What's happening
This bill allows certain bingo games in residential and nonprofit settings to be held up to two days per week instead of fifteen days per year.
Why it matters
Expands opportunities for social interaction. By allowing bingo games up to two days per week instead of being limited to fifteen days per year, the bill increases regular opportunities for residents of apartment complexes, retirement communities, and members of nonprofit organizations to gather and socialize, which can help combat isolation, especially among seniors.
Maintains protections against gambling abuses. The games remain strictly for amusement and recreation—no one can pay to play, and prize limits ($10 per game, $150 per day) are unchanged, ensuring these events don't become large-scale gambling operations.
Broadens access to nonprofit and religious groups. The updated language specifically adds “religious” and “not-for-profit” organizations to the list of groups allowed to host these games, potentially enabling more diverse community organizations to legally offer bingo as a recreational activity.
Supports volunteer-driven community activities. The bill continues to require that only employees, volunteers, or bona fide members conduct the games, preventing commercial interests from taking over and keeping the focus on community-building and volunteer involvement.
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Expand Bingo Game Days
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to racing and wagering
- Referred to racing and wagering
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Bingo Game Days
In Assembly Committee · Racing And Wagering · Sponsor Toby Ann Stavisky
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1733
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the operation of certain bingo games
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Clauses (B) and (C) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 495-a of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 441 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:
(B) within any apartment, condominium or cooperative complex, retirement community, or other group residential complex or facility where (I) sponsored by the operator of or an association related to such complex, community or facility, (II) such games are conducted solely for the purpose of amusement and recreation of its residents, (III) no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate, (IV) the value of the prizes shall not exceed ten dollars for any one game or a total of one hundred fifty dollars in any calendar day, (V) such games are not conducted on more than [fifteen days during any calendar year] two days per week, and (VI) no person other than an employee or volunteer of such complex, community or facility conducts or assists in conducting the game or games.
(C) on behalf of any bona fide social, charitable, educational, recreational, fraternal, religious, not-for-profit or age group organization, club or association solely for the purpose of amusement and recreation of its members or beneficiaries where (I) no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate, (II) the value of the prizes shall not exceed ten dollars for any one game or a total of one hundred fifty dollars in any calendar day, (III) such games are not conducted on more than [fifteen days during any calendar year] two days per week, (IV) no person other than a bona fide active member of the organization, club or association participates in the conduct of the games, and (V) no person is paid for conducting or assisting in the conduct of the game or games.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02458-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.