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Constitution of the State of Delaware, Art. II, § 17A. Bingo games;  organizations authorized to conduct;  submission to referendum;  districts;  regulation;  penalties

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) The game of bingo shall be lawful when sponsored and conducted by volunteer fire companies, veterans organizations, religious or charitable organizations, or by fraternal societies provided the net receipts or profits arising from the conducting or operating of such bingo games by the aforementioned companies, organizations, or societies are used solely for the promotion or achievement of the purposes of such companies, organizations, or societies, and provided further that the aforementioned companies, organizations, or societies are operated in a manner so as to come within the provisions of Section 170 of the U.S. Revenue Code and Regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

(b)(1) The General Assembly shall provide by law for the submission to the vote of the qualified electors of the several districts of this State, or any of the districts, mentioned in paragraph (b)(2) of this Section at the general election held in 1958, the question whether the playing of the game of bingo shall be licensed or prohibited within the limits thereof;  and in every district in which there is a majority against license, no organization, mentioned in this Section, shall thereafter sponsor or permit the playing of bingo within the district, until at a subsequent submission of such question a majority of votes shall be cast in the district for license.  Whenever a majority of all the members elected to each House of the General Assembly by the qualified electors in any district, named in paragraph (b)(2) of this Section, shall request the submission of the question of license or no license to a vote of the qualified electors in the district, the General Assembly shall provide for the submission of such question to the qualified electors in such district at the next general election thereafter.

(2) Under this Article, Sussex County shall comprise 1 district, Kent County shall comprise 1 district, the City of Wilmington, as its corporate limits now are or may hereafter be extended, 1 district, and the remaining part of New Castle County, 1 district.

(c) The General Assembly shall provide necessary laws to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Article, enact laws governing the game of bingo under the limitations of this Article, and may provide such penalties as may be necessary to enforce same.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Constitution of the State of Delaware, Art. II, § 17A. Bingo games;  organizations authorized to conduct;  submission to referendum;  districts;  regulation;  penalties - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/constitution-of-the-state-of-delaware/de-const-art-2-sect-17a/

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