Alabama City Council Approves Electronic Bingo

As the country continues to languish in a recession, bingo revenues continue to suffer. Many areas that depend on bingo will look to approve newer, revenue-generating bingo machines that stretch the legal definition of bingo and blur the lines between slot machines.

From the AP via CBS42.com, July 10, 2009:

Another Alabama city is trying to cash in on casino-style bingo machines.

The Fairfield City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Thursday night to allow electronic bingo operations.

The bingo halls will be allowed to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The city will receive $100 a month per machine for three years, with the fee jumping to $150 a machine in the fourth year.

The Birmingham suburb joins a growing list of cities with laws to govern electronic bingo operations, even though the legality of the machines is still being debated.

For the article, see Fairfield approves electronic bingo machines

Electronic Bingo Hall Moves Ahead Despite Death of Bingo Bill

Enterprise developer Ronnie Gilley said last week the bingo bill may be dead for now, but the Country Crossing mega-entertainment park isn’t.

“We’re marching on,” said Gilley last week after Alabama legislators allowed the Sweet Home Alabama bill to die in the Senate Rules Committee.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery and Rep. Marcel Black of Tuscumbia, would have regulated and taxed electronic bingo in Alabama and allowed a statewide referendum. Its death, however, does not stop Gilley’s plans for an electronic bingo hall at Country Crossing, where the primary focus will be on high-quality entertainment, celebrity-themed restaurants and luxury hotels.

“We’re moving full steam ahead,” Gilley said. “Construction activity will pick up dramatically in the next two to three weeks.”

For the complete story, please see Kay Kirkland, Bingo bill dies, development moves ahead, The Southeast Sun, May 13, 2009.

California Charities Turn to Legislature for Relief After Electronic Bingo Loss

After mixed results in court battles to keep operating casino-style machines, California charitable bingo parlors are seeking financial relief in the Legislature and from tribal gambling funds.

But casino tribes protest reinstating a $5 million account originally created to compensate charities for the anticipated loss of bingo machines.

Charity groups argue that losing electronic bingo will cost them critical revenues for programs for schools, communities and the disabled.

Tribes argue the slot machine-style games violate their gambling exclusivity rights and thus threaten California's ability to collect millions of dollars in revenue-sharing payments from Indian casinos.

Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, drafted legislation to allow charities losing bingo machines to seek compensation until Oct. 31 from a fund tribes pay into to offset impacts of Indian gambling.

For the complete story, please see Peter Hecht, California charities seek relief for loss of electronic bingo, The Sacremento Bee, May 4, 2009.

County Looks to Electronic Bingo for Revenue

County Commission Chairman Lynn Sasser said Friday the county must find new revenue somewhere, and bingo might have been the answer.

Asked if the county had considered electronic bingo as a means of possible revenue, Sasser said it is not an option now.

“We had it in mind with that 565 amendment and we were thinking about ways to help this county, but not now,” Sasser said.

In March, the commission unanimously approved a resolution asking House Speaker Seth Hammett (D-Andalusia) and Sen. Jimmy Holley (R-Elba) to repeal one of two Alabama laws that affect gaming in Covington County. If House Bill 821 had passed in the legislature this year, it would have repealed legislation from 1993 that sets rules for charitable bingo in Covington County.

Once those rules were repealed, the only governing legislation for charitable bingo in Covington County would be Constitutional Amendment 565, approved by statewide vote in 1994. That amendment gives the county commission the authority to “promulgate rules and regulations for issuing permits or licenses and for operating bingo games within the county.”

For the complete story, please see Michele Gerlach, Could bingo save county?, Andalusia Star-News, May 1, 2009.

Alabama Fights for Legal Electronic Bingo

Two bills in the state Legislature (HB 676 and SB 471) seek to make what is now illegal electronic bingo gambling legal in Alabama. The purpose of these bills is to thwart Gov. Bob Riley's task force on illegal gambling.

