Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 97 - CRIMES (§§ 97-1-1 — 97-47-9) › Chapter 33 - GAMBLING AND LOTTERIES (§§ 97-33-1 — 97-33-317) › CHARITABLE BINGO LAW (§§ 97-33-50 — 97-33-203) › Section 97-33-57 - Investigation of qualifications of applicants for licenses; criteria; term of license; denial, refusal, suspension or revocation of license

(1)
The commission shall investigate the qualifications of each applicant and the merits of the application, with due expedition after the filing of the application, and shall make the following determinations:
(a)
That the applicant is duly qualified to hold, operate and conduct bingo games under the provisions of Sections
97-33-51
through
97-33-203
and the rules and regulations of the commission governing same.
(b)
That the member or members of the organization designated in the application to hold, operate, conduct, or assist in holding, operating, or conducting, the bingo games are bona fide active members of the organization and of good moral character, who have never been convicted of certain offenses as designated by the commission.
(c)
That bingo games are to be held, operated and conducted in accordance with the provisions of Sections
97-33-51
through
97-33-203
and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the commission governing same, and that the proceeds thereof are to be disposed of as provided by Sections
97-33-51
through
97-33-203
.
(2)
If the commission is satisfied that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense whatever, except as otherwise provided in Section
97-33-69
, will be paid or given to any person holding, operating or conducting any bingo game, it may issue a license to the applicant for the holding, operating and conducting of bingo games.
(3)
No license for holding, operating or conducting bingo games that is issued under Sections
97-33-51
through
97-33-203
shall be effective for more than three (3) calendar years.
(4)
The commission shall not issue a license to:
(a)
Any person who has been convicted of certain related offenses as established by the commission or who presently has such a charge pending in any state or federal court;
(b)
Any person who has ever been convicted of a gambling-related offense in any state or federal court;
(c)
Any person who is or has ever been a professional gambler;
(d)
Any firm, organization or corporation in which any person as described in paragraphs (a) through (c) is an officer or director, whether compensated or not, or in which such person has a direct or indirect financial interest;
(e)
The commission may deny an application for licensure, refuse to renew a license, or suspend or revoke a license for any reason consistent with the purposes of Sections
97-33-51
through
97-33-203
which it deems to be in the interest of the public. However, policies regarding such denial, suspension, revocation or refusal to renew shall be established by rule and regulation. If the commission fails to act upon the license application within sixty (60) days of the date of filing of the application by the charitable organization, such application shall be deemed accepted.
(5)
Any significant change in the information submitted on its application for licensure shall be filed by a licensee with the commission within ten (10) days of the change. A significant change shall include, but not be limited to, any change in the officers, directors, managers, proprietors or persons having a direct or indirect financial interest in any licensed organization or entity.
Laws, 1992, ch. 581, § 6; Laws, 1994, ch. 635, § 4; Laws, 2007, ch. 542, § 1, eff. 7/1/2007.