Clerk may promulgate such rules and regulations as deemed necessary for the proper implementation and enforcement of this chapter and which are not inconsistent with those rules and regulations promulgated by the Board.
No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play any game or games of chance conducted pursuant to any license issued under this chapter.
No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to conduct or assist in the conduct of any game of chance conducted pursuant to any license issued under this chapter.
No game or games of chance shall be conducted under any license issued under this chapter more often than 12 times in any calendar year.
Games shall be conducted only between the hours of 12:00 noon and 12:00 midnight on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; and between the hours of 12:00 noon on Friday and 2:00 a.m. Saturday; and between the hours of 12:00 noon on Saturday and 2:00 a.m. Sunday. The 2:00 a.m. closing period shall also apply to a legal holiday.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, no games of chance shall be conducted on Easter Sunday, Christmas Day or New Year's Eve, and the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
No person shall hold, operate or conduct any games of chance under any license issued under this chapter except an active member of the authorized organization to which the license is issued, and no person shall assist in the holding, operating or conducting of any game of chance under such license except such an active member or a member of an organization or association which is an auxiliary to the licensee or a member of an organization or association of which such licensee is an auxiliary or member of an organization or association which is affiliated with the licensee by being, with it, auxiliary to another organization or association.
At least two officers. directors, trustees or clergy of the authorized organization shall, upon request, certify under oath that the persons assisting in holding, operating or conducting any game of chance are bona fide members of such authorized organization, auxiliary or affiliated organization.
Upon request by the City Clerk, any such person involved in such games of chance shall certify that he or she has no criminal record.
No items of expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the conducting of any game of chance pursuant to any license issued under this chapter except those that are reasonable and are necessarily expended for games of chance supplies and equipment, prizes, stated rental, if any, bookkeeping or accounting services according to a schedule of compensation prescribed by the Board, janitorial services and utility supplies, if any, and license fees, and the cost of bus transportation, if authorized by the City Clerk.
Not more than $2 shall be charged by any licensee for admission to any room or place in which any game or games of chance are to be conducted under any license issued under this chapter. The City Clerk may in his discretion fix a minimum fee.
Every winner shall be determined and every prize shall be awarded and delivered within the same calendar day as that upon which the game was played.
No alcoholic beverage shall be offered or given as a prize in any game of chance.
No game of chance conducted or to be conducted in this City shall be advertised as to its location, the time when it is to be or has been played, or the prizes awarded or to be awarded, or transportation facilities to be provided to such game, by means of newspapers, radio, television or sound trucks or by means of billboards, posters or handbills or any other means addressed to the general public, except that one sign not exceeding 60 square feet in area may be displayed on or adjacent to the premises or occupied by a licensed authorized organization, and when an organization is licensed to conduct games of chance on premises of an authorized games of chance lessor, one additional sign may be displayed on or adjacent to the premises in which the games are to be conducted. Additional signs may be displayed upon any fire-fighting equipment belonging to any licensee, which is a volunteer fire company, or upon any first-aid or rescue squad, in and throughout the community or communities served by such volunteer fire company or such first-aid or rescue squad, as the case may be.
Within seven days after the conclusion of any license period, the authorized organization which conducted the same and its members who were in charge thereof and, when applicable, the authorized organization which rented its premises therefor shall each furnish to the City Clerk a statement subscribed by the member in charge and affirmed by him as true, under the penalties of perjury, showing the amount of the gross receipts derived therefrom and each item of expense incurred, or paid, and each item of expenditure made or to be made other than prizes, the name and address of each person to whom each such item of expense has been paid, or is to be paid, with a detailed description of the merchandise purchased or the services rendered therefor, the net proceeds derived from the conduct of the games of chance during such license period, and the use to which such proceeds have been or are to be applied and a list of prizes offered and given, with the respective values thereof, and it shall be the duty of each licensee to maintain and keep such books and records as may be necessary to substantiate the particulars of each such statement.
Upon the filing of such statement of receipts, the authorized organization furnishing the same shall pay to the City Clerk as and for an additional license fee a sum based upon the reported net proceeds, if any, for the license period covered by such statement and determined in accordance with such schedule as shall be established from time to time by the Board to defray the actual cost to the City of administering the provisions of this chapter, but such additional license fee shall not exceed 5% of the net proceeds for such occasion.
Any authorized organization which is or has been licensed to conduct games of chance, so far as they may relate to games of chance, including the maintenance, control and disposition of net proceeds derived from games of chance or from the use of its premises for games of chance, and to examine any manager, officer, director, agent, member or employee thereof under oath in relation to the conduct of any such game under any such license, the use of its premises for games of chance, or the disposition of net proceeds derived from games of chance, as the case may be.
Any authorized games of chance lessor, so far as they may relate to leasing premises for games of chance and to examine said lessor or any manager, officer, director, agent or employee thereof under oath in relation to such leasing.
Any applicant for or holder of any license issued or to be issued under this chapter aggrieved by any action of the City Clerk may appeal to the Board from the determination of said City Clerk by filing with the City Clerk a written notice of appeal within 30 days after the determination or action appealed from, and upon the hearing of such appeal, the evidence, if any, taken before the City Clerk and any additional evidence may be produced and shall be considered in arriving at a determination of the matters in issue, and the action of the Board upon said appeal shall be binding upon such department and all parties to said appeal.
Any person, association, corporation or organization who or which shall make any material false statement in any application for any license authorized to be issued under this chapter; pay or receive, for the use of any premises for conducting games of chance, a rental in excess of the amount specified as the permissible rent in the license provided for in § 157-9B; fail to keep such books and records as shall fully and truly record all transactions connected with the conducting of games of chance or the leasing of premises to be used for the conduct of games of chance; falsify or make any false entry in any books or records so far as they relate in any manner to the conduct of games of chance, to the disposition of the proceeds thereof and to the application of the rents received by any authorized organization; or divert or pay any portion of the net proceeds of any game of chance to any person, association or corporation, except in furtherance of one or more of the lawful purposes defined in this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall forfeit any license issued under this chapter and be ineligible to apply for a license under this chapter for at least a year thereafter.

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