At the recent House Tourism and Marketing Committee meeting, Chairman Johnny Mack Morrow said all of the parties with an interest came together in preparation of the bill. It is certainly true that all gambling interests in Alabama came together to propose a constitutional amendment which would monopolize, expand and immunize electronic bingo gambling in Alabama.

The Constitution of Alabama does not permit games of chance. Alabama citizens have permitted only 18 constitutional amendments to permit limited charitable bingo by churches, civic groups, fire halls and other charities.

In the 1970s, gambling interests tried to expand gambling in Alabama with proposals such as video poker. These were based on electronic machines. The efforts failed, but it opened the door for conversion of these machines to electronic bingo gambling. Under the guise of the 18 amendments, charitable bingo expanded into real gambling. The certain knowledge of this was realized when Houston County in 2008 decided it had authority to open a casino. Following that, Etowah County proposed a casino, and bingo gambling began to expand in other counties.

Law enforcement was having a difficult time contending with this, and when there were no aggressive efforts to address the problem, Riley set up a task force and charged former Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber with the authority to bring a case to the Alabama Supreme Court to determine if this electronic bingo is legal.

For the complete story, please see A. Eric Johnston, Electronic bingo: Let's finally decide gambling issue, Al.com, April 26, 2009.

Nonprofits Lose Bingo Fight

The following is an excerpt from an article in Mother Jones detailing the recent e-bingo fight between tribal casinos and charity bingos.

"Californians can say goodbye to the electronic bingo machines (better known as e-bingo) in their charitable bingo halls thanks to a ban signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger that takes effect tomorrow. Turns out that bingo isn't just good old-fashioned fun anymore. Instead, it's at the center of a fight between nonprofits and Native American tribes who are all clamoring after bingo's big money.

Federally recognized tribes will still get to operate the machines on their reservation land, but charities will have to shut theirs down. Despite a few upshots for charitable bingo operators in the new law, like an increase on prize caps from $250 to $500 for traditional bingo games, the e-bingo ban still puts them on the losing end because many have come to rely on the machines to keep their business afloat.

Doug Pringle, who operated 80-plus machines out of Sacramento’s North Watt hall for his nonprofit, Disabled Sports USA, worries that he won’t be able to fulfill the terms of his 5-year lease without e-bingo. “Even if we close this building, we’re obligated to about $850,000 in rent over the next 2 years,” he said. “How are we going to replace three-quarters of a million dollars?”

For the complete story, please see Anna McCarthy, California's Charitable E-Bingo Is E-Liminated, Mother Jones, April 10, 2009.

Charity Bingos Continue Electronic Bingo Machine Battle

Charitable bingo parlours in California are preparing last gasp legal motions to stay in business after a federal appeals court threw out a lower court order barring the state from shutting them down.
The case of the small bingo operations, concentrated mostly near the capital city of Sacramento, has been a closely watched legal test.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new law SB 1369 officially prohibiting charities from using casino-style electronic bingo machines. The charity groups continued operating under a court order after the law went into effect 1 January.

Meanwhile, some of California’s wealthiest Indian casino tribes threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars of revenue sharing payment to California if the charity groups continued to operate the class II games. The tribes said the electronic machines violated exclusive casino gambling rights under tribal-state compacts.

For the complete story, please see Peter Hecht, Charities In Last Ditch Fight After California Appeal Court Decision, Gambling Compliance Ltd., April 6, 2009.

Video King and International Gamco, Inc. Team Up To Offer Exciting Bingo Games

Video King and International Gameco, Inc. have teamed up to provide some exciting new games that add horseracing and dogracing elements to your bingo. While not yet approved in Michigan, we hope to have Michigan Charitable Gaming take a look at them in the near future. We feel that anything that spices up bingo is good for the industry. These races can be played as paper bingo games or in conjunction with pulltab games (if state approved) and look great with live animation.

Below is the full article on from Video King's latest newsletter. For more information please visit www.videokingnetwork.com or www.intlgamco.com


International Gamco, Inc.®, the originator of paper race games, and Video King®, the originator of animated racing software, have teamed up to offer a dynamic package of racing products that will raise the roof on excitement and build profits for your hall!

