Charitable Organization Licensed to Conduct Bingo

Charitable Organization Licensed to Conduct Bingo. (a) A bingo game may be conducted in this state only for the benefit of a charitable organization that has been licensed pursuant to statutes and rules governing the bingo activity. Any license issued pursuant to these rules will be in effect for a period not to exceed three (3) years. Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-33-57(3), 97-33-52(1)(a), and 97-33-69(3). (b) Any charitable organization desiring to conduct bingo games must obtain a license to do so from the Commission. An applicant for a license must file an application on a form prescribed by the Commission for such purpose. The application fee, as prescribed by statute, must accompany the application. The charitable organization shall further provide copies of the previous three (3) years federal and state tax returns with the application. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 97-33-55(4). (c) The fees must be paid by a check drawn on the bingo location’s checking account that is maintained by the charitable organization pursuant to 13 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 10, R. 5.3(a). (d) A religious organization may be refunded the application fee if, after investigation by the Commission, it is determined that such religious organization meets the criteria to be exempt from payment of the application fee. No other application fees shall be refunded for any reason including the refusal of the Commission to issue a license. Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-33-55(4) and 97-33-107(c). (e) In addition, any charitable organization which offers electronic pull-tabs is subject to a license fee equal to 2 ½ % of the net proceeds of electronic pull-tabs. This license fee shall be paid to the Commission monthly on forms prescribed by the Commission. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 97-33-107(b). (f) The bingo location is required to remit fees based on gross proceeds of each bingo session as required by statute and rule unless the charitable organization meets the requirements to be an exempted religious organization. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 97-33-107(c). (g) It is the obligation of both the lessor and the charitable organization to ensure that the facilities satisfy all local, state and federal safety and health standards. Failure to maintain the required standards can result in the suspension and/or revocation of the charitable organization’s license. (h) The bingo location may conduct no more than two (2) five (5) hour bingo sessions within one (1) day or more than eight (8) sessions in one (1) week. A bingo location who holds only one (1) session per week may conduct a six (6) hour session.