Sec.7-185-9b. Prizes

(a) All prizes given at any bazaar or raffle shall be merchandise, tangible personal property or a ticket, coupon or gift certificate, which shall not be refundable or transferable, entitling the winner to merchandise, tangible personal property, services, transportation on a common carrier by land, water or air and to any tour facilities provided in connection therewith, or to participation in a lottery conducted under chapter 226 of the general statutes. Cash prizes, except those authorized pursuant to section 7-185a of the statutes, or prizes consisting of alcoholic liquor shall not be given nor shall any prize be redeemed or redeemable for cash, except tickets for a lottery conducted under chapter 226 of the general statutes. For the purposes of this section, coins whose trading value exceeds their face value and coins not commonly in circulation shall not be deemed a cash prize.

(b) No permittee shall offer, distribute or award as prizes real estate or an interest therein, bonds, shares of stock, securities or evidences of indebtedness, tickets or other forms of shares or rights to participate in any bazaar or raffle, or any merchandise or article refundable in any of the foregoing, or in money or cash, or redeemable or convertible into cash, directly or indirectly.

(c) Extra and cumulative prizes or a share in a prize shall not be permitted.

(d) The winner's choice of merchandise may be offered as a prize in a raffle, provided the choice shall be limited to not more than one of two specific items of merchandise of equal value, with a description of each printed on the raffle ticket.

(e) When a prize is unclaimed, or when because of illegible writing, or otherwise, the winner's identity cannot be determined, the prize shall be preserved in good condition for a period of one year, or funds sufficient to purchase a prize similar in nature and value shall be set aside by the sponsoring organization for the same period, and the prize or substitute prize awarded within said period to the winner upon proper proof thereof.

(f) All reasonable means shall be employed by the sponsoring organization to locate the winner of a prize.

(g) All prizes shall be awarded within a reasonable period of time after the conclusion of a raffle.

(h) All articles to be awarded as prizes in a bazaar shall be conspicuously displayed in the building, structure, booth; tent or place in which the bazaar is being conducted, and no article not so displayed shall be awarded.

(i) No item of merchandise not to be offered, distributed or awarded as a prize at a bazaar shall be displayed with items of merchandise that are to be awarded, distributed or offered as a prize at a bazaar in any building, structure, booth, tent or place in which the bazaar is conducted.

(Effective June 17, 1992)