Try any of these exciting new products for win, place or show – and we’re willing to
wager customers will come racing to your hall.

Long Shot
Heeeere Comes Lucky! Long Shot™ is a unique progressive pull-tab concept that’s generating huge payouts. A player favorite, it becomes even more exciting when coupled with the Long Shot animation program, now available as part of Video King’s new “stable” of racing games.

But seeing is believing ...
These fun-to-follow animated graphics will leave players howling with this mad-dash greyhound theme! In this dog-beat-dog world, it’s every dog for him ... or ... her ...self. Every canine has its unique set of characteristics – whether its J Lope, who likes to preen at every shot, or Sugar Shack, who likes to eat more often than not ... But let’s not forget Hop A Long, Toto, 3-Legged Wonder, Hobo, Weiner Dog, G.I. Go, Stormin’ Sammy, Rin Ten Ten, Jumpin’Genie, Rudolph (Note The Red Nose), Porky Pirate, Lamb Chop and Buffy Bingo,
who all vie for the top-dog spot.

Go Go Balls
Putting A New Spin On Bingo!
The newest race ticket on the market, this name says it all. Go Go Balls™ team Video
King’s odd-ball cast of characters – from the gallant Sir Dab-A-Lot to Free Space, our rocket-fueled astronaut – with Gamco’s race animation – in a rush to knock each other out of the top three slots. Amid much fan-fare, Go Go Balls quickly rouse the
crowd as the 15 themed characters propel their way down the track. Rounding out the
lot are Barnacle Bill, Angelica, Bingo Bambino, Meals On Wheels, Spring Chicken, Touchdown Tommy, Nero The Hero, Sammy The Spur, Buccaneer Bart, Four-Corner Thor, Video King, Builder Bob and, of course, one no one has to light a fire under – Sparky! Hey, where’s the fire?

Horse Race
Horse Of A Different Color! Ready for some hoofpounding, fast-mounting action? Odds are you’ll enjoy the original version of this horse racing game. You can almost hear the thunder as these swift breeds barrel their way ’round the track! Choose from three different pull-tab payouts, played in conjunction with Video King’s HorsePower™ software. “Hay,” what more could racing fans ask for …

“These innovative new racing combinations – with their tremendous profit and payout potential – are sure to win over any crowd,” said Carla Chance, director of marketing/communications for Video King. “And the partnership between Video King and International Gamco can’t be beat.”

Pete Svendgard, director of marketing at International Gamco, readily agreed. “International Gamco looks forward to its working relationship with Video Kng,” he said.

“Both companies have personnel,products and technology that complement each other.
“Teaming up on race themed games is a good start that will provide the springboard for more products in the future,” he said. For further information about our companies and extensive product lines, please visit our Web sites at www.videokingnetwork.com and www.intlgamco.com.

Electronic Bingo Still Gaining Momentum

Every month, more and more of our bingo customers are signing up for and enjoying the benefits of electronic bingo.

For those of you who don't know (and that number is dwindling every day), electronic bingo allows bingo players to play bingo cards electronically. Players have cards loaded into handheld units similar to large calculators and play these alongside their bingo paper books.

Initially popular in mainly the larger commercial halls, players all over Michigan are now embracing the fun of electronic bingo. Smaller bingos have caught on and are now bringing the excitement to their players.

Players that want electronics must spend a little extra for the privelage, and that's where the charities benefit. It's not uncommon for bingos using electronics to make $100's more in profit per bingo session. Player's love them and frequently demand them.

Jerry Klima, chairperson of the Elks 113 in Jackson, stated these words to me awhile back "If not for electronic bingo, our bingo would have closed the doors. We were barely scraping by and now our attendance is growing and we're making good money. I don't know how any bingo will be able to survive in the future without them."

With no upfront costs & no risk (you're charged a fee only if you rent a unit to a bingo player), more and more bingo chairpeople across the state are enjoying the increased profits and player fun that electronics offer.