Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 92 - GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION › Chapter 92-2 - NONPROFIT BINGO GAMES › Rule 92-2-.29 - Electronic Bingo Devices

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Operation of Electronic Bingo Devices.
(a) No Electronic Bingo Daubing System or any part thereof may be sold, leased, or otherwise furnished to any person in this state or used in the conduct of bingo for public play unless it has been approved by an independent gaming test lab for use within the state. All cost of evaluation will be borne by the manufacturer/distributor. Electronic dauber systems in use at the time of adoption of electronic dauber regulations, will be allowed to continue in use during the testing and evaluation system. Sufficient reasonable time will be allowed for any modification, which may subsequently be required.
(b) The GBI may examine and inspect any portion of the system or any individual dauber at any time. Such examination and inspection includes immediate access to the daubing device and unlimited inspection of all parts of the daubing device or related systems.
(c) If the GBI detects or discovers any problem with an electronic dauber or its associated system that affects the security and/or integrity of the bingo game or the system, the GBI may direct the manufacturer, distributor, or operator to cease the sale, lease, or use of the device or system, as applicable. The GBI may require the manufacturer to correct the problem or recall the device or system immediately upon notification by the GBI to the manufacturer.
(d) If the manufacturer, distributor, operator, or licensee detects or discovers any defect, malfunction, or problem with any component of the system, the manufacturer, distributor, operator, or licensee as applicable, shall immediately remove the component from use or play and immediately notify the GBI of such action.
(e)
1. Each manufacturer must maintain a log containing the date, model number and serial number, of the equipment that is provided to a distributor for sale to a licensee. Upon request by the GBI, the manufacturer will provide address and phone # of the distributor.
2. Each distributor must maintain a log containing the date, model number, and serial number of the equipment that is sold to a licensee. Upon request by the GBI, the distributor will provide the name, address and phone number of the manufacturer of the equipment.
(f) Each licensee purchasing or otherwise utilizing an electronic daubing system must maintain a record showing the date, model number and serial number of the equipment. Additionally, all records, reports and receipts relating to an electronic dauber or its associated system's sales, maintenance, and repairs must be retained by the licensee on the premises where the licensee is licensed to conduct bingo for a period of three years for examination by the GBI.
(g) No licensee may display, use or otherwise furnish an electronic daubing device having been marked, defaced, tampered with, or altered in any manner which may deceive the public or affect a participant's chances of winning.
(h) The system may NOT utilize automatic marking features. The system must allow for the cancellation or correction of numbers entered in error.
(i) When a winning pattern or "bingo" occurs the participant must notify the licensee by means that do not utilize the dauber unit or the associated system.
(j) The device must recognize and display all bingos achieved. Additionally the participant must present a receipt showing purchase of the card. The licensee must verify, that the numbers called for the present game constitute a win for the particular card, and that the date of the receipt is current.
(k) The participant must be physically present on the premises where the game is actually conducted and when the game is called. The electronic bingo daubing system that records the called numbers must be separate and independent from the individual or system that is selecting and calling the bingo numbers during the game.
(l) Licensees shall not reserve electronic dauber units for any participant.
(m) The system itself shall not be capable of dispensing currency by any means or any other form of automatic payout. Any prize to be awarded a participant will require the same level of documentation as set forth in GBI rules and State law.
(n) Prizes awarded from wins with the electronic representations of the dauber unit are to be included in the prize limitations set forth by GBI rules and State law.
(o) Participant-owned or participant-leased devices are not considered to be "Electronic Bingo Daubers" for the purposes of these regulations and the use of such devices is strictly prohibited.
(p) No electronic dauber unit shall be able to hold more than fifty-four (54) cards per game.
(q) No bingo player shall be able to utilize more than one electronic dauber unit at any time during a bingo session. No cards shall be added after the game begins.
(r) Regardless of the number of electronic dauber units made available for play, at least one (1) device shall be reserved by the licensed organization as a back-up device, in the event a device in play malfunctions.
(s) Card may not be voided once a bingo game begins.
(t) Pre-loading of cards onto electronic daubing units is prohibited.