Rock Shadows already holds a Class A bingo license and it has a limit of $15,600 for an annual gross income. They are applying for the second one because usually by the end of the year they exceed that amount.”

City Clerk Jennifer Pena

By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

A recreational vehicle resort that brings in more than $15,600 annually from bingo is required to get a second license for the game.

The Apache Junction City Council recently voted unanimously to recommend that the Arizona Department of Revenue approve a second Class A Bingo License for Rock Shadows RV Resort, 600 S. Idaho Road.

“Rock Shadows already holds a Class A bingo license and it has a limit of $15,600 for an annual gross income. They are applying for the second one because usually by the end of the year they exceed that amount,” City Clerk Jennifer Pena said to City Council.

This is allowed by the state department of revenue, she said.

“Qualifying conditions are that the members be different from the Class A first license and then those on the second. So those that collect the money or issue the cards or call the numbers --- those members have to be separate,” Ms. Pena said. “If they exceed the dollar amount during the bingo game, they’ll finish (the) game and then at the next game that they hold, the new license falls into play and this way they still maintain requirements of being valid with licenses.”

Correspondence related to inspections of the premises for safety and code compliance matters were received from the Apache Junction Police Department, the city’s building and safety division, the city’s planning and zoning department, and the Superstition Fire and Medical District. All four found the applicant in compliance inspection requirements and recommended approval of the additional license, according to a memo to the council from Deputy City Clerk Jill Bright.

Only the RV park residents and their guests may play the bingo games, Planning Manager/Zoning Administrator Rudy Esquivias said in his letter of approval.

“The planning division has no objections to this bingo license continuation request, with higher earnings. Bingo activity should be limited to Rock Shadows residents and their invited guests, keeping with the retirement residential setting of the RV park community,” Mr. Esquivias said in the letter.

City Clerk Pena referenced the letter in her comments to the City Council.

“The planning department did address the games that are for residents only. There should be no signage out on the streets asking people to come in and play. It is strictly for social and it is strictly for the park,” Ms. Pena said to the council.

A Class A Bingo License is obtained for recreational and social purposes, returning all gross receipts to the players in prizes, Deputy City Clerk Bright said in the memo to the council.

“Class A licenses cannot exceed $15,600 per year in gross receipts and they are taxed at 2.5% of their adjusted gross receipts,” she said.

Net proceeds from bingo revenue are used at the facility, Linda Nosek, Rock Shadows RV Resort activities director, said in an application for the second license.

“Improvements to rec hall and adjacent buildings, special equipment needed for bingo --- i.e. TV screens, camera,” she wrote about net proceeds.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia, Inc.. USA, since 1987. Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. He also is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows