(a) No person shall conduct or promote a sweepstakes or a promotional drawing authorized by the provisions of section 53-278g that (1) is not related to the bona fide sale of goods, services or property, or (2) uses a simulated gambling device.
(b) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty for professional gambling, as provided in subsection (b) of section 53-278b.
(c) Any simulated gambling device used in a sweepstakes or a promotional drawing shall be deemed a common nuisance and be subject to seizure, as provided in section 53-278c.
(d) Any premises used for a sweepstakes or a promotional drawing in violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed a common nuisance and shall be subject to the provisions in section 53-278e.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a retail grocery chain from conducting or promoting a sweepstakes that uses a simulated gambling device, provided such sweepstakes is related to the sale of groceries, the prize is not redeemed or redeemable for cash and the prize is only used as a discount to reduce the price of items purchased from such retail grocery chain. For the purposes of this section, “retail grocery chain” means an operator or franchisor of five or more retail establishments whose primary business is the sale of groceries.
(P.A. 14-217, S. 202.)
History: P.A. 14-217 effective July 1, 2014.