Ch. 111 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 260(c)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1987 Replacement Volume and 1989 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

260.

(e) (1) Before the game of bingo may be played in Baltimore City, it shall be
necessary to obtain a permit for same after application shall have been made to the
police commissioner of said city. It shall be the duty of the police commissioner to
ascertain the character of the organization on whose behalf the application is made to
determine if such applicant comes within the provisions of this section. The application
and the action taken thereon by the police commissioner shall be a public record. When
the police commissioner issues said permit, he shall receive a fee of not in excess of ten
dollars ($10.00) per day on which the operation of bingo is authorized, not to exceed a
total of $750 per 3-month period, to cover the costs of administration of this provision;
a permit may authorize the conduct and operation of bingo on one day, or on any
specified number of days in a period not greater than 3 months; provided, however, that
no such permits shall be issued for the playing of the game of bingo in any regular
restaurant or tavern where alcoholic beverages are sold or in any permanent place of
amusement or entertainment. Provided however that in the discretion of the police
commissioner a special annual license may be issued for a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for
the conduct over a period of one year of bingo games in which (i) the value of any
merchandise prize awarded, or any cash prize given is five dollars ($5.00) or less; and
(ii) the number of participants in a game is under one hundred (100); and (iii) the
licensee is a nonprofit organization or a nonprofit corporation. The police
commissioner may for cause revoke any special annual license. The commissioner may
promulgate such regulations as are reasonably necessary for the administration of this
section.

(2) This section may not be construed to permit the playing of said games
on Sunday, except in conjunction with a supper held by a bona fide religious
organization on property owned OR LEASED by the organization. The provisions of
this section shall apply only to Baltimore City.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1990.

Approved April 24, 1990.

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