Overview
Participants purchase cards with covered numbers, colors or symbols from a container. Participants uncover the cards’ contents to reveal if a prize is won.
Bell jars are typically sold for $0.25, $0.50, $1 and $2 and may include seal cards, coin boards and/or merchandise boards with prizes as high as $1,000.
How to Conduct Bell Jar in NYS
Authorized Organizations
- File an Application for Registration and Identification Number (Form 1A) with the Commission obtain a Games of Chance identification number.
- Apply for a bell jar license by filing Forms GC-2, GC-2A and GC-2B with the municipality where the organization is domiciled and intends to conduct bell jar. The bell jar license application fee is $25, payable to the municipality.
- At least four members in-charge of the organization must be listed on the license application.
- Each bell jar worker must wear an ID with their name, address, signature, and photograph as well as the name of the organization.
- Bell jar workers cannot buy tickets from their own organization during the calendar year in which they are licensed.
- Payment for the purchase of bell jar tickets may be made with cash, checks and debit or credit cards.
- Bell jar licenses expire on December 31st of each year
Conduct
- The flare for each deal in play must be prominently posted. Flares may be marked.
- Players cannot redeem winning tickets if tickets have been removed from the premises;
- A deal cannot be removed from play until at least 75 percent of the prizes have been awarded;
- All winning tickets must be defaced upon redemption and retained for six months;
- All unsold tickets from a removed deal must be retained for at least a year.
Bell Jar Ticket Database
Reporting
Within 15 days of the end of each quarter, each organization conducting bell jar must file with the Commission:
- Form GC-7Q
- A list of all checks written that quarter.
- The three most recent bell jar bank statements.
- Five percent of the “ideal net proceeds” – the difference between the ideal handle minus: prizes paid, the purchase price of the deal, coin board, merchandise board or seal card and the dollar amount of any unsold tickets.