Rules for the conduct of Bingo

Permitted Bingo

1. Children excluded

Children under 12 years of age not permitted to play bingo.

2. Spotters excluded

Where a session has more than 100 participants, a minimum of two (2) “spotters” must be provided who shall not be permitted to play bingo.

3. Checking players

An unsuccessful player may only take part in the call back of a game once in each session.

4. Bingo cards

1. Every bingo card must have 15 numbers printed on it.
   
2. All cards used in any one game must bear the same serial number and that number must be announced to players immediately before the commencement of each game.

6. Playing of split games permitted

1. A split game involving a specified pattern or range of numbers may be played during a game of bingo.
   
2. Where a split game is to be played during a game of bingo the permit holder must cause the type of split game or games that are to be played to be announced before the commencement of the game.
   
3. Where no split game is to be played during a game of bingo the permit holder will cause this to be announced before the commencement of the game.
   
4. Interim prizes will be awarded to players winning split games in accordance with rule 5A(2)(a).

5a. Award of prizes

1. For the purposes of this rule a number is properly called when the person calling the number has announced both the number displayed to him or her and any colloquial expression for that number (for instance for number 22 - "two little ducks, twenty-two").
   
2. A prize for a winning split or a full house will not be awarded to a player unless:
   
   1. in the case of a player calling a winning split, the last number properly called forms part of the winning split; and
      
   2. in the case of a player calling a full house, the last number properly called is on the player’s card.

5b. Conclusion of a game of bingo

1. A game of bingo concludes when a player is awarded a prize for obtaining a full house.
   
2. Where:
   
   1. a split game is being played during a game of bingo; and
      
   2. a player obtains a full house before any player obtains a winning split.
      

The player obtaining the full house will receive any unclaimed prize in respect of the split
game in addition to the prize awarded for the full house.

6. Prohibitions

Except where the gaming permit authorises it:

1. the price of a card:
   
   1. where the card is a separate "flyer" card shall not exceed 50 cents; or
      
   2. shall not exceed 30 cents;
      
2. there shall be no more than 2 games using "flyer" cards per session;
   
3. there may be one game in which both a standard prize and a prize contingent on the number of calls made prior to a winning card being announced ("snowball" prize) may be offered, and the "snowball" prize shall:
   
   1. if not won, be offered in the next session without increasing in value; and
      
   2. be included in the calculation of the value of the total prizes paid for each session at which it is offered.

7. Jackpot prizes

A jackpot prize can be offered from either receipts from that session of bingo, or from other funds. The prize cannot be offered from a combination of other funds and receipts from that session of bingo.

A jackpot prize may be offered up to a maximum value of $3000. If the jackpot is provided from funds other than the receipts from that session of bingo it shall not be included in the total of prizes for that session, or the total value of incentives, or the calculation of expenses. If the funds are provided from the receipts of the session they should be included.

8. Prizes to be announced

The permit holder will cause the value of the prizes for each game to be announced before the commencement of the game.

9. Prize shared if more than one winner

1. Where there is more than one winning card the prize money will be shared equally among all the winners.
   
2. Where:
   1. there is more than one winning card in relation to a prize that consists of, or includes something else having a value other than money (“prize goods”); and
      
   2. it is not possible or practicable to share the prize goods equally among all the winners; money to the value of the prize goods will be shared equally among all the winners in place of the prize goods.

10. Prizes paid as soon as practicable

Prizes awarded for each game of bingo will be paid as soon as practicable after the conclusion of that game.

11. Player who makes incorrect call allowed to continue play

A player who incorrectly calls a winning split or a full house in a game is allowed to continue to play in that game.

Conditions attached to a Senior Citizens Bingo night

Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1981 Section 95(1)(a)

These conditions are an annexure to a Senior Citizens Permit.

1. A session of bingo shall not exceed a period:
   
   1. (a) of three hours; or
      
   2. (b) thirty (32) games whichever is the shorter.
2. No charge shall be made for admission to any bingo session other than for the cost of cards.
3. The price:
   1. of a card shall not be more than 30 cents.
   2. of a flyer sheet shall not exceed $3.
4. The total of all prizes paid for each session of bingo shall be calculated on the bingo gross receipts for the session in accordance with the following table:
   

Prizes

Gross receipts	Total of prizes (gross proceeds)
$5000 and under	Up to 100%
$5001 and over	55% to 65%

5. Goods may be given as prizes subject to:
   
   1. (a) the aggregate value of the prize goods for the game is not to exceed $1000;
      
   2. (b) a player who is awarded prize goods must be offered money to the value of the goods as an alternative prize and may choose to take the money or the prize; and
      
   3. (c) where there is more than one winner in relation to a prize that consists of, or includes goods, and it is not possible to share the goods equally among all winners, then money to the value of the goods must be shared equally among all the winners in that game.
6. Immediately prior to the commencement of each game the caller shall announce the value of the prize to be awarded for that game.
7. No prize may consist of or include cosmetic surgical and medical procedures.
8. No prize shall be awarded to any player, unless all the relevant numbers in respect of the prize to be awarded, on the face of the card held by such player, have been properly called.
9. The prize or prizes for each game shall be paid as soon as is reasonably possible after the conclusion of the game to which the prize or prizes relate. In the event of more than one winner in any one game, the prize money must be shared equally between such winners.
10. A Jackpot prize can be offered from either receipts from that session of bingo or from other funds. The prize cannot be offered from a combination of other funds and receipts from that session of bingo. A jackpot prize may be provided up to a maximum value of $3,000 dollars. If the jackpot is provided from funds other than the receipts from that session of bingo it shall not be included in the total of prizes for that session, or the total value of incentives, or the calculation of expenses. If the funds are provided from the receipts of the session they should be included.
11. No other game of chance shall be conducted or permitted to be conducted on the same premises during the conduct of any session of bingo, other than a continuing lottery, a lottery deemed to be permitted under section 103 of the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987, a standard lottery and a trade promotion lottery.
12. A minimum of two spotters, who shall not be permitted to play, shall be provided where a session has more than 100 players.
13. At the conclusion of each game of bingo, winning card(s) numbers shall be called back and shall be checked with the drawn numbers by two unsuccessful players in such game. The unsuccessful players shall not be the same people for each call back of numbers.
14. No person shall prior to any session of bingo announce, or cause to be announced, advertise, or cause to be advertised the value of any prize, projected value, estimated value or potential value of a prize at that session.
15. The permit holder shall furnish the Gaming and Wagering Commission with all such information (including copies of documents) relating to the subject of the permit including but not limited to information relating to the disbursement of moneys (particularly the purpose or purposes to which they were applied) constituting the gross receipts from the gaming or lottery the subject of the permit as the Gaming and Wagering Commission may from time to time require.