Ch. 558                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1987 Replacement Volume and 1988 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

[253A.

(a)  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection, nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to make
it unlawful for any bona fide fraternal, religious, patriotic,
educational, or charitable organization or charitable
corporation, or volunteer fire company, or any carnival acting
under the auspices of any such organization, corporation or
company, to conduct or operate a game of bingo or a raffle for
the benefit of charity in Charles County, or in furtherance of
the purposes of such organization, corporation or volunteer fire
company. No such bingo game shall award a cash prize in excess
of $50 to any player of a bingo game, except that the award of a
"jackpot" in an amount not to exceed $1,000 is allowed when
directly connected with the playing of bingo games.

(2)     It is unlawful to operate bingo games under

paragraph (1) of this subsection more than 4 days in a 7-day

period or more than 3 consecutive days at any one facility or
location.

(b)   It is unlawful for any individual, copartnership,
corporation or any group or organization, whether or not legal
residents of Charles County, to operate any game of bingo or
raffle in Charles County, for personal gain.]

253A.

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)   "BOARD" MEANS THE CHARLES COUNTY GAMING PERMIT
REVIEW BOARD.

(3)   "COUNTY" MEANS CHARLES COUNTY.

(4)   "FUND-RAISING ORGANIZATION" MEANS A BONA FIDE
FRATERNAL, CIVIC, WAR VETERANS', RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATION, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, RESCUE SQUAD, OR AMBULANCE
COMPANY. A FUND-RAISING ORGANIZATION NEED NOT BE INCORPORATED.

(5)  (I) "GAMING DEVICE" INCLUDES PADDLE WHEELS,
WHEELS OF FORTUNE, CHANCE BOOKS, AND ANY MECHANISM FOR PLAYING A
GAME OF CHANCE.

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