Annandale Lions

Site owner and employee information

Charitable gambling has become a complex and highly regulated business. We suggest you print this and share this information with all your employees. Basic subjects below:

Universal rules:

All players must be at least 18 years of age.
If there is any question at all of a player’s age, check ID!
Children are not allowed to play. Parents may think it’s cute to have children pick raffle tickets, open tabs, get prizes and push buttons. The State does not!
Cash up front. You cannot hand out tabs with the assumption a winner will be drawn (see buying out a game, last page).
- No checks, debit cards, credit cards or house credits allowed.
Lessors, lessor family members, volunteers and employees are prohibited from participating in almost all charitable gambling at that site.
- See Who can/cannot play for more information and oth

Cash handling

The bar is responsible for all cash and shortages are deducted from rent.

See securing cash for information about the Gambling Control Board (GCB) actions when cash theft occurs. Serious and/or consistent cash shortages can lead to citations and even a loss of your permit. (See game auditing)

Count cash and tabs carefully.
At the beginning of the day, count cash for each game and record on the proper log.
- If the opening amount does not match the previous day’s closing amount, you may have a theft issue.
Use care not to mix up banks, e.g., bank "A" getting placed in game "B's" cash drawer.
At the end of the day, count cash and record on the log.
- It is good practice, and recommend by the State that prizes are bundled by date showing the total prizes in that bundle.
Logs must be completed each day you are open.
- Logs ending amount must be complete even if the game is closed during the day.

Insider information

A paper pull-tab seller may not provide any “insider” information to players that provides an unfair advantage related to the potential winnings from paper pull-tabs.

If there is reason to believe that an organization or paper pull-tab seller has been or is providing insider information to players, the GCB may require the organization to post major prizes and the names of major winners, and an organization may lose their gambling license or premises permit.

Illegal gambling

Basically any game of chance and/or where the participants pay to play, would constitute a "bet" and, therefore, be illegal gambling. This even includes gambling like a game of cards between friends.

More details plus information on Texas Hold’em and other tournaments can be found here: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/age/gambling/Pages/faq.aspx

From the GCB:

“Premises permit - If illegal gambling occurs at a premises, the GCB shall suspend the premises permit up to 90 days for a first occurrence.” (Rent cannot be paid.)

Selling and redeeming paper tabs

Games can never be held for a player. If the game is open, anyone can play it, even if someone indicates "they will be back" to play! First come, first serve.

Selling

Count tabs carefully.
- Remember, every lost/missing tab is a loss of that face value.
  Lost prizes add up even quicker. See auditing games.
Be careful not to mix up games, e.g., selling a $2 tab for $1.
Be sure to return unsold tabs to the correct box.

Be on the alert for counterfeit bills. If suspicious bill(s) are presented, the sellers have the right to reject suspect bills. The bar is responsible for counterfeit bills.

Redeeming winning tabs

Always be courteous and respectful to customers. Some players may not tip as much as you would hope, some nothing at all. Don’t forget, they may be hundreds of dollars into a game before they win anything.

Confirm game and serial. If it does not match the open game, do not accept it!
Immediately deface the tab(s) with a dauber, pen, marker, etc.
- Please avoid marking over the prize amount. We suggest (and will supply) daubers.
Prizes $50 on up must be stapled individually to a prize receipt with the prize amount, date, time and signed by payor/employee.
- $50 on up must be marked off the flare (excluding non-posted games of course).
Prizes $100 and up:
- Be sure all information is complete on the prize receipt:
  - Winner information including ID number and signature.
  - Payor/employee signature (not just initials).
  - Date, game name, serial number and prize amount.
  - If using an ID printer, the printout must be fully adhered to the prize receipt. You cannot fold part of the sticker over on itself. You cannot staple or tape it.
Please staple winning tab to top left of the correct prize (amount) receipt.
- If a prize receipt is not available for the winning amount use a blank receipt.
  - If you need blank receipts, let us know.

See buyout and "last sale" information below!

Rejecting a winning tab

If you are sure the tab left the premises, it is presented a day later, the game is closed or the tab is already defaced it cannot be redeemed.
A game may be “closed” at any time. If closing one midday, be sure to notify any active players. Once a game is closed, prizes cannot be redeemed.
Sellers have a duty to confirm the serial number of a tab being redeemed with the game in play. If the serials do not match, the tab must be rejected.
- Entire games are on occasion stolen, opened and winning tabs brought to various bars.

Un-defaced tabs may be stolen from you then re-redeem.
If successful, this will of course, cause a cash shortage in that game.

ALWAYS DEFACE TABS IMMEDIATELY.

