§ 10-131. Members of organization to hold games; equipment and supplies; expenses and compensation of members.

(a)

No person shall hold, operate or conduct or assist in holding, operating or conducting any game of chance under any license issued pursuant hereto except an active member of the organization or association to which the license is issued. However, only an active bona fide member of an organization or association can act in a managerial capacity in accordance with the state charitable gaming laws, rules, and regulations. Bingo callers need not be managerial positions.

(b)

No commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense, including, but not limited to, granting or use of bingo cards without charge or at a reduced charge, shall be paid or given directly or indirectly to any person holding, operating or conducting or assisting in holding, operating or conducting any licensed game of chance.

(c)

Any person, association or corporation licensed to hold, operate or conduct any games of chance under any license issued pursuant to this article may compensate, for services rendered, any 15 employees, including a bingo caller, who assist in the holding, operating or conducting of such games. The rate of compensation shall be no more than $10.00 per hour and in any event shall not exceed $50.00 per session for any employee. Each employee or volunteer worker may also be provided meals and beverages to be eaten on the premises not to exceed a total value of 15 dollars per person. Expenditures made under the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the reporting provisions of R.S. 4:716. Compensation provided for in this subsection shall not constitute a violation of the prohibition against the payment or giving of a commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense to any person holding, operating or conducting any such game.

(d)

No manufacturer, distributor, commercial lessor or his agents or employees, who directly or indirectly leases premises or sells, leases or otherwise distributes gaming supplies or equipment, or furnishes any commodities or service in relation to the conduct of any charitable game of chance shall take part in the holding, operation or conduct of a game of chance. However, nothing herein shall prohibit the owner of a premises from having a representative present to protect his interest in the premises.

(e)

Any distributor or noncommercial lessor who owns electronic bingo machines as provided for in R.S. 4:724, or electronic pull-tab devices as provided for in R.S. 4:733 shall assign an employee or agent to be present at all times that the machines owned by that distributor or noncommercial lessor are in use. No person other than the distributor, noncommercial lessor, or his employee or agent shall pay the winnings to each person who wins cash prizes from the machines owned by a distributor or noncommercial lessor.

(f)

No such game of chance shall be conducted with any supplies or equipment except such as shall be owned absolutely, provided without payment of any compensation by the licensee, or purchased from a licensed manufacturer or distributor of such supplies or equipment.

(g)

No item or expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating or conducting or any game of chance held, operated or conducted pursuant to any license issued hereunder, except such as are bona fide items of reasonable amount of goods, wares and merchandise furnished or services rendered, which are reasonably necessary to be purchased or furnished for the holding, operating or conducting thereof, under any circumstances whatever.

(h)

No licensee shall pay any consulting fee to any person for any service performed in relation to the conduct of any charitable game of chance or concession fees to any person who provides refreshments to the participants in any such games.

(i)

No lease providing for a rental arrangement for premises or equipment shall provide for payment in excess of the reasonable market rental rate for such premises or equipment and in no case shall any payment be based on a percentage of gross receipts or profits derived from a game of chance.

(Code 1968, § 12-98; Ord. No. 476, § 8, 10-7-1986)