Establishes age sixteen as the minimum age for assisting in the conduct of any game of bingo

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to establishing age sixteen as the minimum age for assisting in the conduct of any game of bingo

Purpose

To allow individuals age sixteen and seventeen to assist in the conducting of bingo games.

Summary of provisions

This bill amends section 486 of the general municipal law to allow individuals age sixteen and seventeen to assist in bingo games.

Justification

This legislation would allow individuals who are sixteen and seventeen to assist in conducting bingo games. This legislation would in no way allow them to run games. But this legislation would expand the areas they can work in. Many volunteer organizations use younger members at bingo fund raising events to help get them involved in the organization. Under current law, there is an extremely limited scope of what these younger members can legally do. This legislation would still prevent them from conducting bingo games, but it would expand their ability to do more than for example working the food counter.

Bingo is a highly regulated and supervised activity. Those individuals who are assisting in bingo operations would be assisting directly with an older individual who would naturally be in a position to supervise the proceedings. Many organizations that run bingo games operate with limited manpower, by allowing younger members to assist in games we would be assisting them. Also bingo games are not usually the high stakes events that other gambling activities are.

Legislative history

S.2626 of 2003 - Veto 160. S.6767 of 2004; Referred to Senate Racing and Wagering Committee S.112 of 2005; Referred to Senate Racing and Wagering Committee. S.518 of 2007-2008; Referred to Senate Racing and Wagering Committee

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.