Bingo: Charities Form Alliance to Preserve and Improve Charity Bingo

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Charity Alliance (CCA) today announced its formation to advocate for the use of traditional and technologically advanced forms of bingo as a responsible, legal and consistent funding source for nonprofit charities. Founding organizations for this new alliance include Disabled Sports USA Far West, Capitol Freelancers, Blue Devils of Concord, the Santa Clara vanguard and the Sacramento Chapters of United Cerebral Palsy and the Society for the Blind.

Many local organizations, such as churches, fraternal organizations, schools and community groups, depend on charitable bingo as a primary source of fundraising.

"Charities run bingo games to financially support disabled children, the blind, the homeless, those without food, substance-abuse prevention programs and many other worthwhile and essential community programs," said Douglas Pringle, president of the CCA. "Approximately 50 percent of the profits from electronic bingo games go to the charitable causes we support."

There has been a steady decline in the number of bingo players at bingo halls over the past six years and with a significant drop in proceeds to charities due to increased gaming opportunities in the state and the advancing age of bingo players. In order to continue as a viable source of charitable dollars, bingo games to support nonprofit missions must offer a competitive entertainment value to adult participants of all ages. Bingo aided by technology enables charitable groups to attract new, younger bingo players. Electronic bingo aids include special features and graphics which add to the entertainment value bingo players receive.

"California's charitable organizations need clarity in the law regarding their ability to use modern technology when conducting bingo games," said Pringle. "We want to work with the Attorney General's office, the legislature and the administration to clarify the law to ensure we may continue to offer legal electronic bingo games."

The CCA is working with regulators, charitable organizations and consumers to ensure lawful forms of electronic bingo are permissible under California state law, so charitable groups can continue to help those in need.

The alliance's work also centers on education. The CCA plans to provide information to charitable organizations, keeping them apprised of legitimate ways nonprofits can raise funds through bingo games. The new alliance is actively recruiting qualifying organizations for membership. Only charitable or nonprofit organizations are eligible for membership, although bingo industry vendors may join as associate members.

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