Summary.
The bill establishes that operating National Bingo, as defined by Decree Law N°2 of February 10, 1998, would be an optional power of the State. The State could exercise that power directly or through third parties, in accordance with the purposes and mechanisms set out in that decree law. The State would have no obligation to operate National Bingo. If it chose to do so, the activity would have to be economically self-sustaining so that public finances do not subsidize its operation.
Article 2 repeals Decree Law N.O 4 of February 25, 1982, Organizing National Bingo (Decreto Ley N.O 4 de 25 de febrero de 1982 Que Organiza los Bingos Nacionales). Through that repeal, the bill removes the rule organizing National Bingo, while retaining Decree Law N°2 of February 10, 1998, as the reference for the activity’s definition, purposes and mechanisms. Article 4 expressly repeats the repeal of Decree Law N.O 4 of February 25, 1982, Organizing National Bingo.
The transitional provision requires the National Bingo Organization (Organización de los Bingos Nacionales) to be dissolved and the government National Bingo program to close within one year from promulgation. Consequently, the National Bingo halls operated by that organization, created through Decree Law N°2 of February 10, 1998, would also close. The provision thus addresses both the body responsible for the government program and the operations of the halls it manages.
The Gaming Control Board (Junta de Control de Juegos) would regulate and supervise the dissolution of the organization and the closure of the program. It could request assistance from other competent government entities for that purpose. In regulating the process, the Board would seek an orderly cessation of operations and the settlement of outstanding legal obligations. It would also seek a proper inventory of property owned by the National Bingo Organization or under its use and administration. The deposit, liquidation, transfer or disposal of that property would be subject to mechanisms established by law. The Board’s regulation would further provide guidance and assistance to the organization’s public employees in applying for employment positions.
Article 5 provides that the proposed law would take effect upon promulgation. The public bodies involved would be the State, the National Bingo Organization and the Gaming Control Board, along with any other competent government entities assisting with the closure. The provisions would concern the government bingo program, the organization’s public employees, operators of its halls and third parties that might participate in the operation of National Bingo.
What it proposes.
- State operation of National Bingo.
- Economic self-sufficiency of that operation.
- Dissolution and closure of the government bingo program.
- Repeal of the decree law organizing National Bingo.
Who it would affect.
- The State and third parties through which it might operate National Bingo.
- The National Bingo Organization and its public employees.
- The Gaming Control Board.
- National Bingo halls operated by the organization.
Key points.
- Operating National Bingo would be an optional power of the State, exercisable directly or through third parties.Art. 1
- Exercise of that power would follow the purposes and mechanisms of Decree Law N°2 of February 10, 1998.Art. 1
- If the State exercised the power, National Bingo would have to be economically self-sustaining, without a subsidy from public finances.Art. 1
- Decree Law N.O 4 of February 25, 1982, Organizing National Bingo, would be repealed.Art. 2
- Article 4 repeats the repeal of Decree Law N.O 4 of February 25, 1982, Organizing National Bingo.Art. 4
- The proposed law would take effect upon promulgation.Art. 5