(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Authorized bingo and raffles organization” means a nonprofit tax-exempt religious, educational, veterans, fraternal, service, civic, medical, volunteer rescue service, volunteer firefighters organization, or volunteer police organization that has been in continuing existence as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization in this state for a period of not less than five (5) years immediately prior to conducting the game of bingo or raffles;
(2)
(A) “Game of bingo” means a single game of the activity commonly known as “bingo” in which the participants pay a sum of money for the use of one (1) or more bingo cards.
(B) “Game of bingo” shall include only games in which the winner receives a preannounced, fixed-dollar prize and in which the winner is determined by the matching of letters and numbers on a bingo card imprinted with at least twenty-four (24) numbers, with letters and numbers appearing on objects randomly drawn and announced by a caller, in contemporaneous competition among all players in the game; and
(3) “Raffle” means the selling of tickets or chances to win a prize awarded through a random drawing.
(b)
(1) The game of bingo or raffles conducted by an authorized bingo and raffles organization shall not be a lottery prohibited by Section 14 of Article 19 of the Arkansas Constitution if all net receipts over and above the actual cost of conducting the game or raffle are used only for charitable, religious, or philanthropic purposes.
(2) No receipts shall be used to compensate in any manner any person who works for or is in any way affiliated with the authorized bingo and raffles organization.
(c) The General Assembly shall provide by law for the licensure and regulation of authorized bingo and raffles organizations to conduct the game or bingo or raffles and may levy taxes on the activities.
Congratulations! You're now booked up on Amendment 84 of the Arkansas Constitution!
