Updating of Bingo-Raffle Rules

On January 17, 2023, the Secretary of State conducted a hearing for proposed Bingo and Raffle rule changes.

These rule changes were drafted in response to the recently passed HB22-1093 (passed in June, 2022 and effective April 1, 2023): Concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activity, and, in connection therewith, modernizing the "Bingo and Raffles Law" to accommodate the use of improved electronic aids and devices in the conduct of games of chance and making an appropriation.

• The act defines a "bingo strip card game" as a type of bingo that is played with a strip of up to 5 connected paper bingo cards, with each card containing a concealed grid of preprinted numbers ranging from one to 75. 
• The act establishes that the maximum prize for any single game of bingo strip card may not exceed $1,000.
• The act also updates certain language concerning bingo and pull tab games and prohibits a licensee from possessing, using, selling, offering for sale, or putting into play any equipment unless it conforms to law and was purchased or leased by the licensee from a licensed bingo-raffle manufacturer or supplier or from a licensed agent of a bingo-raffle manufacturer or supplier.
• The act changes the maximum number of faces that can be programmed for an electronic aid bingo device, per bingo game, from 54 to 100.

The intent of these changes are to ensure uniform and proper administration, implementation, and enforcement of Colorado bingo and raffles laws, answer questions arising under these laws, and improve the administration of bingo and raffles games in Colorado.

Final permanent rules will be published on March 10, 2023 and can be found on the Secretary of State’s website here.

Quarterly Reports Need Correct Game Type

Ever wonder how to submit a “No Activity” report and still be able to report expenses and disbursements? Your Game Type is the Key!

Game Types – If you don’t have a “raffle” or “bingo” during the quarter, you can change the type as indicated in the visual below. You will select/deselect as necessary for the quarter. You need to choose the type of activities you conducted during the reporting period, not on the type of games you are planning to conduct.

No Activity Reports – Remember: "No activity" means you didn't have any income or host games for that quarter. Our system won’t allow you to input “0” for the number of occasions/games if you choose one of the other game types.

When resubmitting your report, make sure to:

1. Fill out the sign tab then click CONTINUE
2. Next review your report and at the bottom left it will say CONFIRM AND FILE or Pay Now. Chose the action necessary to file your report.
3. The next screen will ask you for an email address and at the top it will say THE REPORT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.

Once you get to that point the report has been submitted. If you have any further questions or need further assistance, please contact our office.

Renewing a Bingo Manufacturer, Supplier, Agent License

Please remember, the Manufacturer, Supplier and Agent licenses expire on March 31, 2023. Applications/renewals must be submitted online. There are training guides available on our website as follows:

• here for Manufacturers,
• here for Suppliers,
• here for Manufacturer Agent, and
• here for Supplier Agent

These licenses can be renewed any time after February 1 for the 2023 license year (Manufacturer and Supplier licensee filings must also have submitted their 1st quarter reports before renewals will become available). If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessing the system, please contact Shannon Bee at 303-894-2200 x 6406. New Manufacturer, Supplier and Agent applicants can also access the system for the initial submission of the application and creation of your online account here.

Games Manager Training

Your organization must have at least one certified Games Manager in order to run charitable games. We recommend licensees maintain more than one Games Manager. To support this, we offer in-person and online Games Manager training courses.

Sign up for the online eLearning course on our website.

For in-person classes, visit our Games Manager Training page and follow the instructions to sign up for a scheduled class.

We are committed to providing Games Manager Classes and licensee outreach and want to ensure anyone who attend the classes be safe.

• During the Games Manager class masks will be encouraged if you have all required vaccines. If you have not been vaccinated please wear a mask while in the building.
• If CDC guidance recommends your county wear masks indoors, we will be wearing masks indoors.
• If a COVID variant is increasing in your area, the Games Manager Class may be postponed.
• If you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID please do not attend the class. If you are having allergy symptoms it is recommended that a rapid, at home test be taken same day prior to attending class. If the result is positive please stay home and follow CDC guidance regarding quarantine.
• If you are exhibiting COVID symptoms, the instructor may ask you to take the test online or schedule yourself for another class.

Refunding of Payment Policy

Our office has instituted timeline limits for refunding monies for services provided by our office for Bingo-Raffle submissions. To see this new policy, please go to our Fees schedule page to review. Going forward, this same policy will be on any payment page prior to your submitting a filing online which includes a payment requirement. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Investigator Tips

Each quarter, we include a few tips from our Bingo/Raffle Investigators. They gather a lot of information in the field with areas where licensees have compliance challenges. By sharing this information, we hope that licensees can better serve their customers.

A MESSAGE FROM THE INVESTIGATORS

LE34a PROGRESSIVE BINGO JACKPOT

Have you noticed a blackout box on the first occasion of a the LE34a Progressive Jackpot Bingo form? Well it is there for a reason. Rule 3.2.3 (c) states:

"On the second and subsequent occasions, the jackpot amount increases by a percentage of the gross proceeds, not greater than 70%, collected from the sale of progressive bingo cards or sheets during that occasion or on the prior occasion. If a licensee is conducting a progressive jackpot bingo game with a secondary jackpot, 10% of the gross proceeds collected from the sale of progressive bingo cards or sheets at that occasion or the prior occasion must be set aside and segregated from the jackpot amount in the bingo-raffle account."

DO NOT IGNORE THE BLACK BOX. You will not contribute to the jackpot for the first occasion. The first contribution to the jackpot must be made starting on the second occasion. The amount of the contribution will be based on your answer to the question on the LE-34a for, Line 7. Are you contributing to the same occasion or next occasion? Your second occasion will start with your first occasion’s jackpot amount, and then you will contribute according to the answer to question 7. If you use the excel form on our website the formulas will calculate your numbers per our rules.

Please feel free to contact our office at 303-894-2200 if you have questions.

You can access all bingo/raffle laws using our Bingo-Raffles Law Handbook. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions.