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Bingo: Bingo Machine Crackdown
SACRAMENTO -- Local charities could lose out on
millions of dollars after the California Department of Justice issued
an order to halt the use of electronic bingo machines. It says they're
a form of slot machine that is illegal except in Indian casinos.
"The bingo players love them...these players are having a good time," says Doug Pringle.
Pringle runs a nonprofit called Disabled Sports USA with the proceeds of the North Watt Bingo Center. Its main attraction is 100 electronic Bingo games that use a traditional board, but embellish it with casino style lights and colors. The machines saved bingo supported charities when traditional bingo play leveled off.
But Pringle recently received a letter from the attorney general demanding that he remove the bingo machines because they are considered slot machines.
"These are not slot machines." Pringle says the bingo machines are linked together so that bingo players are actually playing against each other, not the house.
Sacramento county agreed when it gave charities permission to install them.
Bingo parlors still have paper bingo games, but they don't bring in as much money since many bingo players consider them too slow. With the machines, a player can get multiple draws in just seconds.
Bingo Player Tony Crolla says "I know if they close the bingo machines down, I know me and my friends won't come no more."
Pringle says a number of good causes will lose out because of the state's order. "Youth, disadvantaged youth, people who are hungry, homeless, people with disabilities ...all of them are going to be negatively impacted by this."
Many feel the ruling is driven by Indian gaming politics. Bingo generates $42 million in Sacramento County. Thunder Valley Casino Spokesman Doug Elmets says "less than nine percent of the revenue that's generated by these slot bingo machines go to charity."
Sacramento County is still in court over the matter, and local bingo charities say they hope a compromise can be worked out.
fox40.trb.com
"The bingo players love them...these players are having a good time," says Doug Pringle.
Pringle runs a nonprofit called Disabled Sports USA with the proceeds of the North Watt Bingo Center. Its main attraction is 100 electronic Bingo games that use a traditional board, but embellish it with casino style lights and colors. The machines saved bingo supported charities when traditional bingo play leveled off.
But Pringle recently received a letter from the attorney general demanding that he remove the bingo machines because they are considered slot machines.
"These are not slot machines." Pringle says the bingo machines are linked together so that bingo players are actually playing against each other, not the house.
Sacramento county agreed when it gave charities permission to install them.
Bingo parlors still have paper bingo games, but they don't bring in as much money since many bingo players consider them too slow. With the machines, a player can get multiple draws in just seconds.
Bingo Player Tony Crolla says "I know if they close the bingo machines down, I know me and my friends won't come no more."
Pringle says a number of good causes will lose out because of the state's order. "Youth, disadvantaged youth, people who are hungry, homeless, people with disabilities ...all of them are going to be negatively impacted by this."
Many feel the ruling is driven by Indian gaming politics. Bingo generates $42 million in Sacramento County. Thunder Valley Casino Spokesman Doug Elmets says "less than nine percent of the revenue that's generated by these slot bingo machines go to charity."
Sacramento County is still in court over the matter, and local bingo charities say they hope a compromise can be worked out.
fox40.trb.com
