99B.2  Licensing--records required--bingo accounts--inspections--penalties.

1.  The department of inspections and appeals shall issue the licenses required by this chapter. A license shall not be issued, except upon submission to the department of an application on forms furnished by the department, and the required license fee. A license may be issued to an eligible applicant. An authorization number to operate may be issued to an applicant until a license is issued. However, a license or authorization number shall not be issued to an applicant who has been convicted of or pled guilty to a violation of this chapter, or who has been convicted of or pled guilty to a violation of chapter 123 that resulted, at any time, in revocation of a license issued to the applicant under chapter 123 or that resulted, within the twelve months preceding the date of application for a license required by this chapter, in suspension of a license issued under chapter 123. To be eligible for a two-year license under section 99B.7, an organization shall have been in existence at least five years prior to the date of issuance of the license. However, an organization which has been in existence for less than five years prior to the date of issuance of the license may obtain a two-year license if either of the following conditions apply:

a.  That prior to July 1, 1984, the organization was licensed under this subsection.

b.  If the organization is a local chapter of a national organization and the national organization is a tax-exempt organization under one of the provisions enumerated in section 99B.7, subsection 1, paragraph "m", then the local organization is eligible for a two-year license if the national organization has been in existence at least five years.

A license shall not be issued to an individual whose previous license issued under this chapter or chapter 123 has been revoked until the period of revocation or revocations has elapsed. This prohibition applies even though the individual has created a different legal entity than the one to which the previous license that had been revoked was issued. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a license is valid for a period of two years from the date of issue. The license fee is not refundable, but shall be returned to the applicant if an application is not approved. If a bingo license is issued by the department of inspections and appeals, the licensee shall be notified by the department of inspections and appeals of the renewal date for the license ten days prior to that date.

2.  A licensee other than one issued a license pursuant to section 99B.3, 99B.6, 99B.7A, or 99B.9 shall maintain proper books of account and records showing in addition to any other information required by the department, gross receipts and the amount of the gross receipts taxes collected or accrued with respect to gambling activities, all expenses, charges, fees and other deductions, and the cash amounts, or the cost to the licensee of goods or other noncash valuables, distributed to participants in the licensed activity. If the licensee is a qualified organization, the amounts dedicated and the date and name and address of each person to whom distributed also shall be kept in the books and records. The books of account and records shall be made available to the department or a law enforcement agency for inspection at reasonable times, with or without notice. A failure to permit inspection is a serious misdemeanor.

3.  A qualified organization conducting bingo occasions under a two-year license and expecting to have annual gross receipts of more than ten thousand dollars shall establish and maintain one regular checking account designated the "bingo account" and may also maintain one or more interest-bearing savings accounts designated as "bingo savings account".

a.  Funds derived from the conduct of bingo, less the amount awarded as cash prizes, shall be deposited in the bingo account. No other funds except limited funds of the organization deposited to pay initial or unexpected emergency expenses shall be deposited in the bingo account. Deposits shall be made no later than the next business day following the day of the bingo occasion on which the receipts were obtained. Accounts shall be maintained in a financial institution in Iowa.

b.  Funds from the bingo account shall be withdrawn by preprinted, consecutively numbered checks or share drafts, signed by a duly authorized representative of the licensee and made payable to a person or organization. Checks shall be imprinted with the words "Bingo Account" and shall contain the organization's gambling license number on the face of the check. There shall also be noted on the face of the check or share draft the nature of the payment made. A check or slip shall not be made payable to "cash", "bearer", or a fictitious payee. Checks, including voided checks and drafts, shall be kept and accounted for.

c.  Checks shall be drawn on the bingo account for only the following purposes:

(1)  The payment of necessary and reasonable bona fide expenses permitted under section 99B.7, subsection 3, paragraph "b", incurred and paid in connection with the conduct of bingo.

(2)  The disbursement of net proceeds derived from the conduct of bingo to charitable purposes as required by section 99B.7, subsection 3, paragraphs "b" and "c".

(3)  The transfer of net proceeds derived from the conduct of bingo to a bingo savings account pending disbursement to a charitable purpose.

(4)  To withdraw initial or emergency funds deposited under subsection 3, paragraph "a".

(5)  To pay prizes if the qualified organization decides to pay prizes by check rather than cash.

d.  The disbursement of net proceeds on deposit in a bingo savings account to a charitable purpose shall be made by transferring the intended disbursement back into the bingo account and then withdrawing the amount by a check drawn on that account as prescribed in this section.

e.  Except as permitted by subsection 3, paragraph "a", gross receipts derived from the conduct of bingo shall not be commingled with other funds of the licensed organization. Except as permitted by paragraph "c", subparagraphs (3) and (4), gross receipts shall not be transferred to another account maintained by the licensed organization.

4.  A licensee required by subsection 2 to maintain records shall submit quarterly reports to the department on forms furnished by the department. These reports shall be due thirty days following the end of each calendar quarter. The reports shall contain a compilation of the information required to be recorded by subsection 2, and shall include all of the transactions occurring during the three- month period for which the report is submitted. Failure to submit the quarterly reports is grounds for revocation of the license. Willful failure to submit quarterly reports is a serious misdemeanor. However, the time for filing of reports may be extended for thirty days if the licensee makes written request to the department for an extension which request shows good cause for granting the extension. A person who intentionally files a false or fraudulent report or application with the department commits a fraudulent practice.

5.  An organization receiving funds reported as being dedicated by a qualified organization shall maintain proper books of account and records showing both the receipt and the use of the funds. These records shall be made available to the department or a law enforcement agency for inspection with or without notice at reasonable times. A failure to permit inspection is a serious misdemeanor.

Section History: Early form

  [C75, 77, 79, 81, § 99B.2; 81 Acts, ch 44, § 4, 5]

Section History: Recent form

  84 Acts, ch 1220, § 4; 86 Acts, ch 1201, § 2; 86 Acts, ch 1245, § 712; 87 Acts, ch 184, § 1; 88 Acts, ch 1274, § 30; 89 Acts, ch 231, §16; 94 Acts, ch 1062, §2

Internal References

  Referred to in § 99B.5, 99B.7, 99B.16


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