Bingo in Kansas might be in line for an injection of cash.
Organizers of charitable bingo operations reached out today to the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee with a bill that would increase game prize limits, the frequency of events, compensation for volunteers and the value of drawing items.
“There is money to be made, not only for the nonprofits that run bingo, but to the state of Kansas as well. We pay taxes,” said Debi Kreutzman, who is part of a Sedgwick County charitable cooperative of organizations that hold bingo licenses.
However, officials of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars objected to proposed changes.
Charles Yunker, representing the American Legion, said Senate Bill 107 would tip the scale toward large, professional bingo parlor operators and away from the original goal of helping religious, veteran, fraternal and other civic organizations raise money.
He said the legislation “favors a few and will force many to stop offering bingo” because it would be too difficult to compete with high-dollar venues.
There are 318 active online bingo licensees in Kansas, but just 27 licensed bingo parlors.
Under the bill, the maximum cash prize for a regular bingo game would increase to $100 from $25. The existing $1 charge for a paper game card would be eliminated, allowing any price to be assessed.
The bill would allow an organization to play bingo three days a week. The current limit is twice a week.
State law would be amended to permit bingo parlors to operate seven days a week, with a 24-hour waiting period between sessions. Current law lets parlors conduct business three days a week.
The value of prize drawings would be capped at $500, a significant increase from the current $25 limit.
The bill would allow food to be given to volunteers, which should help in recruiting people to help at bingo events.
Sen. Pete Brungardt, R-Salina and chairman of the federal and state affairs committee, said the hearing on bingo issues would resume next week.
News Sources:-
Published Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. CST
http://cjonline.com/stories/020309/bre_bingo.shtml
Organizers of charitable bingo operations reached out today to the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee with a bill that would increase game prize limits, the frequency of events, compensation for volunteers and the value of drawing items.
“There is money to be made, not only for the nonprofits that run bingo, but to the state of Kansas as well. We pay taxes,” said Debi Kreutzman, who is part of a Sedgwick County charitable cooperative of organizations that hold bingo licenses.
However, officials of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars objected to proposed changes.
Charles Yunker, representing the American Legion, said Senate Bill 107 would tip the scale toward large, professional bingo parlor operators and away from the original goal of helping religious, veteran, fraternal and other civic organizations raise money.
He said the legislation “favors a few and will force many to stop offering bingo” because it would be too difficult to compete with high-dollar venues.
There are 318 active online bingo licensees in Kansas, but just 27 licensed bingo parlors.
Under the bill, the maximum cash prize for a regular bingo game would increase to $100 from $25. The existing $1 charge for a paper game card would be eliminated, allowing any price to be assessed.
The bill would allow an organization to play bingo three days a week. The current limit is twice a week.
State law would be amended to permit bingo parlors to operate seven days a week, with a 24-hour waiting period between sessions. Current law lets parlors conduct business three days a week.
The value of prize drawings would be capped at $500, a significant increase from the current $25 limit.
The bill would allow food to be given to volunteers, which should help in recruiting people to help at bingo events.
Sen. Pete Brungardt, R-Salina and chairman of the federal and state affairs committee, said the hearing on bingo issues would resume next week.
News Sources:-
Published Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. CST
http://cjonline.com/stories/020309/bre_bingo.shtml
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