1. (a) The Chief Financial Officer shall adopt rules governing the conduct of bingo and raffles to ensure the integrity of the conduct of bingo and raffles, and to protect the economic welfare and interests in fair and honest play of bingo and raffles participants. The rules shall include:

   1. (1) Specific application requirements, application fees, and the form thereof;
   2. (2) The specific models, types, and technological configurations of any devices or applications used to assist in the play of bingo or raffles that may be lawfully operated;
   3. (3) The terms, conditions, and rules for bingo and raffles;
   4. (4) Amount of or value of prizes;
   5. (5) The premises that may be used to conduct bingo or raffles and the terms of such use;
   6. (6) The occasions on and frequency with which bingo and raffles may be conducted;
   7. (7) The definition and use of gross receipts from the conduct of bingo and raffles; and

   8. (8) A prohibition on any machine, device, or terminal that:

      1. (A) Enables a person to play a bingo game against a machine or computerized system rather than against other human players collocated onsite at a licensed establishment; or
      2. (B) Allows a person to participate in a commercial bingo game from a location other than the licensed establishment where the numbers are called by a live caller.

2. (b) For any violation of rules adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Office may:

   1. (1) Impose a fine of not more than $50,000; and
   2. (2) Suspend or revoke the license, issued under this subchapter, of any person, firm, partnership, association, organization, or corporation.
3. (c) All fines imposed pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Lottery, Gaming, and Gambling Fund established by § 36-601.12.
4. (d) Any person, firm, partnership, association, organization, or corporation fined or suspended pursuant to this section shall have a right to a hearing before the Chief Financial Officer, or the Chief Financial Officer's designee, and, in the event of the affirmation of such fine or suspension, the right to appeal such fine or suspension to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

History

Mar. 10, 1981, D.C. Law 3-172, § 4, 27 DCR 4736

Oct. 8, 2016, D.C. Law 21-160, § 7072(y)

May 3, 2019, D.C. Law 22-312, § 2(b)

Mar. 22, 2023, D.C. Law 24-332, § 6(a)

Dec. 6, 2025, D.C. Law 26-55, § 2073(e)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 2-2524.

2001 Ed., § 3-1324

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2-2524 of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-146, Sept. 3, 2025, 72 DCR 9623).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2-2524 of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-210, Nov. 24, 2025, 72 DCR 13514).