E-Tabs

As with any gambling funds, the bar is responsible for cash and cash shortages. Regardless if you or we supplied the start bank, there is a log sheet that must be completed each day you are open. If we supply the start bank, the log is a bit more complex involving calculations at day end. See Hints/Ideas below.

When adding cash to a device check the device # before applying the new money!
Failure to do so will result in cash losses.

When paying winners, be sure to cash out! Failure to do so will result in cash losses.

If you see this message click to clear before handing the device out.
You will probably have to clear multiple messages.

Read your house rules as they may vary, but the basics:

Players must have a driver’s license or picture ID to check out and play an electronic pull-tab device and to redeem credits over $599.
- Depending on the available cash bank, large (e-tab) cash out amounts will be paid via check within a few business days.
- Bingo game winnings over $599 are paid by check from game supplier. If a bingo win over $599 occurs, the supplier will call the bar within minutes and walk the bartender through the necessary processes.
Each player is limited to one device at a time.
Devices cannot be taken outside the bar.
The organization cannot guarantee the prizes remaining in the pull-tab deal.
Devices that are inactive/idle for more than 15 minutes may be removed from player.

Large Etab winnings: As stated in the house rules, bingo winning over $599 is handled and paid by the supplier. If a large winning occurs, the supplier will call within minutes and walk you through the process.

It is extremely important to "cash out" on the device before handing over money! There have been occurrences where the player was paid cash but the device was not cashed out and the player continued to play the device. That of course, creates a cash missing situation. You are responsible for all cash losses.

Closing a game

When to close a game is up to the bar. We simply cannot monitor all games in play. If you're unsure about closing a game (or not), call us, we'll be happy to offer our opinion.

If you close a game before we can get there to change it:

Place the flare up side down over the unsold tabs. Bundle all prizes. Count cash.
Complete the log; deposit information (lower left), date and sign (lower center).
- (See also Hints/Ideas below).
- Log day ending amount must be complete even if the game is closed midday.
Lock up the box and the cash, then call us!

Call us immediately upon closing any game as deposits must be made within 4 days.

State penalties

Citation and loss of premise permits occur constantly. You can review the GCB quarterly Gaming Newsletter here which offers gaming news, trends and also previous citations and actions taken.

A couple very common problems the GCB finds are employee play (see who can/cannot play) and prize receipts not properly completed.

Inspectors

The GCB sends out inspectors randomly, when complaints occur and/or when site problems are suspected. If someone presents themselves as an inspector, ask for identification! There have been many attempts by thieves to steal money by pretending to be an inspector.

ID is more then a business card, they will have an actual ID card. If there is any question, don't hesitate to call the local law enforcement. Legitimate inspectors will not mind.

Also know that legitimate inspectors from the Control Board cannot count your cash! They can make you count as they watch but they are not allowed to touch your cash.

However, if they are accompanied by a Revenue officer, that person (apparently) can physically count your money, again, ask for ID!

Hints/Ideas

Flares: Be sure $50 and up get marked off. We suggest a black marker just "X" out the prize and start at the last (bottom) one, not the first. Some players seeing the the first (top) prize marked out feel the game is not worth playing.

Low cash game: If borrowing money from one game to cover a cash short game, be sure to log the transactions on both game logs. As soon as the short game can pay it back, do so and again, note on both logs. A game closed that has money not yet repaid will audit as cash short.

Prize receipts: Must be filled out completely. If using an ID scanner, the sticker must be completely adhered to the receipt. It cannot be folded over on itself, taped or stapled to the receipt.

Game buy out

Game buy out is not the same as Last Sale games that pay extra for buying out a box. Annandale Lions Club does not offer Last Sale games at any of our sites.

There is no guarantee a prize shown on the flare remains in the game.

Prizes have been accidentally thrown away!
A bit unethical but some players wait to redeem winning tab(s). Prizes that appear on the flare may have been pulled but not yet redeemed by other player(s).

If allowed by your house rules, any customer can buy out a game at any time.

Some sites have opted to have a maximum purchase at one time to avoid buyout issues.

It is up to the bar how to handle other players that have winning tabs, i.e., allowing them to roll those back into the game or only allow them to redeem for cash. We prefer to see the later since by asking to buy out the box, they effectively claimed all remaining tickets. Whichever - you must be consistent!

If a player requests to buy out the box, any player holding winning tab(s) may cash out but may not roll it/them for more tickets as the other player has laid claim to all remaining tabs.

Sellers may estimate the number of tabs remaining but the customer must pay in cash, up front for the actual count. Customers cannot purchase remaining pull-tabs with apparent winners left in the game. Cash up-front.

Buyout counting takes second seat to your regular business, so let the customer know you will count them as you have time.