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TITLE 16ECONOMIC REGULATION
PART 9TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION
CHAPTER 402CHARITABLE BINGO OPERATIONS DIVISION
SUBCHAPTER CBINGO GAMES AND EQUIPMENT
RULE §402.301Bingo Card/Paper

(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;

Cont'd...

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