§47-20-11. Operator of bingo games and related concessions.

(a) Except as provided in sections thirteen and twenty-two of this article, the only persons, as defined in section two of this article, that may participate in any manner in the conduct of any bingo game or operate any concession in conjunction with a bingo occasion are either:

(1) Residents of this state and who are active members of the licensee organization or its authorized auxiliary organization and who have been active members in good standing of the licensee organization or its authorized auxiliary for at least two years prior to the date of filing of the application for a charitable bingo license or the most recent filing of an application for renewal of the license; or

(2) Employees of the licensee organization or its authorized auxiliary organization who are:

(A) Residents of this state;

(B) Residents of a state bordering this state if the county of his or her residence is contiguous to the county in this state in which the bingo operation is conducted; or

(C) Residents of a bordering state who reside within thirty-five miles of the county in which the bingo operation is conducted.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this article to the contrary, no individual under the age of eighteen years may directly or indirectly participate in the conduct of a bingo game, except for junior firefighters, in accordance with the provisions of this article.