(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, shall
have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) Bingo card/paper. A hard card, disposable bingo
card/paper, shutter card, or any other bingo card/paper approved by
the Commission.
(2) Bingo hard card. A device made of cardboard, plastic
or other suitable material that is intended for repeated use of the
bingo card at multiple bingo occasions.
(3) Bonus number(s). A number or numbers on any type
of bingo card/paper which when called could result in an additional
prize awarded. Bonus number(s) must be announced prior to the start
of a bingo game.
(4) Braille bingo card. A device that contains raised
symbols that reflect numbers on a reusable card.
(5) Break-open bingo. A type of disposable bingo card/paper
that is sealed, that conceals the bingo card/paper face, that may
be folded, and where the bingo game or a portion of the bingo game
has been pre-called.
(6) Case. A receptacle that contains bingo card/paper
products.
(7) Cut. Indicates the direction in which a sheet of
faces will be cut from the master sheet of disposable bingo card/paper.
A cut can be square, horizontal or vertical. The sheet of disposable
bingo card/paper printed by the manufacturer of a specific group of
disposable bingo card/paper that can be subdivided vertically or horizontally
into sheets.
(8) Defective. Bingo card/paper missing specifications
as originally approved by the Commission.
(9) Disposable bingo card/paper. A sheet or sheets
of paper that is designed or intended for use at a single bingo occasion.
(10) Double numbers. Bingo card/paper with two numbers
in each of the 24 spaces on each face.
(11) Face. A specific configuration of numbers, symbols,
or blank squares imprinted on paper, cardboard, or other materials,
and designed to be used to conduct bingo games. The bingo card/paper
normally consists of five rows of five columns that may bear 24 pre-printed
numbers between 1 and 75, symbols, or blank squares, except for the
center square which is a free space and have the letters B-I-N-G-O
appear in order above the five columns.
(12) Free space. The center square on the face of a
bingo card/paper.
(13) Loteria. A type of bingo that utilizes symbols
or pictures. Normally playing cards are utilized instead of numbered
balls.
(14) Multi-part card/paper. A type of disposable bingo
card/paper where the player selects the numbers. The player retains
one part of the disposable bingo card/paper while the licensee for
the purpose of verification retains the other part of the disposable
bingo card/paper.
(15) On. The number of faces imprinted on a sheet of
disposal bingo card/paper after it is cut. The number of bingo card/paper
faces normally precedes this term.
(16) Pre-marked. A bingo card/paper where one or more
of the numbers are already marked or identified prior to the start
of the game.
(17) Product line. A specific type of bingo card/paper,
identifiable by features or characteristics that are unique when compared
to other bingo card/paper manufactured by the manufacturer.
(18) Serial number. The unique identification number
assigned by the manufacturer to a specific product line of bingo card/paper.
(19) Series number. The specific number assigned by
the manufacturer that identifies the unique configuration of numbers
that appears on an individual bingo card/paper face.
(20) Sheet. A single piece of paper that contains one
or more disposable bingo card/paper faces.
(21) Shutter card. A device made of cardboard or other
suitable material with plastic "shutters" that cover a number to simulate
the number being daubed.
(22) UP. The number of sheets of disposable bingo paper
glued together by the manufacturer. The number of sheets normally
precedes this term.
(23) UPS pads. A bound collection of disposable bingo
card/paper where each sheet in the collection is used to play a separate
bingo game during the occasion.
(b) Approval of bingo card/paper.
(1) Bingo card/paper shall not be sold in the state
of Texas, nor furnished to any person in this state, nor used for
play in this state until the manufacturer of the bingo card/paper
has received written approval for use within the state of Texas by
the Commission. The manufacturer at its own expense must present the
bingo card/paper to the Commission for approval.
(2) A letter of introduction including the style of
play must be presented to Commission headquarters for review. The
manufacturer must submit one complete color positive or sample for
each type of bingo card/paper. The color positive or sample may be
submitted in an electronic format prescribed by the Commission in
lieu of the hardcopy submission. The color positive or sample bingo
card/paper must:
(A) bear on the face of every disposable bingo card/paper
used, sold, or furnished in this state an impression of the State
of Texas and a star of five points encircled by olive and live oak
branches and the words "Texas Lottery Commission," in accordance with
detailed specification, available on request from the Commission.
The face of each disposable bingo card/paper must also have printed
on it in a conspicuous location the name of the manufacturer or trademark,
which has been filed with the Commission; and
(B) contain the serial and series numbers assigned
by the manufacturer on the face of each of the bingo card/paper, except
in the case of Break-open bingo, which may contain the serial number
assigned by the manufacturer on the outside so as not to be concealed.
(3) The bingo card/paper may contain numbers or symbols
so long as the numbers or symbols preserve the integrity of the Commission.
The Commission will not approve any bingo paper that displays images
or text that could be interpreted as depicting violent acts, profane
language, or provocative, explicit, or derogatory images or text,
as determined by the Commission. All images or text are subject to
final approval by the Commission.
(4) If the bingo card/paper is approved the manufacturer
will be notified of the approval. This approval only extends to the
specific bingo card/paper submitted and will be cited in the Commission's
approval letter. If the bingo card/paper is modified in any way, with
the exception of the color, series number, and/or serial number it
must be resubmitted to the Commission for approval.
(5) The Commission may require resubmission of an approved
bingo card/paper at any time.
(6) If an approved bingo card/paper is discontinued
or no longer manufactured for sale in Texas, the manufacturer must
provide the Commission written notification within ten days of discontinuance
or cessation of manufacturing for sale in Texas. The written notification
may be sent to the Commission via facsimile, e-mail, delivery services
or postal delivery.
(c) Disapproval of bingo card/paper.
(1) After inspection of the bingo card/paper by the
Commission, if the bingo card/paper does not comply with the provisions
of this rule and/or the Bingo Enabling Act, the Commission shall disapprove
the bingo card/paper and shall notify the manufacturer of the disapproval.
Any bingo card/paper that is disapproved by the Commission may not
be displayed, purchased or sold in the state of Texas. Disapproval
of and prohibition to use, purchase, sell or otherwise distribute,
is effective immediately upon notice to the manufacturer by the Commission.
(2) A manufacturer shall not sell, or furnish unapproved
bingo card/paper to anyone, including another manufacturer or distributor
for use in this state. A manufacturer shall not sell, or furnish bingo
card/paper not bearing the seal of the Commission on the face of the
bingo card/paper and the manufacturer's name or trademark to distributors
for use in this state. This requirement also applies to any manufacturer
who assembles bingo card/paper for sale in Texas.
(3) A licensed authorized organization shall not purchase,
obtain, or use disapproved bingo card/paper in this state.
(4) If the manufacturer modifies the bingo card/paper
that was previously disapproved, the manufacturer may resubmit the
modified bingo card/paper for Commission approval. At any time the
manufacturer may withdraw any disapproved bingo card/paper from further
consideration.
(5) The Commission may disapprove the bingo card/paper
at any stage of review. The disapproval of the bingo card/paper is
administratively final.
(d) Manufacturing requirements.
(1) Bingo card/paper must comply with the following
construction standards.
(A) The disposable paper used shall be of sufficient
weight and quality to allow for clearly readable numbers and to prevent
ink from spreading or bleeding through an UPS pad thereby obscuring
other numbers or bingo card/paper;
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