Charity Gambling Hurt by Outdated Gaming Laws
Online casinos are not the only form of gaming to suffer from hopelessly outdated laws that no longer reflect modern culture and circumstances. Charity gambling, especially bingo, has felt the impact of being restrained by old laws while other gambling enjoys newly devised statutes.The Missouri Gaming Commission reports that the number of nonprofit bingo licenses issued in the state have dwindled to about a third of what was requested in 1994. Bingo games around the state are finding it next to impossible to operate under laws created when they were the only legal form of gambling.
Charitable organizations are forced by law to offer a minimum jackpot of $3600 nightly, regardless of attendance. The figure wasn't so hard to make fit into the budget when bingo was the only game in town; now, casinos pull most of the gaming crowds away from bingo halls, leaving small crowds unable to generate the money necessary to afford the fixed prize.
Jim Laderoute, head of an American Legion post, told the St. Joseph's News, "The crowds just kept getting smaller and smaller and we were still having to pay out the same amount.”
That Legion outlet has cancelled its long-running bingo night.
A bill has been introduced to the state legislature by Representative Mike Lair to allow the Gaming Commission to set prize limits as is fitting. The measure would also expand potential operating hours and days.
Pull-tab electronic gaming would also become available to bingo halls, and a one percent gaming tax would be eliminated.
